If you’re unsure whether your Wilkes Barre and Scranton house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of inferior IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we recommend chatting with a professional like GLR Mechanical about which solutions are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by everyday household products.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

  • Furniture
  • Carpet
  • Building materials
  • Cleaning products
  • Cosmetics
  • Air fresheners
  • Candles

When these vapors accumulate in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outdoors.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help fumes disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which kind is right for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s essential your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It poses a severe health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in heavy levels.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your system is working properly. This work allows our techs to find issues before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on each floor by bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the GLR Mechanical Pros

Informed that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 570-309-0403 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you find the right solution for your needs and budget.