If you’re uncertain whether your McAllen home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent causes of bad IAQ, the problems they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we suggest chatting with a professional like Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. about which products are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by common household things.

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

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

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

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to provide strong filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s critical your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

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

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It poses an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in large concentrations.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is working smoothly. This service allows our professionals to see issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on each floor close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. Professionals

Aware that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 956-553-3265 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you choose the best option for your home and budget.