February 2, 2025
IAQ in Layton, UT

Whether it’s the middle of the winter or the dog days of summer, indoor air quality can significantly affect your quality of life. However, before you can take steps to improve the air quality in your home, you must understand the most common causes of interior pollution.

1. Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gasses that are given off by many items in your home. Common effects of VOC exposure include respiratory difficulties, liver or kidney issues or even cancer.

For instance, paint on the living room, kitchen, and bedroom walls typically contains VOCs. Although newer paints are formulated to minimize these potentially dangerous compounds, proper ventilation is still essential when painting to avoid overexposure.

Unfortunately, VOCs can remain in the air even long after your painting project is complete. Painting isn’t the only source of VOCs, either. VOCs are found in many day-to-day products, including spray deodorant, hairspray, and perfume as well as some adhesives, such as those used in model airplane glues and wood glues.

While you can’t get rid of VOCs when they first enter a room, you can usher them out by keeping windows or doors open for a few minutes each day. This flushes the polluted air out of your house and allows fresh, clean, easier-to-breathe air inside.

2. Particulate Matter

Particulate matter is almost anything that you see floating around in the air or that you see coating the television or other surfaces in a given space. The most common form of particulate matter is dust, and if left unchecked, it can cause serious damage to your home. Dust can also trigger asthma or allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose or constant wheezing.

Of course, dust is far from the only type of particulate matter that you need to worry about. If someone in your house uses cigarettes or marijuana, the smoke produced can linger in the air for weeks or months.

Particulate matter from smoke can also get deep into walls, carpets or other surfaces, which means that the smoke’s odor can linger for years if you don’t clean your home thoroughly. Smoke generated by candles or incense can also reduce your home’s indoor air quality even if they smell nice while lit.

In some cases, this type of particulate matter is brought inside when using an air conditioner or other HVAC equipment. Dust and other particulates can access your home through an open door or window. They can also be brought in on the bottom of your shoes or because you wore dirty clothes into your home after you have spent the day outdoors, doing yard work or engaged in other activities.

Finally, you might also create particulate matter when the furnace turns itself on or when you start up your gas fireplace or when using the stovetop for cooking or frying your meal.

3. Radon

As with carbon monoxide, radon is a gas that you can’t see or smell, which makes it particularly dangerous. Experts recommend that you regularly test for radon to ensure that your home and your family are safe from this silent intruder. Ideally, you’ll test for it every two years for the best results.

Radon is produced by decaying uranium, which is often found in soil and rocks. The decaying byproducts make their way into your home through the wall, foundation or cracks or openings that are near the dirt or rocks outside your home.

In some cases, radon can spread through cracks in floors or other interior surfaces after it makes its way inside your home. If your home is served by well water rather than city water, it may be at a higher risk of interacting with radon as the water may flow over rocks and soil containing uranium.

Consider having a radon test conducted before purchasing a home or having a new home built when possible. If you’re planning on finishing a basement or spending a great deal of time in a basement, testing for radon is also highly recommended. The test results will reveal potential risks and help you understand the best way to mitigate any issues.

4. Biological Material

Biological pollutants are similar to particulate matter in that they tend to be small, can easily travel through the air and can stick to most surfaces. However, the key difference is that they are either byproducts of living things or are living things themselves that can reproduce quickly.

Pet dander is an example of biological matter created by a living thing. If you have cats, dogs or other types of animals that shed fur or dander, the material produced can negatively affect your home’s indoor air quality.

To counteract the buildup of dust, dander, and pet-related debris, you will likely need to change out air filters more frequently and sweep, dust and otherwise clean spaces at least once a week. You might also need to have carpets, drapes and furniture deep cleaned once or twice a year to eliminate pet-related material that can easily accumulate on them.

If possible, consider switching from carpets to wood floors as they are easier to clean and less likely to trap pet odors and biological materials such as fur and dander. Grooming your pets regularly can also be a great way to reduce the amount of fur or dander that they spread throughout your home.

Examples of living matter include mold, bacteria and other types of viruses with the ability to reproduce and potentially evolve as they go through your home. Signs of mold include green or black stains on walls or the musty scent of mold or mildew hiding behind walls or in other areas that are hard to access.

Furthermore, pests such as mice, rats and certain insects can release dust, casings, waste, nesting materials or other allergens into the air. Rodents and insects can also severely damage ducts or other areas of your home, which means that they should be eradicated as soon as possible.

Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality

Improving indoor air quality can be as easy as having your air ducts and vents checked and cleaned once a year. This allows for adequate airflow, which can prevent moisture buildup that can facilitate the growth of mold or mildew. I’s also be a good idea to have your furnace or fireplace checked to detect issues that might be easy to fix if action is taken now. Skipping furnace maintenance or ignoring air filter changes causes your heating system to push dirtier air into your house. Finally, you should consider reading the labels of anything that you use around the house to ensure that they don’t contain dangerous levels of VOCs.

At Smedley Service, we can help install an air conditioner, maintain a heating system or install new pipes in your home. Engaging in these activities can help to keep your home comfortable and efficient for years to come. If you need help improving the indoor air quality in your Layton, UT home, don’t hesitate to call the team at Smedley Service today.

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