Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a type of indoor air pollutant that comes from common household items like furniture, paint and air fresheners. VOCs can accumulate in your home and can cause adverse health effects. In this blog, AC repair company J & M Air Conditioning & Heating shares tips on how to reduce VOCs in your home and maintain indoor air quality.
Control known sources of VOCs. Since VOCs come from objects that you use everyday, eliminating the sources altogether may be difficult. However, it is possible to control some of them. Paints, solvents and other chemicals can be stored in the garage or a shed instead of inside your home. Choose low-VOC options of products whenever the choice is available.
Replace HVAC air filters regularly. The air filters in whole-home HVAC systems capture indoor air pollutants, including VOCs. They typically get filled to capacity every three months, or as often as every month during seasons of heavy use, and replacing them when full will help reduce the amount of VOCs in your home. Air filters are user-replaceable, which means you don’t have to schedule an appointment with an AC repair technician to remove and replace them.
Maintain ideal indoor temperature and humidity levels. VOCs off-gas more in warm and humid environments. During winter, run your humidifier just enough to maintain about 50% relative indoor humidity. Ideally, your heating system should be set to 68 degrees, and a few degrees lower when you’re asleep or away.
Open your windows for natural ventilation. Opening your windows for at least 15 minutes a day can help flush out VOCs, as well as other indoor air pollutants. Proper ventilation requires airflow, which can be achieved by letting a breeze through an open window. You can also utilize the differences in air pressure between your indoor and exterior spaces by opening two windows: one releases stale indoor air, creating negative pressure that pulls fresh air through the second window.
Call J & M for Your HVAC Needs
Your HVAC system is essential to maintaining indoor air quality for you and your family, and you can trust J & M Air Conditioning & Heating for your heating and AC repair needs. Call us today at (951) 654-3464 or (760) 296-7075 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve communities in Riverside and Menifee, CA.
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