If you’re questioning whether your Portland home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.
We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, 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 worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health issues.
Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the issues they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we suggest talking with a professional like All Solutions Heating & Cooling about which solutions are a good fit for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by common 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 may also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants c