How to Protect Your Home from VOCs in Calhoun, GA

Improving the air quality in your home in Calhoun, GA, is one of the best things you can do, especially during the hot and humid summer. This is because good indoor air quality has many health benefits for you and your household. Read on to learn how you can protect your home from volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

What are Volatile Organic Compounds?

Volatile organic compounds are substances that contain high levels of carbon and a few other elements. VOCs tend to evaporate easily and emit harmful gases into the same air we breathe in our homes, which poses a threat to human health.

It might interest you to know that VOCs aren’t only found in the air but also in groundwater, where they easily move into our drinking water supplies. Some of the main sources of VOCs you might find in your home include paint, carpet, composite wood products, vinyl flooring, cosmetics, air fresheners, gasoline and cleaning products.

Dangers of Volatile Organic Compounds

High levels of volatile organic compounds are harmful to human health, which this is why you’ll find many manufacturers labeling their products as “low VOC.” Older people, children and those who are highly sensitive to chemicals tend to be more vulnerable to the ill effects of high VOC levels. Some of the effects caused by high levels of VOCs include liver damage, cancer, headaches, nausea, dizziness, damage to the central nervous system, throat irritation and others.

High levels of VOCs in your home could end up worsening the condition of people with asthma. However, the health effects of VOCs usually depend on the chemical levels in the air as well as how long and how often you inhale them. If your home isn’t well ventilated, it’s more likely that VOCs will circulate longer and pose a bigger threat to your health.

It’s important to note that volatile organic compounds are very common in our daily lives. For this reason, it’s hard to eliminate them completely. However, there are still measures you can take to reduce their impact on your household.

Identify and Control the Source of VOCs

VOCs can be harmful to the environment and members of your household. For this reason, it’s important to identify and get rid of all the products in your home with high VOC levels.

Ensure that you buy only the paints and cleaning products that your household currently needs. This is because unused paints and cleaning products could leak and release more VOCs into the air.

It’s best to store these products in the spaces that your household rarely spends much time in, such as the garage or the basement. Also, when purchasing any paint or finishing products, make sure that they’re low VOC.

Provide Adequate Ventilation

Whenever volatile organic compounds evaporate inside enclosed rooms, they tend to spread easily. For this reason, you’ll want to consider the ventilation in your home.

Ventilation is the best way to increase the levels of fresh air in your home and help minimize the concentration of VOCs indoors. Ensuring adequate ventilation helps improve indoor air quality.

The best ways to increase ventilation in your home are by:

• Opening doors and windows on cooler days and nights.
• Installing under-door vents.
• Clearing the supply vents from time to time.
• Installing a whole-home energy recovery ventilator.
• Buying air-purifying houseplants.

It’s important to ensure that any necessary renovations occur when there’s no one at home. This gives you the freedom to open windows and doors and keep your house ventilated for longer. You can always adjust your home’s ventilation based on the indoor air quality.

Trust our team at Dalton Heating & Air when you need heating and air conditioning services in Calhoun, GA. Our expert service technicians will offer suggestions for improving your air quality and comfort at home.

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