Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) rank high on the list of unseen dangers inside your home that degrade indoor air quality (IAQ).
Unless you make a special point to avoid products that have volatile organic compounds, chances are they’re circulating in your indoor air. These compounds are known respiratory irritants, carcinogens and cause organ and nervous system damage.
Unfortunately the products that emit VOC gases are common. You’ll find them in cleaning supplies, makeup, dry cleaning, vehicle exhaust, yard chemicals, paints and finishes, hobby materials, some fabrics, new furniture and plastics. Anything perfumed like air fresheners and artificially scented candles have high VOC loads, along with new flooring materials and wallpaper.
Reducing the Threat
These compounds in products off-gas as they age. Over time and during seasons when your windows need to be tightly closed, the gases can reach unhealthy levels. Some products, like paints, glues and finishes, have labels that indicate they should be used in a well ventilated area, while others, like air fresheners and shower curtains, do not.
Options are available that minimize the health threats VOCs cause like:
- Choosing alternative products that have few or no volatile organic compounds. Look for clean air labels or choose items that aren’t made from hydrocarbons.
- Increasing fresh air ventilation year-round. Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) are balanced ventilation systems that exhaust interior air and pull in the same amount of fresh air simultaneously.
They do so without driving up cooling or heating bills by using heat exchangers that condition the incoming air with the energy stripped from the outgoing air. HRVs can pull air into a specific area of your home where you need better IAQ or with your HVAC system for whole-house distribution.
- Using UV (ultraviolet) lights in the HVAC system’s air handler and ductwork. UV lights are one of the few ways that alter the composition of volatile organic compounds, rendering them harmless.
It’s tough to avoid VOCs altogether, but you can use your home’s HVAC system to improve IAQ. To learn more about these options, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning, providing HVAC services for Lorain-area homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area