What Are VOCs And How Do You Get Rid Of Them?
At Brumwell’s Instant Heating & Air Conditioning in Pasadena, we are commonly asked about VOCs and how to get rid of them inside a house.
The term VOC stands for volatile organic compound. VOCs are harmful chemicals that get released into the air and can make you sick. These compounds have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility which means they change easily from a liquid form into a vapor that freely floats through your air and won’t easily dissolve in water.
Volatile organic compounds are carbon based particles that will easily be released into the air at room temperature. Paint fumes are a fine example of a VOC that is harmful when you breathe it. The fumes released with paint aren’t easy for our bodies to process, which is one reason you can get sick from them.
The Truth About What Could Be In The Indoor Air
Gaseous vapors are released by different common building materials such as paint, carpeting, plastics, cleaning solutions, and furniture. They collect in the air inside a home or building when they are released from products as they are used or sit at room temperatures.
Organic, carbon-based chemicals are harmful to your health. When ozone combines with these chemicals, it becomes even more unhealthy to breathe. You could have any number of hundreds of VOCs that are trapped in the air inside your home at any one time.
VOCs don’t always produce odors, which can make it extremely difficult to tell if they are building up inside the home. With no noticeable smell, they can infiltrate your lungs, your food, and other materials without being detected.**
Vapors or Gases (VOCs) That Are Harmful*
- Methane
- Propane
- Butane
- Mineral Spirits
- Gasoline
- Other Fuels
- Many, many building materials
- Drywall
- Paint
- Carpeting
- Paint strippers
- Indoor Furnishings
- Upholstery
- Fabrics
- Bedding
- Cleaning products
- Personal Care products
Common VOC Exposure Symptoms
- Headaches
- Eye Irritation
- Sinus Irritation
- Throat Irritation
- Dizziness
- Chronic Diseases
- Cancer
- Toxic Levels In Bloodstream
Since you live indoors, you are likely exposed to VOCs coming from the building materials, cleaning supplies, consumer products, printing, cooking, cleaning, renovations, pesticides, hobbies, and indoor furnishings.
If you work in an office or place such as a school, you could be exposed to harmful VOCs such as Vinyl chloride, Methylene, Chloride, Styrene, Isopentane, Formaldehyde, and more. There are ways to remove the VOCs in your indoor air. Within the HVAC field, technicians can use UV light to effectively sterilize the harmful substances that could make you sick if toxic levels are reached.
Install UV Light Systems
VOC lights can be installed directly into the HVAC system to get rid of all types of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, odors, viruses, mold, and more. In fact, these systems are installed in hospitals, food and beverage processing plants, and office buildings to decontaminate the air.
There are two types of HVAC UV light systems, one which is installed in the duct system and one in the air handler where moisture often collects.
Install Air Cleaners & Filtration Systems
There are a number of top rated air cleaners which will take care of small particles in the air. When combined with a UV light purifier installed in the ductwork, the air will be properly treated and recirculated by the HVAC system to be treated again and again.
The systems with super HEPA filters will remove a high degree of toxins and vapors that could be harmful when building up indoors. They remove ozone, aerosols, scented products, treated wood, chemicals, paint fumes, odors, and more.
You can contact your local HVAC company trained in the application and installation of VOC sterilization and filtration for your home or commercial property. Be sure to call local professionals who are fully experienced at handling indoor air quality techniques.
Brumwell’s Instant Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. specializes in many types of indoor air quality applications including UV light purifier installation which is very effective at sterilizing your indoor air.
*Sources: http://www.aqt.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=107
** http://greenguard.org/en/indoorAirQuality/iaq_chemicals.aspx
