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Indoor Air Quality Improvements
Good ventilation is essential to both the comfort and health of
your home's occupants. Opening and closing windows and doors helps
you cool your home and remove hot, stale air. It reduces the presence
of indoor air pollutants and can reduce energy costs. Where natural
ventilation is insufficient, it can be supplemented by ventilators,
louvers and other design features. Heating, air conditioning and ventilation experts offer these considerations:
Sources and Symptoms of Indoor Pollution
Many long-term illnesses, notably respiratory problems, can be
attributed to exposure to indoor pollutants. Health problems may
occur shortly after moving into a new home, remodeling your home,
or treating it with pesticides. Ongoing activities and outside air
pollutants may also be to blame. Here are some of the most common
sources:
- Building materials
- Home furnishings, such as carpeting, draperies, or furniture made of compressed wood
- Oil, gas, kerosene, wood, or other combustible materials
- Paints, varnishes, and hobby products
- Heating and cooling systems, and humidifiers
- Tobacco smoke
- Radon, pesticides, outdoor air pollution, and other outside irritants
What To Look For
The first step to improving indoor air quality is recognizing when
a problem exists. Here are some good questions to ask for rooting
out indoor air pollutants.
- Does the air in your house smell funny or seem stuffy?
- Are there signs of moisture condensation on walls or windows?
- Have objects such as books or shoes become moldy?
- Can you see other signs of water leakage?
- Have you checked and cleaned the filters and ducts in your heating or cooling systems lately?
- Have you checked for damaged chimneys or flues?
Rule Out Radon
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon
is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Each year,
15,000 lung cancer deaths can be attributed to radon. This colorless,
odorless gas, while found naturally nearly everywhere at very low
concentrations, becomes a hazard when it gets trapped indoors and
builds up to toxic levels. The EPA has established an "action level"
for indoor radon levels of four picocuries per liter (pCi/l). It
is estimated that nearly one out of every 15 homes in the U.S. has
radon levels exceeding this action level. That's why it is a good
idea to purchase one of the inexpensive radon testing kits that
are available to rule out this dangerous pollutant.
Humidifier Hints
During winter, humidifiers can improve your home's air quality
and cut down on static. But they must be set and cleaned properly
to avoid contributing their own problems. Here are a few key pointers
for humidifiers:
- Set the humidity level below 50 percent to prevent molds, spores,
and dust mites from growing.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for care and cleaning,
particularly coils, pans, and other places where condensation
can occur.
- Do not let water sit. Fill the humidifier with clean or distilled
water right before using, and empty the water when the humidifier
is turned off.
- Run humidifiers only when the heater is running (such as at
night) to avoid excess humidity.
- Do not run humidifiers in rooms with the doors shut.
Air Fresheners
Commercial air fresheners do little more than mask smells, and
may actually induce allergic reactions. Here are a few more preferable
freshening alternatives:
- Dampen cotton balls with oil of wintergreen and tuck them into the windowsills.
- Boil cinnamon and cloves tied in cheesecloth on the stove, or loose in a potpourri pot.
- Dampen cotton balls with vanilla extract and place in saucers in small, enclosed places.
- Make fresh potpourri out of favorite herbs and spices. Place
them in small baskets or bags and distribute around the house.
- Set out a bowl of vinegar to eliminate cooking and cigarette odors.
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