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AIR QUALITY IN THE HOME |
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Quick Facts...
Research has shown that the quality of
indoor air can be worse than that of outdoor air. Many homes are built
or remodeled more tightly, without regard to the factors that assure
fresh and healthy indoor air. Our homes today contain many
furnishings, appliances and products that can affect indoor air
quality.
Signs of indoor air quality
problems include:
Common Sources of Air Quality
Problems
Poor indoor air can arise from many
sources. At least some of the following contaminants can be found in
almost any home:
Remedies to Indoor Air Quality
Problems
Living Areas
Paneling, pressed-wood furniture and
cabinetry. These products may release formaldehyde gas. Remedy:
Ask about formaldehyde content before buying furniture or cabinets.
Some types of pressed-wood products, such as those with phenol resin,
emit less formaldehyde. Also, products coated with polyurethane or
laminates may reduce formaldehyde emissions. After installation, open
windows. Maintain moderate temperature and humidity.
Carpet. Biological pollutants can grow on
water-damaged carpet. New carpet can release organic gases. Remedy:
Promptly clean and dry water-damaged carpet, or remove it altogether.
If adhesives are needed, ask for low-emitting ones. During
installation, open doors and windows, and use window fans or room air
conditioners. Vacuum regularly. Consider area rugs instead of
wall-to-wall carpet. Rugs are easier to remove and clean, and the
floor underneath also can be cleaned.
Floor tiles. Some contain asbestos. Remedy:
Periodically inspect for damage or deterioration. Do not cut, rip,
sand or remove any asbestos-containing materials. If you plan to make
changes that might disturb the asbestos, or if materials are more than
slightly damaged, contact a professional for repair or removal. Call
your local or state health department or the Environmental Protection
Agency.
Moisture. Moisture encourages biological
pollutants, including allergens such as mold, mildew, dust mites and
cockroaches. Remedy: If possible, eliminate moisture
sources. Install and use exhaust fans. Use a dehumidifier if
necessary. Remove molds and mildew by cleaning with a solution of
chlorine bleach (1 cup bleach to 1 gallon water). Maintain good fresh
air with natural and mechanical air circulation.
Fireplace. Your fireplace can be a source
of carbon monoxide and combustion pollutants. Remedy:
Open the flue when using the fireplace. Have the flue and chimney
inspected annually for exhaust backdrafting, flue obstructions or
cracks, excess creosote or other damage. Install smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors.
Air conditioner. This can be a source of
biological allergens. Remedy: If there is a water
tray, empty and clean it often. Follow all service and maintenance
procedures, including changing the filter.
Gas or kerosene space heater. These
devices can release carbon monoxide and combustion pollutants. Remedy:
Never use unvented kerosene or gas space heaters. In the room where
the heater is located, provide fresh air by opening a door to the rest
of the house, turning on an exhaust fan and slightly opening a window.
Tobacco smoke. Smoke contains harmful
combustion and particulate pollutants, including carbon monoxide and
combustion byproducts. Remedy: Do not smoke in your
home or permit others to do so, especially near children. If smoking
cannot be avoided indoors, open windows or use exhaust fans.
Draperies. New draperies may be treated
with a formaldehyde-based finish and emit odors for a short time. Remedy:
Before hanging, air draperies to ventilate odors. After hanging,
ventilate the area. Maintain moderate temperature and humidity.
Lead-based paint. Paint manufactured
before l978 may contain lead. Remedy: Leave
lead-based paint undisturbed if it is in good condition. Before
removing paint, test for lead. Do-it-yourself lead test kits are
available from hardware or building supply stores. Do not sand, burn
off or remove lead-based paint yourself. Hire a person with special
training to correct lead-based paint problems. For more information,
call 1-800-LEAD-FYI.
Animals. Many animals leave allergens,
such as dander, hair, feathers or skin, in the air. Remedy:
Keep pets outdoors as often as possible. Clean the entire house
regularly. Deep clean areas where pets are permitted. Clean pets
regularly.
House dust mites. Biological allergens can
trigger asthma. Remedy: Clean and vacuum regularly.
Wash bedding in hot water above 130 degrees F. Use more hard-surface
finishes; they are less likely to attract and hold dust mites.
Kitchen
Household cleaners. Unhealthy or
irritating vapors may be released from chemicals in products. Remedy:
Select nonaerosol and nontoxic products. Use, apply, store and dispose
of them according to manufacturers' directions. If products are
concentrated, label the storage container with dilution instructions.
Completely use up a product.
Pressed-wood cabinets. These can be a
source of formaldehyde vapor. Remedy: Maintain
moderate temperatures (80 degrees maximum) and humidity (about 45
percent). When purchasing new cabinets, select solid wood or metal
cabinets or those made with phenol resin; they emit less formaldehyde.
Ventilate well after installation.
Unvented gas stove and range. These are a
source of carbon monoxide and combustion byproducts. Remedy:
Keep appliance burners clean. Periodically have burners adjusted (blue
flame tip, not yellow). Install and use an exhaust fan. Never use a
gas range or stove to heat your home.
Bathroom
Personal care products. Organic gases are
released from chemicals in some products, such as deodorant and hair
sprays, shampoos, toners, nail polish and perfumes. Remedy:
Select odor-free or low odor-producing products. Select nonaerosol
varieties. Open a window, or use an exhaust fan. Follow manufacturers'
directions when using the product and disposing of containers.
Air freshener. These products can release
organic gases. Remedy: Open a window or use the
exhaust fan instead. If you use air fresheners, follow manufacturers'
directions. Select natural products.
Bedroom
Humidifier/vaporizer. Cold mist vaporizers
can encourage biological allergens, including mold, mildew and
cockroaches, that can trigger asthma and encourage viruses and
bacteria. Remedy: Use and clean them according to
manufacturers' directions. Refill daily with fresh water.
Moth repellents. These often contain the
pesticide paradichlorobenzene. Remedy: Avoid
breathing vapors. Place them in tightly sealed trunks or other
containers. Store separately, away from living areas.
Dry-cleaned goods. Chemicals used in the
cleaning process release organic gases. Remedy: Bring
odors to the attention of your dry cleaner. Try to air out dry-cleaned
goods before bringing them indoors. Seek alternatives to dry cleaning,
such as hand washing items.
Utility Room
Unvented clothes dryer. Gas dryers produce
carbon monoxide and combustion byproducts and can be a fire hazard.
Remedy: Regularly dispose of lint around and under the dryer.
Provide air for gas units. Vent the dryer directly to the outside.
Clean vent and ductwork regularly.
Gas or oil furnace/boiler and gas water
heater. Air quality problems include backdrafting of carbon monoxide
and combustion pollutants. Remedy: Have your heating
system and water heater, including gas piping and venting, inspected
every year.
Asbestos pipe wrap and furnace insulation.
These can release asbestos fibers into the air. Remedy:
Periodically look for damage or deterioration. Do not cut, rip, sand
or remove any asbestos-containing materials. If you plan to make
changes that might disturb the asbestos, or if materials are more than
slightly damaged, contact a professional for repair or removal.
Basement
Ground moisture. Moisture encourages
biological allergens like mold and mildew. Remedy:
Inspect for condensation on walls, standing water on the floor, or
sewage leaks. To keep basement dry, prevent outside water from
entering by installing roof gutters and downspouts, not watering close
to the foundation, grading soil away from the home, and applying
waterproofing sealants to basement interior walls. For standing water,
consider installing a sump pump. If sewage is the source, have drains
professionally cleaned. If moisture has no obvious source, install an
exhaust fan controlled by humidity levels. Remove mold and mildew.
Regularly clean and disinfect the basement floor drain.
Hobby products. Chemicals in products such
as solvents, paint, glue and epoxy release organic gases. Remedy:
Follow manufacturers' directions for use, ventilation, application,
clean-up, and container storage and disposal. Use outdoors when
possible. Indoors, open a window, or use an exhaust fan. Reseal
containers well. Clean tools outside or in a well-ventilated area.
Garage
Car and small engine exhaust. These are
sources of carbon monoxide and combustion byproducts. Remedy:
Never leave vehicles, lawn mowers, snowmobiles, etc., running in the
garage.
Paint, solvent and cleaning supplies.
These products may release harmful vapors. Remedy:
Provide ventilation when using them. Follow manufacturers' directions.
Buy only as much as you need. If the products contain methylene
chloride, such as paint strippers, use them outdoors. Reseal
containers well. Keep products in their original, labeled containers.
Clean brushes and other materials outside.
Pesticides and fertilizers. Yard and
Garden chemicals may be toxic. Remedy: Use
nonchemical methods when possible. Follow manufacturers' directions
for mixing, applying, storing and using protective clothing. Mix or
dilute them outdoors. Provide ventilation when using them indoors.
Store them outside of the home in their original, labeled containers.
After using the product, remove your shoes and clean your hands and
clothing to avoid bringing the chemicals into your home.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide
Detectors
Amount of Ventilation
If too little outdoor air enters a home,
pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort
problems. Unless they are built with special mechanical means of
ventilation, homes that are designed and constructed to minimize the
amount of outdoor air that can "leak" into and out of the
home may have higher pollutant levels than other homes. However,
because some weather conditions can drastically reduce the amount of
outdoor air that enters a home, pollutants can build up even in homes
that are normally considered "leaky".
How Does Outdoor Air Enter a
House?
Outdoor air enters and leaves a house by:
infiltration, natural ventilation, and mechanical ventilation. In a
process known as infiltration, outdoor air flows into the house
through openings, joints, and cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings,
and around windows and doors. In natural ventilation, air moves
through opened windows and doors. Air movement associated with
infiltration and natural ventilation is caused by air temperature
differences between indoors and outdoors and by wind. Finally, there
are a number of mechanical ventilation devices, from outdoor-vented
fans that intermittently remove air from a single room, such as
bathrooms and kitchen, to air handling systems that use fans and duct
work to continuously remove indoor air and distribute filtered and
conditioned outdoor air to strategic points throughout the house. The
rate at which outdoor air replaces indoor air is described as the air
exchange rate. When there is little infiltration, natural ventilation,
or mechanical ventilation, the air exchange rate is low and pollutant
levels can increase.
Indoor Air Pollution and Health
Health effects from indoor air pollutants
may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later.
Immediate effects
Immediate effects may show up after a
single exposure or repeated exposures. These include irritation of the
eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such
immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable. Sometimes the
treatment is simply eliminating the person's exposure to the source of
the pollution, if it can be identified. Symptoms of some diseases,
including asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever,
may also show up soon after exposure to some indoor air pollutants.
The likelihood of immediate reactions to
indoor air pollutants depends on several factors. Age and pre-existing
medical conditions are two important influences. In other cases,
whether a person reacts to a pollutant depends on individual
sensitivity, which varies tremendously from person to person. Some
people can become sensitized to biological pollutants after repeated
exposures, and it appears that some people can become sensitized to
chemical pollutants as well.
Certain immediate effects are similar to
those from colds or other viral diseases, so it is often difficult to
determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air
pollution. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the
time and place symptoms occur. If the symptoms fade or go away when a
person is away from home, for example, an effort should be made to
identify indoor air sources that may be possible causes. Some effects
may be made worse by an inadequate supply of outdoor air or from the
heating, cooling, or humidity conditions prevalent in the home.
Long-term effects
Other health effects may show up either
years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated
periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory
diseases, heart disease, and cancer, can be severely debilitating or
fatal. It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your
home even if symptoms are not noticeable.
While pollutants commonly found in indoor
air are responsible for many harmful effects, there is considerable
uncertainty about what concentrations or periods of exposure are
necessary to produce specific health problems. People also react very
differently to exposure to indoor air pollutants. Further research is
needed to better understand which health effects occur after exposure
to the average pollutant concentrations found in homes and which
occurs from the higher concentrations that occur for short periods of
time.
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| Home Inspections | Fireplace and Woodstove Inspections | Air Leakage and Heating Efficiency Evaluations | Radon Testing | ||||||
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Appointments available 7 days a week - Call (519) 938-8349 |
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Copyright
© 2006 Hinsperger Inspection Services Ltd |
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