Reports of indoor air quality has required for many of us to take a look at our homes, and wonder whether we are breathing pollutants that we were never aware they were in there. Government research studies conducted through out the years have shown the many pollutants in our home that affect our health and well being. Specially troubling is the way these pollutants affect learning in children, and the health issues associated with breathing which include respiratory or asthma related problems. For more about this topic, follow the links below.
Is the Air in Your Home Affecting Your Health? How to Reduce Indoor Pollution
Pollution is increasingly—and rightfully—on people’s minds lately, as seen in the host of new products addressing its negative effects on the skin and the troubling smog levels in cities like Beijing. But only recently did I start thinking more seriously about the air quality inside the home, after a pair of prolific chain-smokers moved in downstairs, sending evidence of their dedication wafting up into my apartment. What else, besides that stale Marlboro tinge, lurks behind closed doors and windows?
“Indoor air is rated by the EPA, and all our research indicates that it’s five times worse than outdoor air,” says Max Kirk, Ph.D., an associate professor at Washington State University who researches indoor air quality. “As we tighten up our homes for energy efficiency, we live in more of a soup than we ever have before.” The ingredients in that unsavory soup might include chemical gases emitted by furniture, household cleaning products, common allergens like dust, and outside pollution that breezes in and stays put. “If you think that about 90 percent of your life is spent indoors, then it really starts to add up,” stresses Kirk, who is part of a team of scientists at work on a three-year, EPA-funded study examining the effects of climate change on domestic spaces. “A home is almost a living thing: It moves. It breathes. It exhausts air on its own; it brings in air,” he says, explaining how they tracked the effects of last summer’s forest fires inside two homes. “As researchers, it really opened our eyes.”
Around The House: How to add humidity and keep the air clean
Dear Ken: What’s the best way to humidify a house and still have clean air? I have a son with allergies and am concerned about air quality. – Michelle
Answer: Furnace-mounted, whole-house humidifiers do a pretty good job these days because the modern units are self-cleaning, dribbling water continuously over a mesh pad. My favorite brand of humidifier is Aprilaire. You can buy one with a computer that takes charge of the furnace and runs the fan when humidity gets low; they cost about $500, installed.
Using the right furnace filter is key because it is the front line in air quality defense. Look for the 3M Filtrete brand. Its highest-rated filter is a little pricey – about $16 – but it will help at your house, especially if you run the furnace fan 24/7.
The ultimate in furnace filtration is attained with an electronic air filter attached to the furnace’s blower cabinet. This is a plug-in device with electrostatic circuitry – similar to a “bug zapper” – that cleans virtually all foreign material from the indoor air.
Home Improvement Day: Best Practices for Air Quality in the Home
There are many possible problems with indoor air quality, and the beginning of summer is a great time to tackle them.
On this episode of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe talks with home improvement expert Bill McAnally about indoor air quality and how to identify and fix problems, along with other benefits to improving air quality.
McAnally identifies several potential hazards for indoor air quality. He recommends being careful when applying carpet and ensuring that there is proper protection against moisture. He also recommends watching out for lines of dirt under doors or any other areas because that can be a sign of poor air quality.
Another symptom? Poor health, like headaches, are a common side-effect of bad air quality in the home. Double checking the yard and strong chemicals outside of the house, along with cleaning the air filter are good first steps to ensuring clean air.
