Indoor Air Quality Solutions, IAQS

Humidity has an important effect on comfort during the summer. Some weather forecasters in the summer talk about the comfort index, which attempts to show how much hotter the air temperature is likely to feel to you because of the humidity. The higher the humidity, the hotter you will feel. One of the ways air conditioners operate is to remove humidity from the air, which makes you feel cooler.

If you live in an area with high humidity, be careful about leaving windows and doors open during the summer. This will allow moisture from the outside air to enter your home. A way to control indoor moisture during humid summer months is to run an air conditioner and/or a dehumidifier. If you use a dehumidifier, clean it often. Also, empty it daily or have it drip directly into a drain.

Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air. Therefore, when your home is warm in the summer, more moisture is likely to stay in the air rather than condensing on the surfaces of walls and windows. In most climates, keeping an indoor humidity level below 60 percent in the summer probably will prevent condensation and mold growth.

Even though your air conditioner removes moisture from the air, the areas around your air conditioning system can be a source of water build-up. Make sure the drip pan on your air conditioner has not overflowed, and check near your air conditioning system for traces of dampness where mold can grow.

Weather forecasters talk about the relative humidity outdoors. Likewise, the inside of your home has a relative humidity, which is a measure of the moisture content in the air. Hardware stores sell instruments to measure the humidity inside your home.

Humidity is an important factor affecting the comfort level in your home. Have you ever awakened in the middle of a winter night to discover that your throat and nose feel very dry? That could mean the humidity in your home is too low. To remedy the problem, some people use humidifiers, which are designed to raise the humidity in a home. Your goal should be to have enough humidity in the air so the members of your household can stay healthy and comfortable.

Too much humidity can cause droplets of water to form on your walls, floors and windows, which can lead to mold growth. This formation of water droplets is called condensation. It occurs when warm moisture comes in contact with a cool surface. If you pour a glass of ice water and leave it on your kitchen table, the glass soon will begin to sweat. The sweating does not come from inside the glass. It is created when moisture from the air condenses when it comes in contact with the cold outer surface of the glass.

A sign of excessive humidity in a home can be condensation on the inside of windows, especially if you have double- or triple-pane windows. If condensation is present for prolonged periods, take steps to reduce the level of moisture or increase ventilation in your home. Condensation also can result from the use of unvented fuel-burning appliances, such as kerosene heaters or wood-burning stoves. If you use such appliances, have them inspected by a professional contractor or a utility company representative.

Another sign of excess moisture could be the warping of floors or difficulty in opening wood windows and doors. In such cases, the moisture from the air is absorbed into the wood, causing it to expand.

The old cliché “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” has been proven true many times, but never so poignantly as it is when applied to state of indoor air quality. The air you breathe is an easily underappreciated commodity—and most of the real health concerns are odorless as well as invisible. So even though airborne hazards are easily overlooked, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), your home is most likely a very toxic environment. Believe it or not, your home is 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outside.

This is why the EPA rates indoor air quality as one of the top five environmental risks to public health. The truth is that energy-efficient construction techniques save money on utility bills, but make your home into catch all for air contamination. Elements that are found outside easily make their way indoors and become collected and concentrated—but many of the items that we furnish our homes with have potent effect on the air as well.

The good news is that there are ways to make a huge impact on the quality of indoor air—and here’s 9 simple ways to make it happen:

1. Fresh Air

Modern homes are almost comparable to a Tupperware container in the manner in which they collect and store pollution. Older, “drafty” houses are proven to not hold onto contaminants like newer homes do, because those drafts allow air quality offenders to escape back outside. So make a point to “air out” your house. On a certain day each week, flick off the heater and open a few windows. In the winter, you can either time the airing out with a grocery store trip, walk around the neighborhood or while you’re baking or cooking. In the summer, it is advisable to open windows at night and keep them closed during the hottest points of the day

2. Health-Conscious Heating

The American Lung Association has cited that more than 70% of Americans have forced or central heating, but 50% of those heaters never get a regular filter change. Alarmingly, 10% have never had a filter replacement at all. It is important to have your heater inspected annually—and to replace the filter every 3 months. Most filters are very easy to change, and merely need to be slid out and thrown away. For extra protection, many people install HEPA grade furnace filters like those made by Dynamic Air Cleaners. These filters remove more particles in general, but also can catch the tiniest ones that pass right through regular filters. The Dynamic Air Cleaner furnace filters are as easy to install as a regular filter.

3. Hold Off on Household Cleaners

For the most part, household cleaners are as tough on soap scum, stains and grease as they are on your health. The fragrances used in the cleaners are often their only redeeming point when it comes to how they impact the people who use them. There are several natural cleaning agents that you might want to consider, such as baking soda and white vinegar. In addition there are a few brands with specially formulated non-toxic ingredients.

Another source of air pollution that we introduce to our house comes in the form of air fresheners. Whether they plug in or are “spritzed” into the air, it is guaranteed that most all of them have ingredients with toxic qualities. Many of the ingredients used in air fresheners have no been adequately researched to determine whether they are dangerous or not. For some tips to cure the cause of unpleasant smells, see my post on air fresheners.

4. Green Thumbs = Clean Air

The very same elements in the air that are dangerous for people are not a problem for plants, which not only thrive in spite of household air contaminants, but also help to remove them from the air. Airborne formaldehyde (a carcinogen that comes from materials like plywood, adhesives, carpet and paint) and carbon monoxide (produced by heating or cooking equipment) are readily removed by house plants. For more information on what plant types are the most effective at cleaning the air and most easily grown, check out this article on plants and air quality.

5. Fend Off Mold and Mites

Two of the most pervasive allergens and air quality foes are dust mites and mold spores. The primary requirement for both of these pests to thrive is moisture—so the trick to eliminating mod and mites at the same time is to keep indoor humidity under check. In rooms where humidity is usually high, like bathroom, kitchens and unfinished basements, try running a dehumidifier. For those with allergies, you might want to check out more quick tips dealing with mold and dust mites.

6. De-Shoe at the Door

An alarming statistic shows that 90% of a person’s exposure to pesticides occurs in an indoor environment. How do these chemicals make their way into homes? –they hitch a ride on shoes and are tracked throughout the house. Simply removing your shoes at the door is the best way to avoid importing pesticides.

7. Smoke Removal 101

Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, and lighting up indoors is one of the worst things that you can do for your living environment. If you or your friends smoke, try to keep smoking limited to the outdoors. Stepping outside to smoke can save your home and your health.

8. Test for Radon

Radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer and is right behind tobacco smoke, which is the number one cause of lung cancers. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is found in high levels in every corner of America. It leaches out of the ground and permeates homes through basements and building foundations. It is estimated that one out of 15 in the United States has radon levels that are considered unhealthy by the EPA.

Test kits for radon and cheap and easy to use and can be purchased at hardware stores. So test your air and make sure your home isn’t that one out of the 15.

9. Hazardous Home Improvements

Most all of the surfaces and substances that are found inside are home have been treated, coated or glued. This means that most carpeting, upholstery, furniture will introduce formaldehyde into the air. Beyond the risk of cancer, formaldehyde also causes mild to severe eye, nose, skin and throat irritation.

Look for furniture and other home goods that are made with “green” materials—or air out new furniture in the garage or backyard for a few days before bringing them inside.

While mold spores are all around us, mold growth can be prevented. As mentioned earlier, mold growing in your home requires MOISTURE, WARMTH, and FOOD. Depriving mold of any of these three items will stop it from growing, but it will not kill the mold that is already there. Mold spores will remain dormant, and if the moisture, warmth and food all reappear, mold will begin to grow again.

The most important steps in controlling mold growth are to clean any existing mold and to eliminate excessive moisture. You can take numerous precautionary steps:

Vacuum and clean regularly to remove possible sources of mold growth. Pay special attention to bathrooms and other areas of your home that are likely to generate a lot of moisture.

In portions of your home that are susceptible to moisture, use area rugs or washable floor surfaces rather than wall-to-wall carpeting. If you use area rugs, launder them periodically.

Do not store materials such as paper, books, clothes, or other possible sources of food for mold in humid parts of your home.

Repair water leaks in your roof, windows, or any other part of the home as soon as possible.

Clean refrigerator drip pans regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If your refrigerator and freezer doors do not seal properly, moisture can build up and mold can grow there. Remove any mold on the door gaskets and replace faulty gaskets.

If you live in a house, make sure that your gutters and downspouts are clear of debris that may block the flow of water from your roof. Make sure the area under your downspouts is properly graded so that rainwater from the roof flows away from your foundation. Splash blocks can help rainwater to flow in the proper direction. If necessary, extend your downspouts.

Make sure other areas around your foundation are graded so that rainwater does not flow toward the house. Do not put gardens or plants too close to your foundation so that watering them could cause water to flow toward your house. If you water your lawn with a sprinkler, make sure the water does not hit your house or the area next to the foundation.

In the kitchen and bathroom, open windows or use exhaust fans when engaging in activities that produce moisture. Exhaust fans should be vented to the outdoors and not to an attic or crawl space.

If you have a clothes dryer, make sure it is vented to the outdoors.

If you use a humidifier, make sure it does not produce an excessive amount of humidity. During the summer, 60 percent relative humidity or lower probably will prevent condensation and mold growth in most parts of the country, but that is too moist for the middle of winter, when 40 percent relative humidity or lower will prevent condensation on windows.

If you live in a house with a basement, consider using a dehumidifier there. The cool basement floor and walls can be a source of moisture build-up.

If your home has an attic, make sure it is properly insulated and ventilated.

If you have a crawl space under your house, cover the soil in the crawl space with waterproof polyethylene plastic. If your crawl space is ventilated, close the vents in the summer and keep them open in the winter.

If you have water problems in your basement or crawl space, clean up affected areas as quickly as possible and take immediate steps to resolve the source of the problem.

Reducing indoor allergens is simpler and cheaper than you think!

Sneeze, cough, blow your noise, sneeze, cough, and blow your nose… Does this sound familiar? Is this a seemingly never ending cycle for you while you are trying to relax in your own home? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from all sorts of allergies which affect daily living at home. In fact, as many as one in four Americans suffer from indoor allergies.

The most common indoor allergens are dust and mold. Your quality of life at home can greatly improve by taking steps to reduce household allergens. It’s not such a simple task, because at first it involves spending a bit of money and taking the time to clean more intensely. The good news is that it really helps and you’ll see an instant improvement in the way you feel. You may even notice a money savings as you’ll find yourself spending less on tissues for blowing your nose!

The severity of your allergy symptoms will determine how many steps you’ll want to take to reduce the allergens in your home. For some, an increase in dusting, vacuuming, and general cleaning can make a huge improvement. But for most, other steps must be taken as well. Here are practical ways to help reduce household allergens:

Carpets
Carpeting is the #1 household dust collecting problem. Carpets trap in dust mites and dust mites love carpets; not a good combination for those allergic to dust mites. The best idea is to remove all carpet and go for linoleum, wood, or ceramic floors. If that is not possible, make sure to vacuum daily with a HEPA filtered vacuum. Get your carpets professionally cleaned every few months.

Windows
Windows often trap in moisture which quickly turns into mold. Clean mold and condensation from window frames and sills. Replace weather stripping as necessary — it will help keep the moisture out. Caulk and repair around the window as needed, paying close attention to any cracks. Windows should be kept closed during high pollen times — usually in the early spring through the summer, but this depends on where you live. The best way to reduce household allergens is to not let them in! So keep your windows closed (and the AC on) and you’ll notice an improvement.

Furniture and window treatments
Avoid upholstered furniture. Leather, wood, and even plastic furniture is best for reducing household allergens. The best window treatments are washable roller type shades or washable curtains. Keep in mind that curtains collect dust — washing them frequently, even as often as every few weeks, will help to limit the dust.

Ventilation, humidification and filtration
Furnace and AC filters should be checked and changed frequently. It’s best to use a HEPA air filter which does not require monthly replacement. If your HVAC system does not have a whole house ventilation system, consider having one installed. You should also: Keep humidity levels at no more than 50 percent, make sure your dryer is properly vented to the outside, use a dehumidifier to reduce household dampness and clean it at least once a week, and have your air ducts cleaned every few years. Using a vented exhaust fan for the kitchen is ideal as it will reduce fumes and moisture and be sure it is properly vented to the outside. A bathroom exhaust fan is just as important in order to reduce moisture while bathing or showering.

Cleaning habits
Reducing clutter significantly reduces dust. Keep toys in bins and avoid or limit stuffed animals in your home. Magazines, cardboard boxes, and more are all magnets for dust — and pests. In fact, cockroaches, which happen to be a common allergen, can hide behind boxes. Other cleaning habits include: emptying the trash daily and using a trash bin with a lid. Start a cleaning routine which entails thoroughly dusting the entire house. The less clutter and items you have on counters and tables will decrease the dust and decrease the time needed for dusting.

Bathroom and kitchen
Check under all sinks in the bathrooms and kitchens for plumbing leaks. Use washable bathroom rugs. Consider using a floor towel instead of a rug/mat as it can be easily and more frequently washed. Remove bathroom wallpaper and use tile or mold-resistant enamel paint. Pay close attention to mold growth on the shower curtain and clean the mold off as necessary. Towel-dry the shower or tub after use as it will help limit mold growth. Regularly empty and clean the dripping pan of the fridge. Clean or replace moldy rubber seals around the fridge doors.

Other tips•Linens and mattresses are unfortunately yet another dust trap. Therefore, pillows, mattresses, and box springs should be encased in dust-proof covers which will significantly reduce the amount of dust that you breathe. Linens should be washed once a week in water above 54 degrees Fahrenheit.

•Limit or remove all plants. Spread aquarium type gravel over the dirt to contain mold growth.
•Consider a natural gas fireplace instead of a wood burning fireplace, which causes smoke.

Try one, or try all, you’ll surely notice a difference either way. These tips for reducing home allergens will also help to improve the general air quality in your home. Even if you do not have allergies, following these tips will make for a healthier home.

You may want to have your indoor environment assessed by a CIEC Council Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant to help identify any elevations of allergens in your home and identify the cause and origin so you can take the appropriate corrective action. If you need to have your home inspected for mold make sure your mold inspector is a Florida State Licensed Mold Assessor. To be licensed as a Mold Assessor the State of Florida ensures that your mold assessor is properly, insured, and trained.