At the office water cooler, the topic of improving indoor air quality continues to be discussed. Why does our office usually smell so horrible, with the kids constantly sneezing and the house always seeming so dusty? What gives with my hands being so abrasive? Does this sound familiar to you?
Fortunately, the remedies are straightforward, but they won't disappear unless someone steps up to the plate. A basic indoor air quality evaluation should be your first step. You can perform one yourself by answering the following questions, or you can get a free assessment from a local Heating and Cooling contractor. Ascertain whether or not they address the issue of indoor air quality. The term "Indoor Air Quality Consultant" has been coined for some of these individuals. Let's start with some basics, shall we?
If so, which rooms or floors of the house are you most likely to detect symptoms in? Common symptoms include runny or stuffy nose and eyes, as well as the inability to catch your breath.
Inquiring minds want to know if anyone in the home smokes.
Do you own any animals? I'm curious about the type.
Asthma and allergies are two of the most common
A few questions: What kind of climate control do you have, and how reliable is it?
If you have a home filtration system, what kind is it?
Does your residence have a dehumidifier?
Are there humidifiers in any rooms in the house?
Do you see any mold growing on your walls or ceilings?
Do your windows ever become cold enough to freeze the dew on them in the winter?
In order to help you out, I'd like to offer a few suggestions.
A good rule of thumb is to clean and replace your home's air filters every three months and to check and replace them annually. People don't seem to be paying attention to this one, even though it's so obvious. As soon as your filters become clogged with debris and dust, your furnace and your health are in jeopardy since the air can no longer effectively circulate through them.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has this to say regarding home filters:
"Residential furnaces and air conditioners generally employ flat or panel air filters with a MERV of 1 to 4. It's not uncommon for HVAC equipment to be protected from undesired material accumulation on fan motors and heating or cooling coils by the use of these filters.
Filters with a pleated or expanded surfacetoronto radon removal can all be removed with an ERV.
Using a whole-house humidifier is a great way to combat dry air and skin in the winter. While you sleep, you could even believe that your 5-gallon elephant vaporizer, which emits mist into your room, will be of some assistance. Instead of being self-centered, consider installing a whole-house By-pass humidifier to benefit your entire household or workplace. This type of vaporizer is quite simple to set up, and you won't have to worry about refilling it again for a long time. Static electricity is no match for these.
In most cases, a commercial dehumidifier won't be necessary unless you reside in a particularly humid environment or below the flood level. If you're fed up with having to empty your portable basement system over and over again, this may be the solution for you. The basic whole-house dehumidifier removes four times as much water from the air as other dehumidifiers, while also saving electricity and removing odors from the air.
As for mold, some of these remedies may be helpful, but only for airborne mold. You should contact a mold mitigation professional if there are signs of mold in your basement or bathroom. If mold isn't dealt with right away, it can do a lot of damage. Behind the drywall or paneling, you may not be able to notice any damage at all.
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