Ridding Your Home of Indoor Air Pollutants

Indoor air pollutants can increase allergic symptoms, create irritation in eyes and airways, and can even kill in extreme cases. Follow these tips to keep your home free of as many harmful pollutants as possible, especially in the winter.

Never Let People Smoke in Your House

The Surgeon General says there is no safe level of secondhand smoke. Respiratory tract infections send thousands of children to the hospital each year, and older adults with heart or lung disease are at higher risk when exposed to cigarette or cigar smoke. The pollutants from cigarettes can infiltrate your furniture and even the walls and flooring in your home, giving off their poisonous gases even when no one is actively smoking in the house.

Only Use Stoves and Heaters that Vent Outdoors

You should only use gas stoves and heaters with vents that lead directly to the outside. Fumes from vehicles or yard work equipment left running in garages can also put you at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use grills that require charcoal inside.

Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors Near Your Furnace

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas produced when fossil fuel is burned. In confined spaces, it can cause sudden illness or even death. You often do not know you are suffering from CO poisoning until it is too late, especially if you are sleeping or intoxicated when the leak occurs.

You should have a CO detector and check it regularly, particularly in winter, when we use our furnaces more and keep our windows closed. Replace the batteries in your CO detectors regularly, since false alarms can go off when the batteries are dead.

Choose Paints with Low VOCs

Months after you have painted a room, the paint on your walls releases trace amounts of gases, even if there is no smell. These VOCs (volatile organic compounds) can include toxic formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Low VOC paints, varnishes, waxes and other chemicals are widely available and safer for you and your family. When painting, open windows and use exhaust fans. Never store open paint cans indoors.

Fix Leaks in Your Roof, Foundation and Basement

Rain and humidity can bring moisture indoors. Damp, even without mold, can contribute to wheezing, coughing and asthma symptoms. Check your roof, foundation, and basement annually for areas that might allow water or humidity to enter.

Clean Your AC

Fix leaks and drips in your HVAC system as soon as you notice them. Standing water and high humidity encourage dust mites, mold and mildew, all of which can cause health issues. Use a dehumidifier or AC as needed, and clean both regularly. Make sure to call a trusted, local HVAC company with any questions or concerns you might have about the state of your heating and cooling system – we can give you expert advice on maintenance and repairs.

Use Air Purifiers with Caution

Air cleaning devices can reduce tiny particles, but they all have limits. Air purifiers are not effective against gases or humidity. Many allergens with larger, heavier particles fall too quickly to be effectively removed this way.

Do Not Let Pets in the Bedroom

We’re sorry to say — there is no such thing as a “hypoallergenic” pet. Clean floors and upholstered furniture two or more times a week to reduce allergen exposure, and for the biggest impact, don’t allow pets to sleep on bedding that is used by people (especially pillows).

Pull Up Carpeting

Carpet traps chemicals, dust mites, pet dander and fungi. Vacuuming can help somewhat, but it can also send them into the air. If you have carpets, use a HEPA (high efficiency particle air) vacuum to improve your air quality.

Kill Dust Mites

Dust mites eat human skin and live in stuffed animals, upholstery, bedding and carpeting. To eradicate them, vacuum your carpets and upholstered furniture regularly, steam clean at least annually, keep the humidity in your home below 50%, use covers resistant to dust mites and use hot water to wash bedding.

Leave Asbestos Alone

Inhaling tiny asbestos fibers can increase the risk of diseases of the lungs, including several types of cancer. In years past, asbestos was used to cover pipes, and in flooring, shingles and roofs.

Check asbestos-containing materials regularly. If the material is damaged, or you are remodeling, get a professional to remove the asbestos.

Ventilate to Control Humidity

Normal daily activities, such as showering, washing laundry and doing dishes, release water vapor into your home, so adequate ventilation is key to keeping the air in your home fresh and healthy. Try these tips to keep your indoor humidity down:

• Use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms
• Make sure vents send air outdoors and not back into your home
• Remove any mold as soon as you spot it

Cleaning and maintaining your home’s heating and cooling system is a big part of keeping the indoor air in your home healthy for your whole family. If you have questions or concerns about maintaining your HVAC system in top-notch shape, give your local, trusted HVAC company a call. Here in the Cincinnati area, here at Jansen Heating & Cooling we can provide expert advice, service, and installation to help you keep your home clean and healthy, all year long.