You may have heard that indoor air can be more polluted than the largest
industrial cities, but breathe easy; the good news is that the most difficult
and expensive measures are not always the most effective – nor are they always
necessary. Before you call in the hazmat team, try using these five methods to
improve the air quality in your home:
1. Remove the source
Clean regularly with non-toxic household products ( see, "Five Tips for Greener Cleaning") and a
well-maintained, high-filtration vacuum
cleaner, and don’t allow anyone to smoke in your home. Paint, solvents, adhesives,
kerosene, gasoline and pesticides are potential pollutants and should be stored
securely, and not inside the house. Ensure that woodstoves, fireplaces or
kerosene heaters are properly vented to the outdoors.
2. Ventilate your home
Good ventilation will help lower
indoor pollutant levels. One of the simplest and least expensive methods of
removing indoor air pollutants is to open a window or two. However,
if you want the best ventilation control and
effectiveness, consider installing a mechanical ventilation system that works
with your central air handling system. (For more information, contact the Home
Ventilating Institute www.hvi.org.)
3. Filter indoor air
Use a furnace filter with a MERV rating between 8
and 13 to trap particulate matter and keep it from re-circulating through your
home. (Be sure to check manufacturer recommendations, since central air systems
require adequate airflow to work properly.) Portable air purifiers can be
effective, but are limited to the room size indicated by the manufacturer.
(Check the Clean Air Delivery Rate or CADR of various air
cleaners at the Web site of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers www.cadr.org.)
4. Control humidity
Humidity provides a
welcome atmosphere for dust
mites and mold, and can
concentrate levels of other pollutants. Keep the humidity in your home between
30-50 percent, vent kitchens, bathrooms and laundry
areas, and if you occasionally use a humidifier, keep it scrupulously clean. A
dehumidifier may also be necessary in cases where moisture and humidity are a
problem.
5. Test the air in your home
Inexpensive radon test kits and carbon monoxide detectors can be purchased from
hardware and home improvement stores to alert you of the presence of these
odorless, invisible and sometimes deadly gases. Radon occurs naturally in soil and rock, but can rise to
dangerous levels when trapped inside a home. Once detected, however, radon
levels can be reduced or almost entirely eliminated. Carbon monoxide can slip undetected from a faulty furnace, hot water
heater or gas stove, an unvented kerosene heater, or automobile exhaust from an
attached garage. A carbon monoxide detector can save lives.
