Homeowner Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my home’s air is unhealthy?
There are 3 important clues that can be used to begin an assessment of the quality
of air in your home.
1. Are there visual signs of mold, moisture or other IAQ issues? Signs such as
condensation on windows, staining on walls or ceilings, spotting, bubbling or
peeling of paint or signs of excessive dust, bugs or other pests?
2. How does your home smell after you have been away for a few hours? If it
smells stuffy, stale, musty or if odours linger, these are signs of poor air
quality. If you feel the need to use air fresheners on a regular basis to make
the air smell fresh, that is an indication of poor air quality. Often someone
new to your home is in a better position to detect unusual odours since your
noise may have become conditioned to smells.
3. Do family members or others find they feel worse when in your home? That is,
if people with asthma, allergies, sensitivities or respiratory problems feel their
symptoms are worse when they are in your home, this is an indication the air
in your home could be improved.
What causes indoor air pollution?
There are many possible sources of indoor air quality problems that can be related
to the building or building materials, the surrounding outdoor air and activities and
products used by the occupants in your home. Usually it is a combination of events,
activities or circumstances that result in poor air quality. Someone with a trained
eye and nose who is new to your home is often in the best position to help identify
air quality problems.
How can I improve the quality of air in my home?
In the same way that there may be a combination of factors that lead to poor air
quality, usually improvements in air quality are best achieved with a combination of
solutions that may include lifestyle adjustments, modest renovations and
improvements in mechanical systems. There is a systematic approach used by
indoor air quality professionals when addressing indoor air quality solutions.
First, ask if the sources of potential pollutants can simply be removed. Examples
would include removal of stored chemicals, reduction of scented chemical cleaners
or personal hygiene products, removal of moldy or musty items, removal of carpets
in favour of hard surface flooring, reduction of clutter or household items, repair or
replacement of building materials that are causing water leaks or the entry of pets.
Second, for items that are not easily removed, seal pollutants from occupants.
Examples include, properly sealing doors and other entry points between the house
and an attached garage, air sealing holes that allow water or pest intrusion, seal the
exposed edges of particle board furniture or cabinets to reduce the off-gassing of
chemicals, keep any regularly used chemicals in sealed plastic containers. Another
great strategy is to create an “oasis” for sensitive family members. That is, make their
bedroom into a very clean space by removing carpets, stored items and all
chemicals from their room. Make sure pets are restricted from entering the room
and avoid plants in their room.
Thirdly, once as many items as possible have been removed or sealed, improve the
ventilation in your home. This means ensuring there is an adequate supply of fresh
air from outside being delivered to your home on a continuous basis. Professional
HVAC contractors can help with this.
Finally, allow your HVAC contractor to help you choose the right filtration system for
your home. There are a number of cost effective choices for filtration and your HVAC
contractor will help you choose one that is right for your family and your home.
What is the best indoor air quality product?
A professional HVAC contractor can help you identify and select the product or
combination of products that address the specific indoor air quality issues in your
home and for your family. Every home and every family has different needs and air
quality products should be chosen that target those specific needs rather than
looking for one “silver bullet”.
Will improving the quality of air in my home reduce the allergies, asthma or other respiratory
problems family member experience?
Indoor air quality improvements are an important part of personal health
management because each family member breathes in hundreds of cubic feet of air
each day. Therefore recommendations by professional HVAC contractors can be
seen as positive steps towards better air quality. However, your doctor would be in
the best position to determine whether specific improvements in your home’s air
quality will alleviate your specific health concerns.
What is the right relative humidity for my home?
Moisture is typically bad for buildings and building materials but good for people.
We really want to achieve a moisture balance that avoids condensation on windows
in the winter and damp basements in the summer and yet is comfortable for
occupants. In most houses this means keeping RH levels below 55% in summer and
between 35% and 45% in winter (lower if needed to avoid excessive window
condensation).
I hear people recommending ventilation systems that bring in outside air but what about the
news reports that say outside air is polluted?
It is true that on “smoggy” days, the air outside has a lot of fine dust particles and
ozone in it. However, on most days the air outside has fewer pollutants in it than
inside air – after all, the air currently in your home came from outside and then you
and your family added moisture, dust, chemicals and other pollutants to it.
Therefore on most days, ventilation or the introduction of the right amount of fresh
air, is very helpful in improving air quality. Even on smoggy days, a good, controlled
ventilation system will provide an opportunity to filter out pollutants from the fresh
as it enters your home.
