Make Your Home Healthier
May 06, 2009
Make Your Home Healthier
By Tanja Kern
Your home is your sanctuary, but could it also be a hazard to your health? Dirty air, mold spores and chemicals can contribute to an unhealthy home environment. Thankfully, there are a number of improvements you can make to create a safe shelter for your family, says Steve Shinn, GCP, NARI member and owner of Homework Remodels in Phoenix, Ariz. This Green Certified Professional (GCP) helps homeowners figure out which enhancements promote healthy indoor environments—without breaking their budgets.
“We need to look at the home as a system and not just a bunch of little parts, but you don’t have to do everything at once,” Shinn says. “Do what you can afford now and you can come back and do the more expensive projects later.”
These tips will make your home a safer place to live:
Cut down VOCs: A key way to improve your home’s health is by using products that are labeled low- or no-VOC. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted by a variety of home improvement products, including paints, lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings. VOCs pollute indoor air, and some have short- and long-term adverse health effects. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says VOC concentrations are up to 10 times higher indoors than out.
“VOCs are very high on people’s list of concerns,” Shinn says. “Paint is the fist thing they think about, but some other materials, like carpet, can also be a major source of off-gassing.”
Improve flooring: Your choice of flooring can impact your health. For some, carpet is an allergy trigger. “When I bought my home, which is a 50-year old house, it had brand new carpet in it, but after two to three years, I had some real [allergy] problems,” Shinn shares. “I have a history of allergies, and after I removed the carpeting, I felt instantly better.”
There are mixed messages about the cleanliness of carpet. Air quality professionals often say that carpet acts as a dust trap, and the dirt can never be completely removed by vacuuming. In contrast, dust collected on hard surface flooring, such as tile, wood and laminate, can be wiped up easily.
Jeff Bishop, technical adviser for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, says that carpet can improve the indoor environment by trapping dust particles until you vacuum them. If you don’t clean your carpets regularly, however, those dust particles will be released into the air and can trigger respiratory problems.
Seal leaks: Older homes have plenty of air leaks. Seal them and you will prohibit excess dust and allergens from entering your house. Windows, doors and fireplaces are obvious places to look for leaks, but power outlets, light switches and ceiling lights can also contribute to heat and air conditioning loss.
“When you open and close the door, there’s an increase and decrease of air pressure and it can suck the dust right out of your attic,” Shinn says. “They make sealers to seal that stuff up. It will help reduce heating and cooling bill and keep your home cleaner.”
Amp up ventilation: To suck bad air out of a home and bring fresh air in, you need to install adequate ventilation. Add a fan in your kitchen and bathroom and it will help remove odors, bacteria, humidity and cut down mold growth.
“Everybody forgets to switch the bathroom fan off when they leave in the morning, and it runs all day,” Shinn says. “Spend a few extra dollars and install a fan with a timer. You will save your fan’s motor, electricity and a few dollars.”
If your home is sealed tight, you will also need to install a small reverse fan that introduces fresh air into the house. This will improve air circulation and help stop the growth of mold.
Add air filtration: According to the EPA, the air inside your home could be up to five times more polluted than the outside air. But there’s no need to hold your breath—air purifiers can help clean the air by capturing microscopic contaminants. The filters remove irritants like mold spores, pet dander, cigarette soot and dust, making it easier for people with allergies to breathe.
“A lot of new air conditioning manufacturers are providing high efficiency HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration systems that are built into the duct work,” Shinn says.
Drink pure water: Water quality is a precious resource. Instead of drinking water from plastic water bottles, opt for a water filtration system that will remove sediment and chemicals, like chlorine, from tap water.