Home Improvements for Healthy Indoor Air

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Home Improvements for Healthy Indoor Air

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by Tom Kraeutler

(Subscribe to Tom Kraeutler), posted Nov 2nd 2010 7:53PM

With winter on the way, we're all about to spend more time indoors, so the

timing couldn't be better for making home improvements for healthy indoor air.

Today's homes are more tightly sealed than ever, and while that can mean better

insulation and energy efficiency, it also has a definite down side: airborne

contaminants that come into your home end up staying there, making indoor air a

lot more polluted than the air outside.

For safer, healthier indoor air this winter, consider a few home improvements

that you'll appreciate the whole year through.

1. Service HVAC components

Dust, molds and other allergens can accumulate in your heating and cooling

equipment, so invest in system service by a certified professional as the indoor

season begins.

2. Add air-cleaning equipment

Supplement your existing HV/AC equipment with an efficient whole-home indoor air

cleaner, which can effectively prevent air contamination and allergic reactions

by filtering out even virus-sized particles. Portable air filtration devices can

also help to manage air quality room by room. Whether you choose a mechanical,

electronic or hybrid model, remember that the best and most effective

single-room air filters carry both the UL seal and FDA Class II medical device

approval.

Changing your home's air filters isn't enough. Healthy indoor air also depends

on the quality of the filters themselves, and you can improve your home's

filtration by buying filters with a higher MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting

Value) rating.

" The minimum filtration efficiency you should have in filters is MERV 8, but the

typical filters most people use are MERV 3, " says Jeff May, indoor air quality

consultant and author of Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips. " Getting a better filter

costs just a few dollars. "

4. Dehumidify the basement

In winter, it's tempting to trim heating costs by letting a finished basement go

cold, but don't give in. May reminds us that low indoor temperatures lead to

moisture and, eventually, mold issues, so it's wise to keep your basement warm

with a humidity level no higher than 50 percent. Take steps to fix damp

basements, including adding dehumidification equipment (whether integrated or

portable), and get the hang of using a hydrometer to check basement humidity

levels.

5. Clean the refrigerator

This isn't just a helpful reminder to clear fridge space as you prepare for

holiday parties. Well before extended kitchen hours begin, clean inside, under

and around your refrigerator. Exhaust issues can impact kitchen air quality, as

can the mold that develops in the drip tray under older-model refrigerators.

Clean this and other moisture-harboring refrigerator components, and vacuum away

dust accumulations that can block vents.

6. Maintain carbon monoxide detectors

Heating sources like fireplaces and woodstoves can generate dangerous carbon

monoxide, as can kitchen appliances.

" We actually worked with a family where one member would get really sick every

Christmas. Turned out the oven in the mother's house was putting out a lot of

carbon monoxide, " says May. " So it's a good idea, if you're going to do a lot of

cooking, to have your carbon monoxide detector in order and to keep the kitchen

exhaust fan running to pull the exhaust fumes out, even if you have an electric

stove. "

To prevent carbon monoxide from being an uninvited guest in your home, install

carbon monoxide detectors if you don't have them already, and do a monthly check

of detectors to ensure that they'll warn you of any indoor air dangers.

7. Invest in a HEPA vacuum

Choose a vacuum equipped with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter to

keep indoor air clean throughout your family's winter hibernation. With this

helper at the ready, you can quickly remove any seasonal allergens tracked in by

visitors and keep pet dander from accumulating.

8. Find new flooring

If you're due to replace carpet in a room or an entire living space, consider

switching to wood, laminate, tile or linoleum. Carpeting tends to trap and hold

allergens of all kinds, including pesky dust mites. Remove carpeting, and you'll

banish 90 percent of the dust mites in residence.

9. Make a better bed

Ensure sound, allergy-free sleep by replacing mattresses with non-allergenic

models, and shop for dust-mite-proof casings for mattresses, comforters and

pillows. Equip your guest room with the same non-allergenic items, and be sure

to do a weekly wash of all household bedding.

10. Diminish dust-attracting décor

As you restyle living spaces for the season, carefully consider upholstered

furnishings, fabric-based accents and an overload of displayed accessories that

can attract and hold dust. You can still have a plush, cozy winter hideaway if

you choose washable throws, slipcovers and pillow shams and clutter-free décor.

Tom Kraeutler is a home improvement expert for AOL Real Estate and host of " The

Money Pit, " a nationally syndicated home improvement radio program offering cost

effective home improvement tips and ideas.