Indoor air pollution can be a serious problem for homeowners, especially for those with young children. Knowing some of the most common sources of indoor air pollution, as well as regularly changing your air filter, can help improve indoor air quality. Some other things to look out for include:
High-VOC Paint
Paint that doesn’t specifically say low-VOC will release a lot of harmful organic compounds into the air as it dries. While water-based paints release VOCs, oil-based paints will release much more and should be avoided for indoor use. If you do paint, make sure the area is well ventilated.
Fireplaces
An open fireplace can be a very big source of pollution no matter what type it is. No gas fireplace can completely burn 100 percent of the fuel, and a real wood fireplace can be a major soot producer. By making sure your chimney is properly cleaned, you can prevent pollutants from building up significantly.
New Carpet
Carpet fresh from the factory will still have adhesives that are setting, releasing VOCs as they do. Due to how carpet is manufactured, the best thing to do is to let your new carpet lay out for a couple of days, followed by keeping your room well ventilated for two to three days.
Pressed Board
Any sort of pressed board contains formaldehyde, which aids in preventing deterioration, but is also extremely harmful to humans. Over time, this danger decreases significantly, but it’s still helpful to look for pressed board products that are specifically low in formaldehyde.
Glue
All types of glue release pollutants as they dry, mainly in the form of VOCs. Look for low-VOC glue, and keep the area where you’re working well-ventilated.
If you would like more information about indoor air pollution, or for any other air conditioning and ventilation concerns, get in touch with Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving the greater Fresno area for nearly 40 years and would love to share our expertise with you.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air pollution and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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