Indoor Air Quality

In recent years, more thought than ever before has been directed at the topic of maintaining indoor air quality in residential homes. Because we spent a large amount of time in our homes, the quality of the air we breathe is very important.

One of the primary offenders reducing the air quality of a home is mold. Mold consists of tiny spores which have the ability to invisibly infiltrate the air and surfaces of your home. Unfortunately, mold is one of the leading allergens in the United States, and it often goes undetected until it reaches dangerous levels.

A good way to eliminate the danger of reducing air quality within the home is to ensure that wet areas within the home are dried within a day or two of the water appearing. This includes leaks in the roof as well as drainage issues. Failing to address dampness will almost certainly result in the presence of mold within the home.

Radon, a colorless odorless gas is the leading cause of lung-cancer in non-smokers. This gas also seriously reduces the air quality in a house when it is present. Because it is colorless and odorless, detection can only be done by a qualified individual with the appropriate equipment.

The Radon detection process is fairly simple. An air quality monitor will be placed in your home for a specific time (usually a day or two) and the results will be analyzed to determine the amount, if any, of Radon Gas present in the home.

If Radon Gas is found to be in your home, there are mitigation systems that can be installed in order to eliminate the danger to those living in the house. It is important to perform this mitigation if your home is affects in order to improve the air quality.

Recently, the number of smokers has decreased. This is good news for those concerned about air quality within the home. Because of the risks and damage associated with second-hand smoke, air quality decline is seriously less when there is no smoking inside of a house.

In this case, the results of secondhand smoke within the house are more visible with the yellowing of walls and fabrics that will occur with frequent in-home smoking.

It is important for those who are affected by asthma, lung illnesses and cancer to be particularly mindful of the indoor air quality of their home. These individuals face enough harmful air in the outside environment that they need a respite, such as home, where they can breathe easy knowing that every effort has been made to maximize air quality.

This home building article by:
Michelle McClory with BuildingPlans.com

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