With the winter heating season upon us, we have to be more aware of the quality of the air in our homes. Two problem areas are:
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
CO is a colorless, odorless gas resulting from incomplete combustion. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 15,000 Americans suffer from carbon monoxide exposure each year. This is found around a faulty fossil-fueled appliance or motor vehicle. Low concentrations of carbon monoxide gas can cause dizziness and flu-like symptoms, while higher levels may cause unconsciousness and even death. Here are some suggestions to keep you and your family safe:
Wood stoves and fireplaces should also be inspected along with their venting.
Use heating appliances only as per the manufacturer's recommendations. Renewable sources, such as wood, are especially dangerous due to their lack of automatic controls.
If you notice anything unusual when using these appliances, such as odors, noises or erratic operation, you should have this checked out quickly. If in doubt, discontinue use until it is repaired.
Don’t use unvented gas appliances, such as grills or space heaters, in your house.
Don’t idle a vehicle inside an attached garage,
Install a quality CO detector as per manufacturer’s directions. If you have an old detector, be sure it is working. If in doubt, replace it. A typical detector is around $40, which is cheap insurance to keep you and your family safe.
Have all gas appliances serviced as per the manufacturer's recommendations, or at least annually.
Humidity
The amount of moisture in the air can affect your comfort, your health, and can even damage your home and its furnishings. Here are some guidelines on managing humidity:
Measure humidity levels on a regular basis. You can purchase a simple hygrometer (humidity gauge) to monitor the levels of moisture in the air. Generally, 20% or less humidity levels might be too low, while 50% or above may be too high.
Low humidity levels can dry out your skin and aggravate respiratory ailments such as colds or flu. It can also cause static electricity and make woodwork split and crack. A common cause of low humidity is warm, moist air leaking out of the house, and cold, dry air leaking in. You need to either add more moisture to the air with a humidifier, or plug the air leaks. Reducing air leakage will also lower your heating bills.
Excessive humidity is a common problem with new homes because of their tighter construction. Symptoms include frosted-over windows, moisture build-up on interior walls, and evidence of mold growing in corners. If not corrected, the windows can be ruined, walls can rot, and mold can make you sick. You can introduce more fresh air into the home (use a heat recovery air exchanger to reduce heat loss), or eliminate interior sources of moisture. These sources can include cooking, bathing, houseplants, improperly vented gas appliances, or a defective plumbing system. In new construction there may be a great deal of moisture in the building material, which will dry out over a period of time.
