What are the indoor air quality concerns?
While remodeling, improving the energy efficiency of your home, or repairing water damage - steps should be taken to minimize pollution from sources inside the home, either from new materials, or from disturbing materials already in the home. In addition, residents should be alert to signs of inadequate ventilation, such as stuffy air, moisture condensation on cold surfaces, or mold and mildew growth. These issues should be addressed either before or during the remodeling / repair process. For a discussion of basic indoor air quality in homes and how it can affect your health, see EPA's The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality.
Usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate or control sources of pollution, or to reduce their emissions. Another important approach that goes hand in hand with controlling pollution is using mechanical ventilation to lower the concentrations of pollutants in your home by increasing the amount of outdoor air coming inside.
A third strategy, air cleaning, complements source control and ventilation. These strategies are discussed both in Guidelines to Improving Indoor Air, and in the information included on this site.
In general, you should address the following issues when remodeling your home.
Water Damage / Moisture Control
Too much moisture in a home can lead to mold, mildew, and other biological growth. This in turn can lead to a variety of health effects ranging from more common allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, to death. Excess moisture can be in the form of high relative humidity, leaks in the roof, walls, or plumbing, air moving from the inside or the outside into the walls, or from the basement or crawlspace. Methods to control moisture include fixing any water leaks; providing ventilation in the home; air-sealing; properly using vapor barriers in wall construction, roofs; and preventing soil moisture from entering the home through basements and crawlspaces. Read more...
Ventilation
Good ventilation is important because it protects both your health and your home. Good ventilation protects you and your family from unpleasant odors, irritating pollutants, and potentially dangerous gases. Well-planned ventilation also helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew, which can cause allergic reactions and aggravate lung diseases such as asthma. Ventilation is important both during renovation and also as long as you occupy the home. Remodeling may present an opportunity to ensure your home has adequate ventilation. Read more...
Duct Cleaning
When possible it is a good idea to cover supply registers and return grilles with masking tape to minimize the entrainment of construction dusts. However, if the remodeling project is at a time of year when heating or cooling is required (not only for human comfort, but to properly cure materials) it may be necessary to keep the vents uncovered. In most cases, some form of ventilation is required in the remodeled space thus creating residual build up in the ventilation system. Unless the heating / AC ductwork system has been recently cleaned, it makes the most sense to plan to clean and sanitize the system immediately after the completion of the renovation project. The debris build up not only provides a rich nutrient source for biological growth, but will reduce dusting on any new home improvements. To learn more about duct cleaning, click here.
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