Fix the cause of dry air and breathe easier all year round.
 

Many are accustomed to using humidifiers to control humidity levels. But humidifiers can have a negative impact on indoor air quality.

The answer to dry air is moisture control.

Properly sealed homes do not require humidifiers to keep ambient humidity levels at a comfortable level.

This cross section of an attic shows common air leakage pathways. Air leaking out of your home draws an equal amount air in from the outdoors. Excessive air leakage can cause persistently dry indoor air during the winter heating season.

Breathe Easy knowing that a healthy home is just around the corner...

Here's a snapshot of the improvements recommended for their home:

In our March newsletter, we will take a look at how much Jamie and Daniel have saved on energy bills in their newly upgraded home. We'll also ask them what comfort and/or indoor air quality improvements the two have realized since the recommended work was installed.

Here's a sneak peek...

For those concerned about legionnaires disease, a type of pneumonia carried by stagnant water, it's important to recognize that a properly maintained system greatly reduces the risk of harboring the disease causing bacteria.  According to the CDC, each year, 8,000-18,000 people in the United States are hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease. Legionnaires' disease is usually treated successfully with antibiotics, but can sometimes be fatal. Exposure may happen by inhaling aerosolized Legionella Disease Bacteria (LDB) or by drinking water contaminated with LDB.  Some populations are more likely to become seriously ill when infected with Legionella such as individuals who are 50 years or older, smokers, those with chronic lung disease, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Resources for additional information:

• U.S. Center For Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/index.html
• U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Alert: http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/121522/5098.pdf
• NPR News: Many Water Heaters Set Too High, Upping Burn Risk

image: theerraticmuse.com

This smell, when located around a lamp or overhead light fixture, can indicate an overheated light bulb. Unplug and open the fixture and note the wattage of both the light bulb and the advised maximum wattage printed on the fixture. 90% of the energy consumed by incandescent light bulbs (the" traditional," inefficient type) is converted to heat, and as anyone who has mistakenly touched a hot bulb can attest, easily burns skin or fabric. When a light bulb exceeds a fixture's maximum recommended wattage, excess heat melts or burns the surrounding materials from the inside out (causing the scorched smell), or even start a fire if left unchecked. You can safely and easily provide the same amount of light in a room by installing energy-efficient CFL or LED light bulbs. Efficient light bulbs produce minimal heat compared to incandescent bulbs and save money in the long run.

Learn more about LED and CFL light bulbs from the federal Energy Star website. Additionally, the California Energy Commission's Consumer Energy Center website has a handy comparison guide on home lighting options: http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/lighting/bulbs.html

New paint, cleaning products, and air fresheners:

image: mnductcleaning.com

Read more about VOCs here: http://www.nchh.org/Portals/0/Essentials_9_Keep_It_Contaminant-Free_Nar_June2014.pdf

Pets:

image: wagthedoggiedaycare.com/

For more on controlling pet-related asthma triggers, check out the EPA's Indoor Air Quality website: http://www.epa.gov/asthma/pets.html

Gas:

Periodically checking your gas-powered appliances, including stoves, water heaters, and clothes dryers, is recommended. Any trained home inspector worth their salt will immediately advise customers if they detect a gas-like odor in the home. Neglecting a gas leak can have terrible consequences under the right conditions where combustion is involved. If you smell gas in your home, leave the premises immediately and call your utility company. Keep in mind that gas leaks, like all other indoor air pollutants, can be more consequential during the winter months because occupants spend substantially more time indoors and are therefore more exposed and vulnerable to safety hazards.

Interested in learning more about Indoor Air Quality? The American Lung Association can be a great resource: http://www.lung.org/associations/charters/mid-atlantic/air-quality/indoor-air-quality.html

Finding the money for home improvements can be hard. Here's a thought: Make your home improvement projects pay for themselves by investing in energy savings upgrades, such as adding attic insulation and professionally sealing up hidden air leaks.

For homeowners making these kinds of upgrades there are loans available to help at interest rates of 9.99% (which, we should mention, can be much less than the energy savings you'll realize from your new efficient home!).  Details on what kind of work is eligible is available at the MHELP website. 

See Program Information Here    

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