This article discusses how Indoor Air Quality affects allergies and breathing problems.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C, in Plano, Texas provides full-service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home.  Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C is near your home in Plano, TX; Allen, TX and Frisco, Texas.  We service all homes in southern Collin County, TX and Denton County, TX with no additional travel charge.

Poor Indoor Air Quality Contributes To Allergies & Breathing Problems

The U.S. population averages as much as 90% of its time indoors. Consequently, allergens and irritants from the indoor environment may play a significant role in triggering asthma episodes. A number of indoor environmental asthma triggers are biological pollutants. **

If you’re having trouble with allergies or breathing inside your newer home — it may be due to poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).   While older homes leak more air than needed to ensure good IAQ  — newer homes are built very airtight.  With too little ventilation — humidity & pollutants build up inside the home.  Newer homes have mechanical-ventilation to ensure enough exchange of fresh, outdoor air with stale, indoor air.

Whole house mechanical-ventilation is a device with a fan that creates an intentional exchange of stale, indoor air with fresh, outdoor air — at a controlled rate.  Its purpose is to improve indoor air quality.   Below the first section (Common Indoor Air Pollutants) — we’ll discuss common Mechanical Ventilation Systems found in newer homes.

** Source:  https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/publications/books/housing/cha05.htm

There Are 2 Types Of Pollutants In The Air

Airborne Particles 

• Particles / Particulates — Can Be Removed With A HEPA or “HEPA Like” air filter — (less effective than a true HEPA — but still very effective).  These are what triggers allergies.

Airborne Gasses

• Gaseous pollutants: include (but not limited to) burning of fossil fuels, paints, varnishes, cleaning products, pressed-wood furniture, and new carpets.  That “new smell” is VOS’s off-gassing from the product.

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): indoor VOCs are largely emitted by paint, furniture, household chemicals, and other similar sources.  Some VOC’s are carcinogenic (may cause cancer).

You Can Test Indoor Air Quality With An Air-Quality Monitor

Image Source: Amazon Embedded Link

Click On Image To; View Product, See Details, or Purchase From Amazon.com

SHOWN: Air Quality Monitor

The Most Common Indoor Air Pollutants

Biological Pollutants:

• mold & mildew

• bacteria & viruses

• house dust & dust mites — 1 ounce of dust has around 40,000 dust mites.  Dust-mites are one of the most common household allergens.

• animal dander & cat saliva

• cockroaches

Controlling humidity-level minimizes some biologicals.  Relative humidity of up to 50% is recommended for homes.

Standing water, water-damaged materials, and wet surfaces provide a breeding-ground for; molds, mildews, bacteria and insects.  Dust mites are one of the most powerful allergens — and they flourish in damp and warm environments.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s):

NOTE: That “new smell” is the off-gassing of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)

• dry-cleaned clothing

• some building materials and home furnishings — particularly those made of wood particles or wood fiberboard (like MDF – Medium Density Fiberboard)

• aerosol sprays

• cleansers and disinfectants

• paints, paint-strippers, and solvents

• pesticides

• copiers and printers

• hobby supplies such as; craft glues & adhesives, permanent markers, photo-developing solutions

• stored fuels and automotive products

Indoor Particulates:

• particulates within outdoor-air entering the home through air leaks

• cigarette smoking

• cooking with gas

• burning candles

• fireplace

• biological origin (see a list at the beginning of this section of the article)

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke:

• Secondhand smoke comes from smoking tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.

• Secondhand smoke is exhaled by the person smoking.  It remains visible in the air for a period of time.

• Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals.  Hundreds of these chemicals are toxic.  About 70 can cause cancer.

Thirdhand Tobacco Smoke:

Thirdhand smoke is residual nicotine and other chemicals from tobacco smoke that lands on surfaces and is absorbed into surfaces.  People are then exposed by touching contaminated surfaces, or breathing the off-gassing from contaminated surfaces.  This residue is thought to react with common indoor pollutants — to create a toxic mix including cancer-causing compounds.  This poses a potential health hazard to nonsmokers — especially children.

Thirdhand smoke clings to; clothes, furniture, drapes, walls, bedding, carpets, dust, vehicles and other surfaces long after smoking has stopped. The residue from thirdhand smoke builds up on surfaces over time. Tar and nicotine create a yellowish discoloration on walls and ceilings. Thirdhand smoke can’t be eliminated by airing out rooms, opening windows, using fans or air conditioners, or confining smoking to only certain areas of a home.  To remove the residue, hard surfaces, fabrics and upholstery need to be regularly cleaned or laundered.

Click Here To See Severe Thirdhand Smoke Build-Up On A Wall:  Severe Thirdhand Smoke Build-Up On A Wall

Children and nonsmoking adults might be at risk of tobacco-related health problems when they inhale, swallow or touch substances containing thirdhand smoke. Infants and young children might have increased exposure to thirdhand smoke due to their tendency to mouth objects and touch affected surfaces.

.** Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/third-hand-smoke/faq-20057791

Carbon Monoxide:

• tobacco smoke  — tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals.  Hundreds of the chemicals are toxic.  About 70 can cause cancer.

• cooking with gas

• automobile exhaust entering the home from the attached garages

• poorly maintained gas-combustion devices (gas cooking appliances, furnace & water heater)

• back-drafting of exhaust from gas furnace, gas water heater, fireplace & wood stoves

• an exhaust-flue that’s improperly sized, blocked or disconnected

• leaking chimneys & exhaust-flues

• unvented gas space heaters

Formaldehyde:

• pressed-wood furnishings that are made of wood-particles held together with formaldehyde-based glues/resins — such as particleboard, plywood and medium-density fibreboard (MDF)

• insulating materials — in the early 1980s, urea-formaldehyde foam insulation

• textiles

• paints, varnishes, glues, adhesives, wallpapers, varnishes and lacquers

• insecticides

• household cleaning products such as: detergents, disinfectants, softeners, carpet cleaners and shoe products

• cosmetics: such as liquid soaps, shampoos, nail polish and polish remover

• electronic equipment, including computers and photocopiers

Nitrogen Dioxide:

• Road traffic is the principal outdoor source of nitrogen dioxide.  NO2 enters the home through air leaks.

• tobacco smoke

• poorly maintained gas-burning appliances

• gas, wood, oil, kerosene, and coal-burning appliances such as gas stoves, gas ovens, furnace, water heater, fireplace

• unvented gas space heaters

Asbestos — mostly in older homes.  Asbestos is restricted in the United States — but never totally banned.

• In 1973, most spray-applied asbestos products for fireproofing & insulating were banned.

• In 1989, the EPA issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule — intended to impose a total ban on the manufacturing, importation, processing, and sale of asbestos-containing products.

• In 1991, the asbestos industry challenged & overturned the ban in a lawsuit.

• No total ban on asbestos exists.

• But after 1991 — new uses for asbestos remain banned.

Lead — mostly in older homes. Leaded paint was banned in 1978.

• Lead may be present in outdoor air entering the home through air leaks.

• deteriorated paint applied before lead-based paint was banned  (before 1978)

• some indoor hobbies such as making stained glass objects with lead solder

Radon:

• Texas has a low to moderate potential for radon.

• The primary source of radon in indoor-air comes is from radon gas infiltration from the soil into the home. Rock and soil produce radon gas.

• Building materials, the water supply, and natural gas can also be sources of radon in the home.

The 3 Common Types Of Mechanical-Ventilation Installed In Newer Homes

Mechanical-Ventilation Bath Fan (exhausts indoor air)

In older homes — natural ventilation (through air leaks) provides more fresh outdoor air than is actually needed.   Natural ventilation is uncontrolled air leaking into the home through gaps and small holes in the home’s exterior.  Weatherizing an older home begins with locating and sealing all gaps/holes you can find.  With those air leaks sealed, the home still has all the ventilation it needs — through the air leaks you’re unable to find.

Click Here To Learn More About Sealing Air Leaks: 75 Ways To Lower Cooling & Heating Costs

As discussed above, newer homes are built so air tight that they need mechanical-ventilation to ensure that enough stale indoor air is removed from the home — and replaced with fresh outside air. The size of the mechanical-ventilator is based on the home’s size plus other factors.

There are three types of whole-house mechanical ventilation systems:

• Exhausts only indoor-air (most common & least expensive).
• Supplies only outdoor-air (least common & mid-range cost).
• Balances the amount of indoor air removed with outdoor air supplied (less common and much more expensive).

One of the most common mechanical-ventilation systems (exhaust only) is a bath vent that can’t be shut off.   It’s typically in the owner’s bedroom’s bath.  If the home has one bathroom, the fan will be in it.  In You can speed up the fan when needed — but otherwise, it’s always running (at low speed and is very quiet).

Don’t Disable This Fan — It’s running to ensure acceptable Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).    With the fan off, humidity and air pollutants will build up inside the home — and you’re likely to start having breathing difficulties.

NOTE: Vacuum the bath fan’s outside cover’s air-slots when there’s a visible dust build-up.

Image Source: YouTube Embedded Video

Click On The White Arrow To Watch A Short Video Explaining Mechanical-Ventilation Bath Fans.

Central-Fan Integrated (CFI) system (supplies fresh air from outside)

Far less common is a central-fan integrated (CFI) system. This CFI System has an advantage over the continuously-running bath fan.   The bath fan pulls stale, indoor air out of from the home — and pulls fresh, outdoor air into the home through air leaks.  The continuously-running bath fan system has some disadvantages.  This bath vent will pull outside air at the location with the least resistance.  For Example: When the garage-to-house door is open — the bath fan pulls air from the garage instead.  Garage air often contains some carbon monoxide, as well as other pollutants.

With a CFI system (Incoming air only — fresh, outdoor air is pushed into the return-air side of the furnace. Because the air goes into the return air ductwork — the HVAC system has an opportunity to cool/heat the air before it enters the living space.   This fresh air is brought directly into the home — versus pulling in fresh air through air leaks.  When pulling air through leaks in the walls — over time, dust builds up in the insulation,  and the fresh air is passing through the dusty insulation.  Also, if an exterior wall takes on moisture — the dust in the insulation provides food for mold to grow.  In this case, the air may be passing through live mold.

Energy Recovery Ventilation System (ERV) — Balances the amount of stale indoor air being exhausted — with outdoor fresh air being supplied.   

An ERV is a much more expensive and sophisticated mechanical-ventilator.   It captures much of the heat (or cool in summer) from the indoor air leaving the home — and uses that heat (or cool in summer) to warm/cool the outdoor air entering the home.

An ERV will be located near your furnace — and you may have never seen it if it’s in the attic.   NOTE: There are filters and components that must be cleaned on a regular schedule for the ERV to work properly.

Image Source: YouTube Embedded Video

Click On The White Arrow To Watch A Short Video Explaining How An ERV Works — And Lowers Cooling & Heating Costs.

There Are Up To 8 Steps To Clean An Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)

Every Other Month:

Turn off and unplug the ERV.

Clean or Replace Air Filter(s):  Remove the air filter(s), vacuum it, then soak the filter in warm water with dish soap, and rinse it.

Every Six Months:

Check Outdoor Intake & Exhaust Hoods, & Clean If Needed – Remove leaves and other items that are blocking the outside intake-vent (bring in fresh, outdoor air).

Inspect the Condensate Drain – ERV’s remove excess humidity from the air (it’s called: “condensate”).   If your ERV has a condensate drain (and it very likely will in DFW) —  its a solid (typically white) plastic pipe, or plastic tube, coming from the bottom of the ERV.  With a wet & dry vacuum — tape its hose to the drain pipe/tube and turn the vacuum on.   Yyou may hear the vacuum’s sound change once the drain line is clear.  If not, run the vacuum for 1 minute.

NOTE: If the ERV is in the attic — and this drain line clogs — you will end up with a wet ceiling.

Check The Heat-Exchange Core, & Clean If Needed –  Vacuuming and washing the core removes any built-up dust inside it.

Once A Year:

Inspect the Ductwork going to and from the HRV — look for tears or kinks in flexible ductwork.

Remove & vacuum the grilles covering the duct ends.  If a more thorough cleaning is required, call a certified service technician.

Service the Fans – Remove the dirt that has accumulated on the fan blades by gently brushing them.

This article was about how Indoor Air Quality affects allergies and breathing problems.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C, in Plano, Texas provides full-service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home.  Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C is near your home in Plano, TX; Allen, TX and Frisco, Texas.  We service all homes in southern Collin County, TX and Denton County, TX with no additional travel charge.