Allergies, exasperated asthma symptoms, chronic respiratory problems and even lung cancer have all been linked back to indoor air quality in the home.
Indoor air quality has become more of an issue now that the building envelope on homes has become tighter. Homes are more energy efficient meaning the air inside the home stays in the home. There is less air transfer making our homes easier to heat and cool. We like the concept of not letting the warm air out of your house in the winter but if you have indoor air quality issues a tighter home can be a bad thing.
We all understand the harmful effects of outdoor pollution on a grander scale. Everyone seems to be trying a little harder to leave a smaller carbon footprint in the outside world. However, indoor air pollution can actually be ten times worse than outside air. Because of the contained environment and the tighter building envelope we just mentioned. When the air is bad, it can escape and we just go on breathing it.
The good news is indoor air quality can be controlled. While dust mites, indoor chemicals, and toxins are a problem for inside environments, you can work to control the indoor exposure by what you use in your house and house maintenance and upkeep. Air cleaners have also been known to help with some contaminants. Make sure you call the waterproofing experts to avoid bad air quality.
Another way to impact indoor air quality is to control the moisture and water problems in your basement or crawlspace. Wet environments cultivate mould and mildew. There are thousands of species of mould and some are more harmful than others but they all can trigger allergies and exasperate asthma symptoms. The worst kind of toxic moulds can do serious damage to your lungs and even result in death.
Another deadly—and preventable—indoor air issue is radon. Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive soil gas that comes into your house through concrete cracks and gaps. High levels of radon in indoor air cause lung cancer in even nonsmokers. Actually, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking and the first among nonsmokers. Radon is completely preventable with radon mitigation systems that pull the radon from the soil beneath the slab and releases it above the roof line to dissipate into the air. Test for radon with DIY test kits or hire a professional to test for the soil gas in your home. Remember, if you disturb the soil around your house or if your neighbour does, it may stir up a radon issue that wasn’t there before. Make sure to test before and after any excavations.
Indoor air is not something to ignore. The air we breathe inside our homes affects our health and the health of our families. Indoor air quality can be controlled. Keep the basement dry and clean and the foundation in good health. Make sure to control dust mites and the toxins we bring into our homes and your home will be a healthier place to live.
Call your waterproofing professionals to ensure great quality in your home.