Purifying The Air In Your Home - Part Two

     In my last blog on this subject, I started with the first 3 of 25 tips provided by the American Lung Association, on things we can do to have clean air in our homes. In this blog I will continue to share tips 4-6 plus added information for the benefit of you and your family.

    Number 4: In the last decade or so we have heard more and more about 'VOC's". That stands for "Volatile Organic Compounds". Paints, for instance, release trace amounts of gases for months after application, even though they appear to be fully dried out and the smell of paint is long gone. These VOC's can include highly toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.
     If your going to paint your home inside or out, look for "low-VOC paints, varnishes, waxes, and other chemicals. Even better then that, try a No-VOC paint. Keep your room well ventilated while painting. Also, if your going to carpet your home, many carpets are loaded with off gases and that's often why they smell weird for some time after installation. So read labels, ask questions, and use products that have the lowest amount of VOC's. Going no VOC's is... 'going green!'

     Number 5: Fix any leaks in your roof, foundation, windows and basement. Rain and high humidity can bring moisture indoors, creating dampness, mildew, mold and big problems for your health and indoor air quality. Let alone that mold is cancer causing. Now, I know there is low humidity here in Boise, Idaho, but there is still enough to cause mold and mildew. So it's a good idea that once a year, in the spring, give your house a good inspection for leaks or moisture problems and fix them asap. Keeping down, or eliminating mold and mildew is also part of 'going green'.

    Number 6: Because mold and mildew are related to serious asthma problems, it is important also to clean your air conditioning unit. This is especially true if you have window style room air conditioners. I am not talking about just cleaning the little filter, but the unit itself. In the spring before you need to start using it, it is a good idea to first blow the debris out of the unit with your leaf blower or air compressor. Next, take your garden hose and flush out the coils and base pan of the unit. Make sure the drain holes in the bottom are open so condensation can drain properly during use, and water can't sit in the drain pan. If you have central air conditioning, call your HVAC dealer and have them come out and give your A/C unit a good cleaning and tune-up.
    Well, that's enough to digest for this time. I hope you enjoy these tips and added information from @comfortguyjerry, to help you breath easy this summer. Next week I will share tips 7-10, so keep reading my friends. More summer home tip blogs are at www.hvaccomfortguyjerry@blogspot.com.  You can visit our website by going to www.greensheating.com.