Healthier building options can keep indoor air pollution to a minimum

Home improvement can add value, but
deteriorate indoor air quality.

Home improvement has become of huge interest in the past decade, with tons of inspiring reality TV shows focusing on construction and design.

But anybody who has ever had new carpeting installed in the home or painted room and subsequently suffered from a cough or respiratory problems has experienced the effect that some home improvement materials can have on their health and well-being.

New carpets are often installed with an adhesive that can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde. These noxious chemicals can aggravate asthma or allergies and in high concentrations over an extended period of time some of them have also been linked to cancer.

Too much carpet in a home may decrease the indoor air quality because they are difficult to keep clean and often harbor dust and dust mites, mold and other pollutants, but other options may be just as bad in terms of VOC emissions.

Vinyl tile, for example, is a big offender.

Fortunately, there are many healthier and greener choices homeowners can make when they want to update a space.

Healthier options include:

• Hardwood floors, especially from sustainable sources such as bamboo (look for low-VOC adhesives and glues, available in green stores online)
• Ceramic tile – they are easy to clean, do not emit VOCs and they are eco-friendly
• Low-VOC or no-VOC paints

Source: Journal Sentinel

Room air purifiers with carbon + HEPA clear the air

Polluted indoor air can be a hazard for all residents in a home, but there is an increased risk for children and the elderly.

A complete air purifier with many pounds of activated carbon and HEPA can help keep the air clean and fresh.

AllerAir’s general purpose home and office air purifiers and specialized air treatment systems can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including chemicals, gases, odors, bacteria, viruses, mold, particles and dust.

The air purifiers are easy to move from room too room, if needed, they are designed to clean the air quickly and effectively, and they are energy efficient even when being run on a 24/7 basis.

Contact AllerAir for more information.