At this time of year many feel like closing all the windows and cranking up the furnace.  The problem is, what happens to the indoor air quality with all those windows closed and all of that heat?  Newer homes have been built using insulating materials and a vapour barrier to keep energy costs at bay.  The goal of insulating them is to keep outside air outside, which is great, but…  modern floor covering, paint, and items of furniture comprises chemicals which off-gas into our environment.    A story circulated my way of a wealthy couple who custom built their third house.  The entire home contained new materials, and having lived there for only two days the wife began to complain of illness and discomfort.  By the week’s end she was in a hotel room, and the husband was left to call the real estate agent to start a listing.  If you are experiencing trouble breathing, if you are feeling sick or weak, the solution may be as simple as getting some fresh air.

Unfortunately the city is not the best place to find clean air, and the country may be too far away.  In the winter months, the air near ground level contains higher levels of carcinogens due to exhaust vapours cooling rapidly not being able to rise.  This, among other environmental factors such as relative humidity creates a problem for us.   Asthma statistics provided are for Canada, and include regions where cold air is the norm for 4-7 months of the year.  My quick analysis of the data shows children, women and seniors at higher risk than men.  I believe this fact is due to the greater amount of time these individuals are spending in the home.  So what can we do to improve these disturbing numbers?  Well, lets start with a filter.

Some of my friends on Facebook and Twitter have heard me chirp about changing your furnace filter regularly.  Because 6 out of 10 households use forced air gas heating, I’ll mention it again here in different context and greater detail.  There are a few designs for these items, and they come in different shapes and sizes.  Almost every unit will have the filter located on the inlet side of the furnace to prevent dust and debris from reaching the main fan.  A poor quality filter will allow dust through, and therefore will not look as if it needs changing.  A high quality filter will become plugged more readily, and eventually will not even allow light to pass through.  Washable filters are available, and although the initial cost is higher, they save you money in the long run. There are additional measures that can be taken along with regular filter change.  Light can actually be used to aid in the reduction of airborne pathogens by burning small microbes with UV radiation.  Good ‘ol alternating current has also been employed in the fight against dust particles with the invention of Electronic Air Cleaners.  Standalone air purifiers offer portability and proximity if there is a specific room you’d like to target.  I get so excited about clean air in my home, I often need to vent!

The key to keeping the atmosphere fresh inside is letting some of the outside atmoshpere in.  Unfortunately, opening a window is not the best solution.  In the winter months this causes heat loss. In summer months, we’re letting in unwanted warm, humid air.  Thanks to developments in HVAC technology, some solutions have been found.  The Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV), and Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) have air-to-air heat exchangers built into a ducted unit. With an energy-recovery ventilator, the heat exchanger transfers a certain amount of water vapor along with heat energy, while a heat-recovery ventilator only transfers heat. The part of the country in which you live will dictate that type of unit that is right for your needs. Generally speaking – HRVs are usually recommended for colder climates with longer heating seasons. ERVs are used for warmer, more humid climates with long cooling seasons. I’m not an expert on these machines, so I saught out information from Tim of the Hayter Group.  He told me the usual procedure is for them to do an IAQ investigation.  I learned that the ventilation needs of each home vary.  They depend greatly on not only the materials and methods used to construct the building, but also the habits and activities of its occupants.  Finding a home’s HRV requirements should be done by a professional to ensure accurate results.  The assesment will inform you of the size and type of unit recommended, and may lead to lower energy costs as the results will show how well insulated or”tight” the house is.  Our comfort is a function of temperature and humidity and each person has different preferences, the common element is clean air though, no-one enjoys difficulty breathing.  Below are some images of three types of installations.

For those of us living in apartments, an indoor air quality investigtion perhaps is neither affordable or practical. Instead we are forced to make small improvements to the way our air is cleaned. Taking the smoke outside is a good first step. Running the hood fan while cooking is a great idea, as long as it actually vents to the outside, most apartments have hood fans that simply shoot the air back into the room it came from. The bathroom exhaust is another important one to use to keep the humid air out when showering or having a bath. Regular cleaning of carpets and upholstered surfaces will prevent accumulation of dust, pet dander, and pollen or mold spores. Houseplants can also be very usefull in taking contaminants out of the air, and beautifying our living spaces. Certain types of plants are better than others, the best air cleaners are; Epipremnum sp. (Golden Pothos), Ficus sp. (Ficus), and Aglaonema sp. (Chinese Evergreen). There are certain varieties which remove toxic chemicals such as benzene, Gerbera Daisies and Chrysanthemums. These and other plants go a long way to helping if you have the windows to put them in and a green enough thumb to keep them alive. Living in a basement unit requires a different approach, such as a selfcontained air cleaning system. Many types are available, just check the capacity listed on the box before you buy one, they are rated for room size.

Often times apartment dwellers fall into deals that seem to work out great for everyone involved.  A quick-fix, discounted compromise of a place to live.  While inexpensive is a major advantage a home may possess, these cheaper alternatives usually come at a price to our safety.  Situations like these arise through casual conversations with friends, through “friends of friends”, in advertisements, and on bulletin boards at work or school.  In some cases it’s a matter of honest ignorance, but the circumstances can also be the result of intentional misrepresentation and greed.  Whatever the cause, the worst outcome is the same, an injury or death caused by people living in a space that was not properly designed for that purpose.

Imagine a basement apartment somewhere with only one exit, and no fire protection systems in place.  This domicile may have windows, but no grown person could fit through them, (except maybe the rubber wrestler!) and most children would have a lot of trouble getting up to them.  Between the ceiling and the floor above there is no fire proof material as the contractor was not aware this would be an apartment.  The wiring for the stove and kitchen was done on a weekend by the home-owner’s buddy who isn’t a licenced electrician.  Bricks above the main entrance door were never secured with a lintel, and could fall one day this spring while walking under them.  The furnace room is located downstairs, along with an old hot water heater that also runs on natural gas, and neither one has been inspected for five years which means both could be leaking carbon monoxide gas.  The most concerning issues are those not easily seen, even the water supply travels through a long section of lead pipe and is potentially contaminating every drink.  No wonder it’s so inexpensive!

These important issues must be dealt with.  The exits should be clear and accessible, without clutter.  Window wells can be made deep enough to accomodate larger windows in basements, and an egress to safety outside will solve the basement access problem.  Here is an example, however I do not endorse any particular brand.  As with any home, sm0ke and carbon monoxide alarms must be present, and it is both the home owner and the tennants’ responsibility to maintain them.  An inconvenient truth is that most multiple unit dwellings are not separated by fireproof materials.  If no permit was opened to establish code conformance, other corners were likely cut to save money and time.  This however comes at cost to the mutual protection from eachother.  If one apartment has a fire, both will surely suffer damage.

Turning a basement into a finished space is often a challege as there are elements of the home’s various systems that are often run under the first floor, or in the ceiling, if you’re downstairs.  Also the necessary facilities need to be run under the floor (usually concrete) in the basement.  If renovations are not carried out by qualified professionals important components can be ignored, or covered-up creating problems in the future.  For instance, spray foam is often used in basements behind walls as a thermal break and moisture barrier in one.  If this insulation is then covered with panelling, there is nothing stopping deadly gases from being released to the air in the event of a fire in that wall cavity.  Spray foam must be fire-proofed, or covered with drywall (or fire-proof substrate).  Wiring must be done correctly too as most homes’ electrical panels were designed to handle loads from a single family.  When renovations occur, the building standards used must be current ones, and deficiencies found from previous construction must be updated.

Sometimes the best part of these deals is that the utilities are included, because there is no separate meter or service for the apartment.  This is a good indicator that the home is not registered as a rental unit.  Not that it should really be a problem, but it can be when we’re talking about climate controls, and accessibility to necessities such as hot water and laundry areas.  Ideally, each place would have separate utils and equipment, but that almost never happens.  To cope, we can communicate our needs to fellow house-mates, compromise when necessary, and keep a steady schedule so there is a level of predictability when it comes to other’s habits.  Benefits are many, as it may be less expensive to share bills, and when vacation time comes, someone will watch your stuff for you.

I can only hope your great apartment find is a great one,  it’s up to you to ask the right questions before you get into a sticky situation.  If you think you already may be in one, be proactive.  Seek out a water test kit, what are you drinking?  Have the CO sniffer go around and find out what you’re breathing.  A Radon test kit is a click away, and well worth the 57.75 for peace of mind,  maybe the landlord will foot the bill.  It’s a tough topic to breach, but you can break the ice with this;

According to a 2007 study by B.C. Center of Disease Control, 40.3 per cent of the 50 homes tested in Clearwater had radon levels above 200 Bq/cubic meter on the main floor – the highest of any community tested. Barriere was in number two spot in the study with 30 per cent of 38 homes tested.

Another BCCDC study found that four of 10 schools in the North Thompson had radon levels above 200 Bq/cubic meter, with a maximum concentration of 422 Bq/cubic meter. The highest concentration in any school in the study was in Creston, with 3,237 Bq/cubic meter.

Being a non-smoker exposed to 200 Bq/cubic meter of radon is about as dangerous as being a bush pilot, and even more dangerous than climbing Mount Everest.

The good news about radon is that it can be easily measured and, usually, controlled without too much expense.  The first step is to test for it, so what are you waiting for?