Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation
Ventilation
Cowlitz County Healthy Homes
Objectives
Learn the basics and importance of ventilation in the home.
Learn about indoor air pollutants and their health effects.
Learn how to ventilate to reduce pollutants in the home.
Why Ventilate a Home?
Poor ventilation can cause damage to the home:
Too much moisture – mold/mildew Too little moisture
Poor ventilation can increase respiratory irritation:
Common cold Influenza Pneumonia Bronchitis
National Center for Healthy Housing
Positive and Negative Pressure
When wind pushes against a home, it causes positive pressure on that side, and negative pressure on the other.
This forces air into the house through cracks and holes in the walls, floors and ceilings.
American Lung Association of Washington
The Stack Effect
Warm air inside the home rises = positive pressure near the ceiling.
Air movement from below = negative pressure near the floor.
Air is pushed out of the house near the ceiling and pulled into the house near the floor.
American Lung Association of Washington
Types of Ventilation
Leakage: Doors and windows Cracks/gaps in structure
Exhaust Fans: Bathroom and kitchens Clothes dryers Central vacuum systems Air conditioners
Combustion Appliances Furnaces, woodstoves, fireplaces American Lung Association of Washington Environmental Protection Agency
Types of Ventilation
Forced Air Ductwork
Attics, Crawlspaces and Walls
Attics should be sealed from the home and ventilated to the exterior. A moisture barrier should be installed over all exposed soil and the crawlspace should be well ventilated. Walls should be well sealed and insulated. American Lung Association of Washington
Basic Approaches to Ventilation
Spot Ventilation
Controlled in-home ventilation Exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens
Basic Approaches to Ventilation
General Ventilation
An industrial ventilation system that dilutes contaminates in the air using intake and exhaust ventilation.
Ventilate to Get Rid of Pollutants
• • • • • • • •
Sources of indoor pollution:
Oil Gas Kerosene Coal Wood Tobacco Smoke Furniture Cabinets
• • • • • • •
Aerosol Cans Pesticides Cleaning Products Paints Space Heaters Dry Erase Markers Solvents
Ventilate to Get Rid of Pollutants Carbon Monoxide Colorless, odorless, tasteless; extremely toxic. Symptoms: headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, fatigue.
Sources: space heaters, chimneys, furnaces, fireplaces, generators, exhaust, tobacco smoke
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Place next to sleeping area
Put on every level of a home to provide extra protection
Do not install directly near fuel burning appliances. National Center for Healthy Housing
Ventilate to Get Rid of Pollutants Particles Released when fuels are incompletely burned, can lodge in the lungs and irritate or damage lung tissue Symptoms: coughing, bronchiolitis, inflammation of the air passages. Sources: Fireplaces, woodstoves American Lung Association of Washington
Woodstoves
½ homes in Washington State have wood burning stoves, inserts or fireplaces.
Wood smoke is the main source of air pollution in many residential areas in the winter.
Wood smoke pollution indoors can reach up to 70% of outdoor levels…even in homes that do not burn wood. Environmental Protection Agency
Ventilate to Get Rid of Pollutants Fumes/Gases Fumes and gases emitted from common household products can irritate or damage lung tissue. Symptoms: nose/throat discomfort, nausea, headache, dizziness. Sources: hair care products, paint, glue, craft supplies.
Environmental Protection Agency
Ventilate to Get Rid of Moisture Moisture Excess moisture in the home can cause mold growth ventilation can remove moisture and dry the area. Too little moisture can cause health concerns and damage to the home. Ventilation can add moisture. Sources: Bathrooms, kitchens, appliances. Environmental Protection Agency
Areas and Appliances that Need Ventilation
Bathrooms
Laundry Rooms
Kitchens/Cooking Stoves
Boilers, Furnaces, Hot Water Heaters
Fireplaces, Wood Stoves National Center for Healthy Housing
Air Cleaners/Purifiers No Ozone/Ionizing Types Ozone is lung irritant and asthma trigger
Ventilation System Upkeep
Change/Clean/Upgrade filters as specified on the unit or the filter packaging.
Ventilation System Upkeep
Duct Cleaning As often as specified on the unit, or if there is mold, rodents, or debris in the ductwork.
Healthy Homes Key Messages
Change, clean, or upgrade filters at least quarterly.
Have heating systems (including furnaces, flues and chimneys) inspected annually. Clean vents and ducts regularly.
Promptly repair cracks or damaged parts that may allow leaks.
Properly ventilate rooms where fuel-burning appliances are used.
Healthy Homes Key Messages
Never use a gas cooking appliance as a heating source.
Install carbon monoxide detectors.
Open doors and windows every day to circulate fresh air.
Keep windows and doors shut when there are high levels of traffic, mill emissions, wood smoke, etc.
Any Questions?
Cowlitz County Healthy Homes
Objectives
Learn the basics and importance of ventilation in the home.
Learn about indoor air pollutants and their health effects.
Learn how to ventilate to reduce pollutants in the home.
Why Ventilate a Home?
Poor ventilation can cause damage to the home:
Too much moisture – mold/mildew Too little moisture
Poor ventilation can increase respiratory irritation:
Common cold Influenza Pneumonia Bronchitis
National Center for Healthy Housing
Positive and Negative Pressure
When wind pushes against a home, it causes positive pressure on that side, and negative pressure on the other.
This forces air into the house through cracks and holes in the walls, floors and ceilings.
American Lung Association of Washington
The Stack Effect
Warm air inside the home rises = positive pressure near the ceiling.
Air movement from below = negative pressure near the floor.
Air is pushed out of the house near the ceiling and pulled into the house near the floor.
American Lung Association of Washington
Types of Ventilation
Leakage: Doors and windows Cracks/gaps in structure
Exhaust Fans: Bathroom and kitchens Clothes dryers Central vacuum systems Air conditioners
Combustion Appliances Furnaces, woodstoves, fireplaces American Lung Association of Washington Environmental Protection Agency
Types of Ventilation
Forced Air Ductwork
Attics, Crawlspaces and Walls
Attics should be sealed from the home and ventilated to the exterior. A moisture barrier should be installed over all exposed soil and the crawlspace should be well ventilated. Walls should be well sealed and insulated. American Lung Association of Washington
Basic Approaches to Ventilation
Spot Ventilation
Controlled in-home ventilation Exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens
Basic Approaches to Ventilation
General Ventilation
An industrial ventilation system that dilutes contaminates in the air using intake and exhaust ventilation.
Ventilate to Get Rid of Pollutants
• • • • • • • •
Sources of indoor pollution:
Oil Gas Kerosene Coal Wood Tobacco Smoke Furniture Cabinets
• • • • • • •
Aerosol Cans Pesticides Cleaning Products Paints Space Heaters Dry Erase Markers Solvents
Ventilate to Get Rid of Pollutants Carbon Monoxide Colorless, odorless, tasteless; extremely toxic. Symptoms: headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, fatigue.
Sources: space heaters, chimneys, furnaces, fireplaces, generators, exhaust, tobacco smoke
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Place next to sleeping area
Put on every level of a home to provide extra protection
Do not install directly near fuel burning appliances. National Center for Healthy Housing
Ventilate to Get Rid of Pollutants Particles Released when fuels are incompletely burned, can lodge in the lungs and irritate or damage lung tissue Symptoms: coughing, bronchiolitis, inflammation of the air passages. Sources: Fireplaces, woodstoves American Lung Association of Washington
Woodstoves
½ homes in Washington State have wood burning stoves, inserts or fireplaces.
Wood smoke is the main source of air pollution in many residential areas in the winter.
Wood smoke pollution indoors can reach up to 70% of outdoor levels…even in homes that do not burn wood. Environmental Protection Agency
Ventilate to Get Rid of Pollutants Fumes/Gases Fumes and gases emitted from common household products can irritate or damage lung tissue. Symptoms: nose/throat discomfort, nausea, headache, dizziness. Sources: hair care products, paint, glue, craft supplies.
Environmental Protection Agency
Ventilate to Get Rid of Moisture Moisture Excess moisture in the home can cause mold growth ventilation can remove moisture and dry the area. Too little moisture can cause health concerns and damage to the home. Ventilation can add moisture. Sources: Bathrooms, kitchens, appliances. Environmental Protection Agency
Areas and Appliances that Need Ventilation
Bathrooms
Laundry Rooms
Kitchens/Cooking Stoves
Boilers, Furnaces, Hot Water Heaters
Fireplaces, Wood Stoves National Center for Healthy Housing
Air Cleaners/Purifiers No Ozone/Ionizing Types Ozone is lung irritant and asthma trigger
Ventilation System Upkeep
Change/Clean/Upgrade filters as specified on the unit or the filter packaging.
Ventilation System Upkeep
Duct Cleaning As often as specified on the unit, or if there is mold, rodents, or debris in the ductwork.
Healthy Homes Key Messages
Change, clean, or upgrade filters at least quarterly.
Have heating systems (including furnaces, flues and chimneys) inspected annually. Clean vents and ducts regularly.
Promptly repair cracks or damaged parts that may allow leaks.
Properly ventilate rooms where fuel-burning appliances are used.
Healthy Homes Key Messages
Never use a gas cooking appliance as a heating source.
Install carbon monoxide detectors.
Open doors and windows every day to circulate fresh air.
Keep windows and doors shut when there are high levels of traffic, mill emissions, wood smoke, etc.
Any Questions?
