Is the air quality in your home harming your health and your family's health?

Are you always tired, perhaps you have a rash or breathing problems - it could be caused by your home

Image courtesy of Phaitoon at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The air we breathe could have a severe impact on your health and the health of your family. Some homes have poor air quality. This could be caused by a variety of problems including:

• A lack of fresh air - ensure that rooms are well ventilated. Even in winter regularly open rooms to allow fresh air in.
• Air-conditioning filters aren't regularly cleaned. Not only does this reduce the efficiency of the air-conditioner but it also means that the air from the air-conditioner is passing through the dirty filters recirculating the fumes and possible poisons trapped in the filters.
• Mould growing in the house, possibly in bathrooms, in walls and roof spaces. Mould releases spores into the air which will cause illness. Mould grows in damp and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Some building materials, paints and glues release volatile gasses which are dangerous to our health and which could inhibit growing brains in young children. I'm sure we've all experienced walking into a newly painted room, or a room with a newly laid carpet tile - the fumes can be very overpowering and we want to get out as quickly as possible. Know what materials are incorporated into your building.
• Some cooking fumes - particularly from some oils - are poisonous when breathed in regularly.
• Poorly fitted gas appliances could leak dangerous gases.
• Open flames consume oxygen making it harder to breathe and the flames release gases and in particular carbon dioxide. Ensure rooms with open fire places are ventilated.
• Some household cleaning chemicals release fumes and volatile gasses. Use chemicals sparingly and only in ventilated spaces. Know what chemicals are in the products you use.
• Insect sprays and poisons for vermin are often highly toxic. Always ventilate areas well after these products have been used. Stay out of the room until the fumes have dispersed.
• A large build up of bird, rat or bat excrement in roofs can release toxic spores into the air in houses. Always take care when working in roof spaces to ensure you wear a suitable breathing mask.
• Some furniture contains glue, or are covered in synthetic fabrics and coatings, which release toxic fumes.
• Fumes from traffic outside your house could be entering your home. Diesel fumes are responsible for many illnesses and cause brain damage. Living near some factories, and particularly oil refineries, could mean that you and your family are exposed to toxic fumes.

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Ensure your home is safe

​There are many fumes from everyday building and household products which can cause breathing difficulties, allergies, and even some products that are linked to cancer, learning difficulties, sleep disorders, Alzheimer, and dementia. Your health is important, don't take risks with it. Understand the products you are using and ensure all rooms in your house are well ventilated.
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For more on the impacts of poor air quality read this BBC article Why Indoor Air Quality Matters to our Bodies and our Brains.

Design your home so that it's safe for you and your family. For more home design tips and insights read  An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 2 - Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home 
​© 2019 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.

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