Healthy Homes, Healthy People

Healthy Living for both you and your home

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Your House• Think of your home as a living

organism

• It is a system, interdependent on itself

• Much like your body, if one system is in distress it affects your whole body

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Exterior of Home• Do an exterior check

– May clue you into potential problems inside

• Gutters in place? Broken? Missing?• Holes and grading

near foundation?• Cracks in foundation?• Is a swale needed?

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Exterior of House• Trim vegetation from touching

home• Check for pest entry (critters,

termites)• Clean window wells, use covers• Landscaping blocking flow of

water?• Attached garage?

– Chemical fumes – Don’t let car idle ~ 7,000ppm startup

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Question?• Who thinks they have a clean

home?• What does clean mean?• What about

– Allergies– Asthma– Hypersensitivities?

40-50 million people affected by allergies

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Have you thought of…• Pollen • Mold spores• Bacteria• Pet dander• Insect parts,

poop• Skin cells• Fabric fibers

• Carpets, dryer lint

• Soot• Tire particles• Off gassing

• Gas fumes (garage)• Fragrances (VOCs)• Dryer sheets• Candles• Enviro Tobacco

Smoke• Rodents &

droppings• Feather parts• Food crumbs• Dust mites• Litter boxes• Plants

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Keep in Mind…• Check

– For CO detectors and fire detectors– For exterior vented exhaust fans– Furnace filters– Air exchangers– Floor vents, duct work– Vent pipes (sewer, sump, furnace)– For pests

• Analyze housekeeping• ETS

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Where we are comfortable…• Air temperature

– 65 F (active) to 80 F (bathing)• Air relative humidity:

– 30-60% (cold climates)• Air motion: 20–40 feet per min• Surrounding surface temperatures

– Within 10-15 F of room temperature

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How much air? – Delivered how?

How moves air through buildings?

Mechanical FansBuoyancyStack effect - warm air rising

Exhaust Fan

WIND DIRECTION

Wind

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Neutral pressure plane

Stack Effect

Wind Effect

Positive and Negative Pressures

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ASHRAE 62.2-2010

www.ashrae.org

A Wisconsin pilot study conducted in 2004 found that 78% of weatherized units required additional mechanical ventilation under 62.2Average installed cost, including controls: $525 (2004-2005 prices)

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Floor Area (ft2)

BEDROOMS

0 - 1 2 - 3 4 - 5 6 - 7 >7

< 1500 30 45 60 75 90

1501 – 3000 45 60 75 90 105

3001 – 4500 60 75 90 105 120

4501 – 6000 75 90 105 120 135

6001 – 7500 90 105 120 135 150

> 7500 105 120 135 150 165

Table 4.1a: Minimum Ventilation Air Requirements, CFM, New Buildings1

1 ASHRAE 62.2-2010, p 4

ASHRAE 62.2-2010 Table

45

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Base Formula Calculation

Base formula, step by stepMultiply the number of bedrooms + 1 or the number of people by 7.5 CFM per person

Calculate 1 CFM per 100 square feet of floor area:

Add them together

4 people * 7.5 CFM/person = 30 CFM

1500 ft2/100 ft2 per required CFM = 15 CFM

30 CFM + 15 CFM = 45 CFM continuous

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Air Exchangers

Photo courtesy of The US Department of EnergyGraphic courtesy of Popular Mechanics

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Mechanical Ventilation • Bath

• Kitchen

• Dryer

• Vented to exterior???

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Complaint of odors• Check for fragrance emitters• Candles (ghosting)• Overuse of dryer sheets• Chemicals inside• Off-gassing materials• Wet insulation• Musty• Gas – sewer• Smokers?

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Remodeling…odd finds• Unused sewer line

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Carpet • Fiber jungles

– Mites, mold, bacteria, carpet beetles• Dirty - Vacuums are “mental feel good”

machines• Each step can emit 1,000s of

irritants• Carpet cleaning may worsen issue

– Wet too long, assists mold growth• What about below carpet?• Never put carpet on cement

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Push for Hard Floors• Can be vacuumed, swept• Mopped• Easier to see need to clean• Rugs can be cleaned, changed• Limits allergens• More cost effective long term

– Recently got carpet removed from new LL Govt Center

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Pets• Dander is more the issue • Fur • Track in outdoor contaminants• Dirt• Fleas• Keep out of the bedroom, especially

kids• Water leaks, moisture

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Bathrooms• RUN fan 30 min after each

bath/shower• Caulk/re-caulk shower/tub• Use splash guards• Fix toilet leaks (valves, wax ring)• Control toilet tank condensation• Fix leaks under sink

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Kitchens• Leaky faucet• Leaky P trap, connections• Use range hood during cooking

– Clean quarterly • Check refrigerator drain pan• NEVER have carpeting in kitchen• Clean up crumbs – pest issues• Do dishes everyday

2 Tbl Salt

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Laundry• Vent to exterior

– Don’t vent to interior attic, eves, garage, basement….

– Minimize length - No long runs in cold spaces

– Hard duct – not according tubing• Don’t hang-dry clothing inside• Check and fix water hose leaks• Don’t use fabric sheets, heavy

fragrances• Clean exterior vent quarterly, lint trap

every use

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Living rooms/ Bedrooms • “Couch potato asthma”• Dust mites• Crumbs = pest issues• Feather pillows/blankets• Vacuum floors and furniture often• Keep pet free if possible

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Living rooms/ Bedrooms• Wash sheets weekly, blankets

monthly• Remove stuffed animals or wash

often• Keep doors open if possible• Use allergen covers on

mattress/pillows

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Storage Areas

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Attics• Ensure adequate ventilation• Insulate well

– Horror frost, ice damns• Ensure attic hatch is well insulated• Ensure duct runs are sealed and

insulated• Check periodically for issues

• My problem… ;(

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Crawlspaces• Dirt floor? Cement? Poly installed?• Mechanical operations housed?• Clean or debris?• Dry? • Plumbing leaks?• Pest intrusion?• Spider webs?

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Basements• Dirt? Cement?• Allow for airflow – store on shelving,

away from walls• Do not store in cardboard boxes• Dehumidify if needed – keep under

50%• Seal sump pump, check regularly• Condensation, effervescence on

walls?• Seal cracks, openings, joints

Exp

ansi

on jo

int

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Lived in basements• Keep mattresses, clothing off floors• Keep everything away from exterior

walls• NO CARPETING

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Flooding…a whole new topic• Contaminated or clean flooding?• Remove out ALL porous materials• Dry within 48 hours• Disinfect if needed, remove sensitive

people from home

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Lead Paint• Pre 1978 homes• Treat pealing/chipping paint as

hazard• Lower income families more

susceptible• Damage to

– Central nervous system, brain– Kidneys– Stomach– Blood cells

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Thin

k of

hou

se a

s a

syst

em…

Top to Bottom

* Inside and O

ut

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Doing an assessment….• Courteous• Empathetic• Non-judgmental• Respect - this is their castle• Ensure they are there for

assessment

Brandy ToftAir Quality Specialist

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe218-335-7429air@lldrm.org