So, you’re renovating your home. Congratulations! You’re no doubt excited to embark on this project, so it’s understandable if your indoor air quality isn’t exactly top of mind. But consider this: the air you breathe is about to come under assault by dust, debris and chemicals from paints and other building products.
Follow these measures to keep pollutants to a minimum.
1. Ventilate
Open windows and doors and turn on fans to push sawdust and other contaminants out.
On top of ventilating during the actual renovation process, you’ll want to open up your windows and doors for a couple of days when the process is done. This will give fumes from drying paint and varnish a chance to air out.
2. Contain the Work Area
Do your best to quarantine the workspace with tape and plastic sheeting. You can even install a temporary partition with doorway zippers for more convenient passage.
3. Cut Boards Outside
Try to do the majority of your cutting outside or in a garage to minimize the amount of sawdust and debris from accumulating inside.
4. Close the Vents
If it can be avoided, try not to run your cooling or heating system while renovating. All the dust you kick up will get sucked in through the vents and bog down your HVAC system. In fact, go ahead and close the vents as an added precaution. Besides, you should have windows open and fans going, so any conditioned air will be wasted.
5. Clean on a Daily Basis
Sawdust particles and plaster dust will actually trap chemical odors and keep your home from airing out effectively when you ventilate. That’s why it’s important to sweep or vacuum at the end of every single workday.
6. Use Low- or No-VOC Building Materials
Renovating is a good opportunity to build with low- to no-VOC emitting materials. VOCs are volatile organic compounds and they can be found in everything from paint to particleboard. Products made with VOCs continue to release toxins long after their installed. If possible, upgrade shelves and cabinetry to solid wood instead of particleboard.
7. Use an Air Purifier
Rent several construction-grade air scrubbers from a remediation company. Place one inside the construction zone and another just outside of it. These remove particulars from the air, trapping them in a filter, which can be changed out when it reaches capacity. Residential air purifiers are another option. However, be prepared to replace the filters in these units more frequently.
8. Have Your Ducts Cleaned
Despite your best efforts to control the amount of construction dust in your home, your ducts likely need to be cleaned. This is especially true if the project involved asbestos abatement or lead paint removal. To schedule an appointment with Fresh Aire Duct Cleaning, call (818) 275-5556.