BY ERICA FINAMORE
When did your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) system last get some TLC? HomeServe, an international home repair service, estimates that most people don’t change the filter often enough and many don’t do it at all, allowing additional allergens and smoke into their indoor air. For the sake of your health and the health of the system, replace the filter every three months, more often if you have pets or use your fireplace frequently. Also, book an annual checkup with a technician, who can ensure everything is in working order. The house call should cost around $200.
Range hoods are pretty standard over-the-stove pieces of equipment, but many of them (especially the ones in apartments) don’t actually ventilate. Unless yours is ducted through an exterior wall, it just recirculates the air, making your kitchen humid when you cook and possibly causing mold in your space or respiratory issues for you. With gas stoves, pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide also stick around. An appliance repair tech can help determine if you have a ducted or ductless hood, and possibly vent the thing to the outside. No matter what, keep the nearest window open when you use your stove (yes, even in winter!). Most importantly, make sure your carbon monoxide detector works.
Good news: Homes today are built to be more energy efficient than ever. That means less heat can escape and less cold air can seep in from outside. Bad news: We need that ebb and flow to help flush out harmful pollutants, like bacteria and dander, and to maintain the correct humidity to control mold and dust mites. Before you start poking holes in the wall, there’s a better solution: an energy recovery ventilator, or ERV. Essentially an air exchanger, it brings in and filters air from outside and pushes out unclean air from inside. (Fact: The air in our homes can be up to 10 times worse than the stuff outdoors.) An HVAC contractor can install it for you; the cost for equipment and labor can run you around $2,500, so it’s not cheap, but it’s one of the most effective ways to get fresh air.
Volatile organic compounds are colorless, usually odorless, and potentially harmful chemicals. (In high doses, formaldehyde—a common VOC—has been linked to increased risk of cancer.) VOCs can be found in paint, kitchen cabinetry, rugs, disinfectants, permanent markers, and more. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to have a 100% VOC-free home. It is possible, however, to lean into products with few or no VOCs. One way to spot a good option is to look for the UL GreenGuard Gold Certification, a rectangular lime-green seal on the packaging. Products with this emblem have been tested by a third-party nonprofit and found to have very low VOC emissions. Another thing you can do? Leave the windows open awhile when you bring home brand-new furniture and decor. Items can off-gas for six months, and in some cases even up to five years, but a bit of fresh air right away will usher some of that bad stuff out.
This is the last suggestion on the list because, believe it or not, air purifiers are not nearly as effective as the other recommendations. If you’re in the market, get a purifier that’s the right size for your space and certified ozone-free. Pay attention to the quality of the filter, not all the bells and whistles. Go for one with a HEPA filter (best for trapping particulate matter, like pollen and pet dander) with a MERV rating of 16 or higher; the higher the rating, the tinier the particles it catches. Some devices also have a carbon filter, great for trapping VOCs and fumes. Just remember to check the manual to see how often the filters need to be replaced! If you don’t switch them out regularly, the machine will simply recirculate unfiltered air, becoming little more than a glorified fan.
OUR EXPERTS
TIM CARROLL, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE EPA
GLORY DOLPHIN HAMMES, CEO OF IQAIR NORTH AMERICA, AN AIR QUALITY TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
MICHAEL RUBINO, MOLD AND AIR QUALITY EXPERT AND FOUNDER OF HOMECLEANSE, A RESIDENTIAL REMEDIATION SERVICE AND HOME WELLNESS PLATFORM
MATTHEW SCHMITZ, MANAGING EDITOR AT HOMESERVE
PROP STYLING BY MARINA BEVILACQUA