A fairly large percentage of Americans actively exploit the basement. It not only stores off-season items or unnecessary equipment, but also equips it as a living space. Read more about how to improve basement air quality in this article.
How to improve basement air quality: putting things in order
Many people wonder how to improve basement air quality. First of all, you need to put things in order in the room. The person is guilty of littering the space. We use the basement as a storage room until things are forgotten, or are covered with a layer of dust.
First, if you want to improve poor indoor air quality, you need to remove unnecessary boxes. For disposal, you need to send newspapers, old books, and magazines that are no longer readable. The accumulation of such things provokes the development of mold. In addition, they attract mice and termites, which require special treatment after the room.
If it is a pity to throw away some things, however, they are not used, you can give them to charity. If you do not want to do the dirty work yourself, it is appropriate to call a special cleaning service. Remember that an excessive amount of garbage in the basement provokes the deterioration of the air there.
How easy is it to clean the basement?
To simplify the work, divide the room into several sections. Set aside one day for each. This allows you to clean everything efficiently while saving time for watching a movie or meeting with friends. Don’t try to do everything in one day because it won’t be effective.
Try to set yourself a clear timeline for each section. This keeps you from getting distracted. Place several containers in the room for different purposes. Put garbage in the first, necessary things in the second, and items for charity in the third. Do not forget to arm yourself with gloves and a protective mask.
Basement air testing
Once the clutter in the basement is gone, you need to check the indoor air quality. To do this, there is a special air quality monitor that determines indoor air quality. You can also call a professional who ensures the accuracy of the readings.
First, you need to check the room for radon gases. This gas is odorless and is formed when uranium decays and seeps out of rocks, soil, and water. According to statistics, more than 20,000 people die from oncology, which provokes radon at home.
It is important to check the air in the basement for carbon monoxide. It also has no smell and is no less dangerous to humans. It often causes poor air quality, but after it may be lung cancer and death.
You must test the room for mold, formaldehyde, asbestos, and other harmful airborne particles. To do this, it is better to call an experienced specialist who has all the necessary equipment and can fully analyze the air in the basement.
After all, the results are provided to the person by e-mail or in hard copy. This allows you to determine what further actions can improve the indoor air quality in the basement. If hazardous gases are found, you may require professional cleaning.
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How to test for radon?
It is possible to determine the content of radon in a room only with the help of professional equipment. Therefore, you have to contact a specialized company.
If this harmful gas has been detected, no relocation is required. The installation of a softening system is recommended. It pumps out harmful gas from the basement to the outside.
Drying out water damage and repairing it
Most often, the basement has an increased level of humidity, which leads to damage to furniture and things. Given that basements are dug into the ground, they can accumulate water left over from floods. That is why it is necessary to provide a mitigation system in advance. It prevents the development of mold, which worsens the basement air quality.
If the water has caused enormous damage, it is possible to eliminate it only with the help of a professional service. These companies have special equipment that allows testing. This allows you to know what level of humidity is stored under the basement walls.
Once the sources of moisture are dried, you can eliminate the fungus and mold growth. This positively affects the indoor air quality in the basement. It is also better to call a specialist to remove mold. This is the only way to guarantee that it is not spread.
After all, self-removal of mold is not effective. If you overlook even a small area, soon the whole room can be affected by fungi again. It is also possible that they seep into other rooms of the house.
To remove excess moisture in the basement, you can use special dehumidifiers. It is recommended that the humidity level does not exceed 50%. This is the only way to reduce the likelihood of mold formation.
Crack sealing
Once you’ve repaired the water damage, try to start sealing the seams and cracks in the basement right away. Pay attention to even minor cracks. Thanks to this, dust and dirt do not penetrate inside the house.
For work, you can prepare mounting foam or sealant. Choose compounds that are resistant to moisture and mechanical damage. This ensures the durability of the crack seal.
Determining the presence of cracks is not difficult. It is best to do this during the daytime. Turn off the light in the basement and look around. If there are places through which sunlight penetrates, you must repair them without fail. If there was no foam or sealant at hand, you can first seal all the seams with ordinary tape.
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Don’t open windows
As soon as it concerns the ventilation of a room, opening a window comes to mind for many. However, it is better not to do this. Basement windows do not promote ventilation. It is capable of provoking an increase in the rate of formation of condensate.
This is because warm air from outside enters the basement and collides with cool surfaces. Once this process occurs, moisture accumulates on the surfaces, leading to the formation of a large amount of mold. There is a lot of dust and pollen in the street air, which accumulates in the basement, provoking allergies.
Removal of sources of volatile organic compounds
Many people ask, how do I purify the air in my basement? As is known, the intake of volatile organic compounds (VOC) comes from benzyl and paint coatings. Most of them are stored in the basement. If ventilation is poor, the compounds are carried through the air, making them toxic.
Volatile organic compounds have a strong and pungent odor since they emit gases. At the same time, they negatively affect the human body. Initially, the compounds provoke irritation of the larynx, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
If you stay in contact with VOC for a long time, problems with the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system may appear. To prevent their accumulation in the air, it is recommended to install a high-quality ventilation system, as well as use high-quality materials for repairs.
To monitor the amount of VOC in the basement, it is recommended to install a special air quality monitor. As soon as poisonous gases appear, it notifies you of this.
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What kind of paint is better to use?
As you know, the vast majority of paints have the volatile organic compounds. They can be released into the air for many months and years.
If you paint the basement with such paints, you can constantly be in contact with toxic gases, worsening your health. For safety, use formulations that do not contain VOC. The information is written on the package.
Cleaning plants from the basement
It seems to many that the installation of live plants in the basement allows it to revive a little. However, it is better to study this issue first. As you know, plants produce oxygen and reduce the number of harmful substances in the air. However, they cannot cope with volatile organic compounds.
Plants are planted in containers with moist soil. Therefore, the level of humidity in the basement increases. If there is a risk of mold spores development, it is better to refuse plants.
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Support for optimal air circulation
In every part of the house, the air must be properly circulated. Especially when it comes to the basement. There are cases where this is not possible. However, you can try several methods.
It is appropriate to install exhaust fans in special ventilation openings. This enhances air circulation. You can also use portable fans that run on electricity. In this case, the door to the basement can remain open.
You can also install a ceiling fan. It is recommended to fix it at the entrance to the basement. This directs airflow into the basement to avoid stagnation.
Humidity control
As you know, air humidity can both benefit and harm. If the level is too high, it may cause mold growth. If the readings are low, the eyes itch, and you feel a tickle in the throat. That is why the level of humidity must be constantly monitored.
A dehumidifier can be used to remove excess moisture. However, keeping it on all the time is not recommended. Humidity often needs to be kept between 30% and 50%.
It is important to understand that controlling the humidity in a room is quite difficult. Especially if it’s too hot or too cold outside. If it is impossible to cope with the control on your own, contact a specialist.
Invest in the powerful air purifiers
Particular attention should be paid to the selection of a powerful and durable cleaner. Try not to skimp on it. Only high-quality models can remove gas, harmful particles, unpleasant odors, and allergens. However, you should carefully read what type of filter is used in the device.
It is advisable to combine dehumidifiers and cleaners. This reduces the level of humidity when the air is cleaned. Air purifiers are rated based on floor size. Make sure that the device matches the area of the basement.
Regularly check the device and how quickly it delivers clean air into the room. The larger the basement area, the higher the card size in the purifier must be.
Popular models
Today, there are a large number of different air purifiers that can be used in the basement. Therefore, it is easy for an inexperienced user to get confused in a large assortment, and stop at the wrong option. The best air purifiers include:
- Blueair Classic 605. Suitable for basements up to 775 sq. ft. Inside, a modern True HEPA filter is installed, which effectively fights pollen, mold spores, dust, and other irritants. The CADR size is 500 cubic feet per minute.
- Rabbit Air Minus A2. This purifier mounts to the wall and is ideal for 815 sq. ft of space. The CARD size is 200. There are also 6 filtration steps. It is possible to change prints on the panel.
- NuWave OxyPure. This option has 5 filter stages. It can be used if the basement area is no more than 515 sq. ft. The CARD parameter ranges from 332 to 369. A wireless network function is provided to facilitate remote control.
Regular airing
Many people are wondering, how do you get fresh air in your basement? As you know, the bad air in the basement is because the room is poorly ventilated. The air accumulates inside and is not mix with the clean air outside.
To improve ventilation, as already mentioned, it is recommended to install a mechanical ventilation system. It ensures the penetration of fresh air from outside into the room.
The system does not provide for the need for windows. The vast majority of such systems have energy savings. The only negative is the high cost of the devices. The installation should be carried out by experienced specialists.
If you have the financial ability to install such a system, you should not refuse it. However, a dehumidifier and air purifier can be combined to achieve similar results. At the same time, their cost is an order of magnitude lower.
Common mistakes
There are a few common mistakes that the vast majority of people make. The first mistake is an attempt to hide and eliminate mustiness in the basement. For this, various sprays and fresheners are used.
It is important to note that such attempts are not able to correct bad air in the basement. On the contrary, it increases the concentration of harmful chemical components, since they are part of such products.
The vast majority of spray air fresheners contain VOC, which is highly toxic. The air is pleasant for a fairly short period, after which you have to clean it.
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How to improve poor basement air quality: FAQ
There are several questions people face when they are looking at how to improve basement air quality. The answers to them, you can read below.
Should I ventilate my basement if I want to improve indoor air quality?
If left unchecked, high levels of humidity in the basement cause bad odors to form, as well as weaken the posts and beams. A favorable climate is created for mold spores to develop.
At high humidity levels, you need to regularly ventilate the basement. Otherwise, the unfavorable microclimate spreads to other living rooms.
How can I get more oxygen in my basement?
To increase the level of oxygen in the basement, it is recommended to install a special air filter or fan. You can also put a few live plants, however, you need to constantly monitor them.
You can open the windows in the basement several times a day, little by little. This improves the concentration of fresh air, in which there is a lot of oxygen.
How often should you run a dehumidifier in the basement?
Dehumidifiers are recommended to run for 12 hours a day or more. It all depends on how much moisture is contained in the basement air. It is not necessary to follow such a schedule daily.
However, it is important to remember the fact that frequent use of a dehumidifier provides fresh and clean air. This is an important requirement if there are small children in the house.
Do dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity?
Such devices consume quite a lot of electricity. The average power of such devices is 483.2 watts. They consume about 0.423 kW per hour.
However, the more often you run the devices, the more they consume electricity. The use of older models of dehumidifiers leads to the fact that they consume about 24 kW per hour.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are several ways to clean the air in the basement. For greater effect, it is recommended to combine them. Then the basement can be used not only as a warehouse but also as a living space. Every person appreciates it if there is a clean and fresh basement in the house.
