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Healthy Homes, Healthy People

Healthy Homes, Healthy People. Healthy Living for both you and your home. 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. Exterior of Home. Do an exterior check

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Healthy Homes, Healthy People

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  1. Healthy Homes, Healthy People Healthy Living for both you and your home

  2. 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

  3. 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?

  4. 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

  5. Question? • Who thinks they have a clean home? • What does clean mean? • What about • Allergies • Asthma • Hypersensitivities? 40-50 million people affected by allergies

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. How much air? – Delivered how? How moves air through buildings? WIND DIRECTION Exhaust Fan Wind Mechanical Fans Buoyancy Stack effect - warm air rising

  10. Positive and Negative Pressures Wind Effect Stack Effect Neutral pressure plane

  11. ASHRAE 62.2-2010 A Wisconsin pilot study conducted in 2004 found that 78% of weatherized units required additional mechanical ventilation under 62.2 Average installed cost, including controls: $525 (2004-2005 prices) www.ashrae.org

  12. ASHRAE 62.2-2010 Table Table 4.1a: Minimum Ventilation Air Requirements, CFM, New Buildings1 45 1 ASHRAE 62.2-2010, p 4

  13. Base Formula Calculation Base formula, step by step Multiply 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

  14. Air Exchangers Graphic courtesy of Popular Mechanics Photo courtesy of The US Department of Energy

  15. Mechanical Ventilation Bath Kitchen Dryer Vented to exterior???

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

  17. Remodeling…odd finds Unused sewer line

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. Pets Dander is more the issue Fur Track in outdoor contaminants Dirt Fleas Keep out of the bedroom, especially kids Water leaks, moisture

  21. 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

  22. Kitchens 2 Tbl Salt • 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

  23. 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

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

  25. 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

  26. Storage Areas

  27. 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… ;(

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

  29. Basements Expansion joint 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

  30. Lived in basements Keep mattresses, clothing off floors Keep everything away from exterior walls NO CARPETING

  31. 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

  32. 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

  33. Think of house as a system… Top to Bottom * Inside and Out

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

  35. Brandy Toft Air Quality Specialist Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 218-335-7429 air@lldrm.org

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