Homeowners Misinformed About Airborne Dangers in Homes, Research Says

PR Newswire recently featured a new study conducted by industry leader Broan-NuTone about homeowners’ understanding of indoor air quality (IAQ). What it concluded was interesting.

 

The survey results affirmed that homeowners are concerned about poor IAQ. However, it revealed, “many of us lack the practical understanding of how to eliminate unhealthy air from our homes.” How informed (or misinformed) are you? Read the full results here.

 

The study points out, “The factors that negatively impact indoor air quality are not well known, and most homeowners do not associate allergy symptoms, lingering food odors, or foggy bathroom mirrors with unhealthy indoor air.”

 

Education could not be more important than now. To get started, the study suggests three things homeowners (and contractors) can do to ensure healthy IAQ:

 

  1. Ensure proper air flow and ventilation. Have a trained professional come to your home and run scientific tests to accurately identify what is working well and what needs improvement in your home. Also, be sure the tech checks the whole house (HVAC equipment, air duct system, building envelope, etc). If one element of your home is not functioning properly, then IAQ can suffer.
  2. Install a whole-house, balanced system that equalizes indoor air pressure and removes stale air from the home. Since air is invisible, it’s often hard to fully understand the air inside your home. There are special systems a trained professional can install that can give you visibility about what’s invisible.
  3. Establish a regular cleaning schedule. This last item is something you can do by yourself without the need for a trained professional. If you vacuum, wipe away dust, mop floors, etc. on a regular basis, then your home’s IAQ will see improvement.

 

Are you a homeowner with IAQ concerns in your home? Find a CI certified contractor near you for expert home performance advice.

Are you a contractor? Learn more about opportunities for contractors to help homeowners. We’d love to chat with you. You can call us 800-933-5656 or email us too.