Indoor Air Quality And Its Impact On Your Home Quality Columbus, OH
Everyone knows that pollution is a bad thing, but often the term pollution is used in reference to big cities and the outdoor environment. However, there is an equally important concern: indoor air pollution.
Indoor air quality and pollution
According to the CDC, research over the last few years has established that indoor air can be more seriously contaminated compared to outdoor air even in the biggest cities. Also, as noted by the CDC, because people spend nearly 90% of their time indoors, the health risk of exposure to air pollution while indoors may exceed the risks associated with outdoor pollution.
Along the same line, the World Health Organization has estimated that about 4.3 million people globally die every year as a result of indoor air pollution. It is for this reason that John Bower, the founder of Healthy House Institute, argued that walking into a building today can sometimes be likened to putting your head into a plastic bag that is full of poisonous fumes.
How basements contribute to poor indoor air quality
In the United States, basements are one of the major causes of indoor pollution. This is because many basements are often damp and dirty. High moisture in basements causes the growth of mold. As the mold grows, it pollutes the air through the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
VOCs and mold spores are associated with health issues such as allergies and respiratory problems. The musty odors that are associated with mold are also uncomfortable. Also, a high level of humidity in basements makes it possible for air to carry many other types of harmful pollutants.
The connection between basements and your home’s indoor air quality is due to the fact that about 50% of the air you breathe on the first floor circulates through the basement. Therefore, if the air in the basement is polluted due to mold and other harmful compounds, there is a high chance that your indoor air quality will be poor.
Basement waterproofing as a solution to indoor air pollution
Basement waterproofing involves addressing the issues that make basements wet to prevent the growth of mold and eliminate the basement’s clamminess. The process helps improve indoor air quality in the following ways:
- Keeping the basement dry – Basement waterproofing techniques such as sealing foundation wall cracks and improving the drainage around a basement help keep away water and moisture. This keeps the basement dry and prevents dampness and other harmful effects of high humidity on indoor air.
- Preventing the growth of Mold – Mold thrives in wet or humid conditions. Therefore, if you keep your basement dry through waterproofing, you make the space unconducive for mold to grow.
Contact the Professionals at Everdry Waterproofing Of Columbus Today! (614) 850-5600
