Energy Efficiency vs. Air Quality In Homes

Modern homes are far more energy efficient than even a couple of decades ago, which can save a lot of money in heating costs but if the heating and ventilation system are not working properly can lead to problems with indoor air quality. Years ago homes were far "looser" than today with many air leaks that required more heat or AC but at the same time allowed the house to breathe more and not allow condensation to form as much which can lead to mold. Unfortunately a home this loose would cost a fortune to heat now, as many owners of old houses know. New homes are much tighter with air leaks but this means that outside ventilation air needs to be introduced in a controlled way to assure good air quality. This means you need to have a properly operating HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning) system.

HVAC heat exchanger


One of the simplest things you can do to improve your air movement with an HVAC system is to clean or change your filters regularly. Be sure to clean the outside air intake monthly to remove debris that can catch on the intake screen and wash the reusable filters on the air exchanger making sure to dry them before re-inserting them into the air exchanger. These are separate from the regular paper filters near the furnace which are not re-usable. Get familiar with your furnace now and you can avoid problems that can degrade air quality in the home and still keep things nice and toasty warm without costing an arm and a leg.

If you have any questions please call me at 475-2027 or stop by my office at Trust Lands, 27 Store Road or drop me an e-mail at soberg@boreal.org

Mold in Your Home

Mold exists everywhere, inside an outside. It is present at all times, but it cannot grow on dry surfaces. It needs a moist environment in order to proliferate. It also needs oxygen and food. Their food includes basically any building material, and mold especially loves drywall. So, if you are planning on putting in a basement, which typically has a more moist environment, do not put drywall in your basement. For that matter, do not put carpet in your basement either as carpet is a great breeding place for mold.

Another tip to prevent mold is to finish your window sills with a polyurethane finish. Windows tend to collect moisture in the winter, and if their is unfinished wood collecting all that moisture, then mold will grow. If you already have mold on your sills, clean the area with soap and hot water, and then finish the sills. Now, I too am guilty of having unfinished window sills, so I need to add this task to my project list as well. It is quick fix to preventing mold growth and is advisable to complete before the snow flies.

All mold is dangerous to have in your home, regardless of the species. It aggravates breathing and can worsen any respiratory illnesses, even just having a cold. Find out more about mold at the EPA mold website. You can also give me a call at 475-2027 or stop by my office at Trust Lands. I am here to help with improving indoor air quality , and I can help you to identify any areas that may lead to mold growth.

Picture from www.toolbase.org

What You Can Do About Mold

There is a lot of information on the Internet about mold, as well as a lot of misinformation. Mold is a symptom of too much moisture so in order to rid your home of it you need to stop the moisture at the source.

Mold around windows is common during winter due to condensation forming and flowing down the window. Clean up the mold with a light bleach solution and consider using a plastic film window insulation kit next winter. These kits are inexpensive and will help keep the surface temperature above the dew point so condensation will not form.

Basement floods can be a real problem, since mold can begin forming within 24 hours of the flood as long as there is moisture present. Anything absorbent such as rugs should be taken out and dried thoroughly, cardboard boxes and paper removed, and the basement needs to be dried completely.

If you have any questions regarding mold, flooding, or related topics I have more information available at my office at Trust Lands, or call me at 475-2415 ext. 35. I can also come out to your house to assess mold and moisture problems. Give me a call!

Be On The Lookout For Wet Basements And Crawlspaces

Slowly but surely spring is coming, and with the amount of snow we have this year it could become a problem in your home if it melts too fast. Water can exert tremendous force on your basement walls, and no expensive interior sealant will keep it out if the hydraulic pressure is great enough. With temperatures forecast into the 30's and 40's for the next few days many of us will find out how well our basements and crawlspaces are sealed. Dirt crawlspaces with no poly seal are a particular problem since soil gas and mold spores have direct access to the home, often through leaky ducts.

If you have basement or crawlspace moisture problems call me at 475-2415 ext. 35 or stop in my office at Trust Lands - 27 Store Road. We can determine why the moisture is intruding and give advice on flood cleanup and steps that can prevent future floods. Give me a call!

Would You Like Better Air In Your Home?

Grand Portage Healthy Homes is looking for homes to test and fix.

Do you have anyone in your household with asthma, COPD, or other lung health issues?

Do you live on the Grand Portage Reservation?

If you can answer yes then you can enroll in the Healthy Homes program. This free program will provide an expert air analysis of your home to look for mold and other contaminants, a remediation plan to improve the air, and even will provide repairs as needed by the remediation plan. The remediation money is not unlimited, and will be dispersed on a first-come, first-serve basis so sign up now to be part of this exciting program to improve lung health in Grand Portage. Stop by my office at Trust Lands or call me at 475-2415 ext. 35 and sign up today!

Do You Ever Think About The Water Suppy Hoses To Your Washing Machine?

You Should!

The rubber hoses commonly sold for this can unexpectedly fail, particularly the hot water supply. Failure of these hoses are one of major sources of water damage in homes, and most people never even consider this until they are up to their ankles in water.

I was reminded of this the other day when one of these hoses began leaking after I had moved a washer slightly. The homeowner said the hoses were put in when the washer was installed - about fifteen years before. Rubber hoses need to be replaced at least every five years, or better yet replaced with stainless steel flex hose.

I never thought about them myself until I was at one of my mold trainings last summer and found out how often the rubber hoses fail. I went out and immediately bought stainless and now I sleep better at night.

An Easy Way To Save Energy And Reduce Mold

The chill in the air the last few mornings has got me thinking about getting ready for winter and how much propane I will use. With prices rising to the stratosphere there are some easy steps you can take to help save energy and money.

On many homes both new and old you will see condensation running down the inside of windows in the winter. Often this can lead to mold growth and even rot the window frames. But an easy and inexpensive solution to this is to use a plastic film window insulating kit on the inside of the window. This extra layer of insulation keeps the surface of the plastic above the dew point so moisture will not condense out of the air onto the film.

Also it is a good idea to replace worn out weatherstripping and caulking around the house. If you heat with wood be sure your chimney is clean and leak-free, and do not dry large amounts of wood in the house. Wood bark can contain a variety of mold types, and combined with the moisture given off from the drying wood can create mold problems elsewhere in the house.