Painting Effects on Air Quality

Unless you choose a paint that’s low on VOCs (volatile organic compounds) for your next hobby or home improvement project, it could have long-lasting effects on air quality indoors. Many paints and finishes contain harmful compounds that evaporate as they dry. The paint may dry, but the compounds will hang in the air for a year and longer.VOCs are a class of chemicals used in paints that are known carcinogens, and kidney, liver and nervous system disrupters. At their least harmful, they irritate the respiratory system and are eye irritants. Besides paints and finishes, VOCs are found in many other common products, including anything perfumed, makeup and most cleaning supplies.

Reducing VOCs When Painting

Even if you use a paint that’s low in VOCs, make sure you have plenty of fresh air ventilation in your home when you paint. Fall and spring are the best times to complete home improvement projects, including painting. The windows and doors can be open and extreme temperatures won’t interfere with curing or drying of any materials you use.Turn on the kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and open several windows to pull the air out of your home. You can also boost the ventilation by putting a fan in an open window when the exhaust fans are running.

What to Look For

When choosing paints and finishes, check the can’s label. It should state the volume of VOCs in it, or that it’s low in VOCs. Look for products with less than 250 grams per liter. Better yet, look for products that have no VOCs at all.The products with which you prep the walls may also have VOCs, like acrylic caulk, primer and adhesives. Flooring products also emit VOCs, including carpeting, laminates and vinyl flooring. Before making your selections, look for the low VOC designation.

Avoiding the bad effects on air quality paints is possible by choosing low VOC products and using adequate ventilation. For more information about improving your home’s air quality, contact Air Assurance, providing HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Protecting Your HVAC System While You're Remodeling

When planning remodeling projects, make sure you put HVAC protection on your prep list. Dust stirred up during home projects can infiltrate the system and cause many problems down the line. Here are steps to keep your HVAC system safe.

Seal Off Ductwork

You probably won’t see all the dust that enters vents and registers, but you will experience the effects of it later on. Debris in the ductwork can wind up in the machinery. There it is likely to coat A/C coils and get into furnace burners and other components where it will interfere with normal, safe operation.Dust in ductwork also diminishes air quality in your home. It can attract allergens, such as mold, and these will be blown into the home. Cover all vents and registers and you will reduce the amount of remodeling debris that enters ductwork.

Use Plastic Sheeting

When you cannot simply shut a door to seal off work areas, make sure to hang plastic sheeting to confine debris. This keeps the mess in single areas, which makes it easier to clean up and prevents particles from entering your home’s air supply.

Use Good Cleanup Methods

You should turn the HVAC system off when doing any demolishing, sawing or sanding, but also make sure the air is clear and surfaces clean before turning it on again. It is not enough to let the dust settle because it will easily become airborne again. Instead, keep windows open and use a vacuum cleaner to remove dusty messes on floors. Sweeping stirs dust around and isn’t as effective.

Use a High-Quality HVAC Filter

Thick, pleated air filters will trap smaller particles of dust, and these filters are extra helpful during a remodel because of that. Fine particulates are created when working with drywall or sanding grout, for example, and cheap filters won’t always keep these out of your heating and cooling system. If your project lasts for several weeks, check the filter weekly and change it when it is clogged.

For more information about protecting your HVAC equipment, please contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “bikeriderlondon/Shutterstock”