How to Understand Indoor Air Quality | Ask This Old House

[@jko0526]

I was in the same boat as Richard. We built a house 16ish years ago and I went above and beyond the code standards and doubled down on insulation and windows. Then added foam board and spray foam. I was naive with HVAC equipment back then and trusted the contractor. The first winter every window in the house was a water fall. My wife would get up in the morning and make the rounds wiping windows I would come home during my lunch break and do the same. 4 times a day we went through this routine. The contractor would say that happens in all houses the first year. We felt tired and we had more flu and colds that winter. Then I did some research and found out that even back in those days there was positive effects from installing an HRV unit. My contractor fought me on it and said it was a waste of money but I wouldn’t give up. I’ll never forget the day they installed the HRV. It was already consistently in the 30 degrees range here in my home state and the windows had already showed signs of condensation droplets. The unit ran for only 30 minutes and the windows were already drying up! The salesman came by the next morning to see the results and I’ll never forget it when he looked at me and said, “oh I didn’t think that your house was that tight”.

[@robbrownstone]

Just learned that areas like Las Vegas and Phoenix have some of the worst indoor mold problems. Even though the climate is dry, people keep their homes shut up to save on energy costs while using their A/C which often creates a breeding ground for mold. What Richard said about not feeling good is a real thing, mold is a drag..

[@abidingmarmot]

Ross is so excited to talk every time he gets the chance. He's like a kid who's just so stoked to be working with his dad. I think alot of us can relate to that.

[@rosstrethewey9391]

Thanks Devin. I’m glad the excitement comes through the camera lens, it’s true!

[@davidgreen7342]

To me, it's because he has so much information and experience to share, when you know about something, it's hard to not he excited when explaining it to someone who doesn't

[@JoshuaMuse]

I know it's time to change the filter when the cat and my wife start to sneeze.

[@SteveFontaine99]

Wow, this is such an insightful post! Thank you for sharing this valuable information with us.

[@yanassi]

I’d like to know more about the air quality “gadgets” on the table and in the stores. Honest reviews of the advantages, disadvantages and what should i be looking for (or a respectable web site that would inform me).

[@yanassi]

When you’re looking at several houses to select from, is there a small, portable air quality tester you’d consider to bring along? “A” (one) because it would seem “inspector gadgety” to carry a separate device for each radon, formaldehyde, co2, humidity, etc. I read radon testing requires long term for accuracy but even short term (10 minutes) would give a hint of what’s going. I think air quality is the invisible consideration besides nice garden, architecture, and interior spaces. What would you carry along?

[@JpPlacido-s4y]

great video, very informational

[@kendalllou4274]

I love these men.

[@jeffderice753]

what device is best used to monitor dust allergens for asthma?

[@TheRajulurvashi]

Wondering why radon gas was not being discussed here. Also requesting you to make one mitigation system with basement and without basement houses. Please.

[@boydalexander4652]

Buildings don’t need to breathe people need to breathe indoor air quality especially important during COVID-19 indoor air is seriously 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air so thank goodness you’re showing me this this old house.

[@Engineer9736]

A video on “How to understand indoor air quality” would be an instruction to go watch some videos on “How indoor air quality works”

[@peterrobbins6691]

I have a crawlspace.I installed a vapor barrier and dehumidifer, but the air quaity is still bad in the living space. should I install an exhuast fan? because at this point, I'm thiking of selling the house if I can fix the air qualifty issues because I have bad allergies. Also, also if I can't fix the air quality issues, thinking about digging the crawlspace out and putting a reqular basement in. If I can't fix it I will have to sell because the house is making me sick. the house also has a flat roof, I wish I never bought the house, but now im stuck and looking for solutions

[@johnroberts9560]

HI TOH , Happy Thanksgiving !! 😊🦃

[@DannyWogstarMitsis]

Would these devices pick up mold spores?

[@EllyECristiano]

I wanted to see more info ruim that machine. Where do you install that ?

[@KellytheCoach]

Great info. Super cute too!

[@lovetofly32]

So I travel alot and I feel better when Im away from my home. BUT I KNOW my windows are drafty. Theyre old. My home is like mid 70s. I always feel like crap. My lymph nodes in my neck are sore this morning again and I was fine all week away from my house. When im home i get these annoying mild headaches. I still dont know if Im crazy or what but ten years of this is getting old. About 3 years after i bought it I replaced most of the carpet and padding because it had the old waffle padding and it just had that manufactured smell when you walked in the house. That helped that smell but its still in two other rooms. I feel crazy sometimes trying to think of what it might be. Sure wish I had something to test for EVERYTHING so i could fix the issue.

[@fitybux4664]

How often do you excersize? Drink enough water every day? These matter too...

[@lisaalvarez3111]

Ermi test

[@bobbywedding]

@@fitybux4664 @lovetofly32 Nope...that's prob not the problem. Dude...I'm an engineer and am working on this issue right now. There's probably off-gassing from inside the walls, ceilings or even floor from molding. Even if that house never had a leak, the changing temps at night and evening and humidity where ever you live...over time will cause VOC's to come through all those surfaces. Off-gassing from molds eating organic material and other sources, diffuse through the porous drywall and woods on walls and ceiling. They have done jack-crap real studies on this in my life...and I'm talking about our horrible US medical system. I've seen every allergist and specialist from Chicago to LA here and they are clueless. They concentrate on the outdoors, but nothing on indoors...where we all live most of our lives. First thing is make sure you have good ventilation (moving air in and out) of structure. Then get an O2 tester to make sure you're getting enough oxygen breathing in there. The VOC sensor stuff is really mostly unreliable (at an affordable cost). Even with the pro equipment, there is a learning curve how to test your home. Although using cheaper VOC sensors can help to give you an idea how bad it may be. Get more than 1 of them and do various testing procedures around the home. One last thing I'll say although this could be an entire book. Here's 1 solution to improve my place I'm doing right now. Painting all the walls/ceiling with the Zinsser BIN Shellac primer. It's not cheap by any means, but it's the very best on the market. The Shellac creates an impermeable layer on the surface stopping any gases from getting through. All the other mold fighting paints don't create this barrier. They just help mold or VOC's from forming. This may all sound crazy to you...but do some research on it. Good luck!

[@CusPedro]

Does this work for molds?

[@PupShepardRubberized]

A heatpump with an ERV in the formfactor of a window AC unit would be great for apartments. Cool in summer, warm in winter, all with fresh air.

[@Jess-wu9dx]

Can you share where to get this? I moved into office in an old building that has terrible air flow.

[@justauser]

The air things view plus is a do everything monitor that comes in a small package- I'd check it out if your concerned about IOA!

[@robertwilcken8431]

Are these good for radon mitigation?

[@arielrodriguez6980]

I've check the AQ in my home countless times and it is 98-99% good with 0-1 PM2 and VOC.

[@arielrodriguez6980]

@skygblue6250 not defective when I tried different AQ monitors.

[@songofyesterday]

This explains why my new house has more particulates than my mom’s house from the 90s. Hers has lots of wood, gaps, few insulation and zero foam. It breathes, her electric bill reflects that 😂

[@mrrrrrr3116]

after a season of high AQI days where the smoke can be smelled outside, I don't believe the air is exchanging in my house that quickly

[@H.C.Q.]

The AQI outside is “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”, whereas the air in my house with an Oransi HEPA air filter is “Excellent”.

[@tlprincipe]

what device measures and reports to your phone?? This video left more questions than answers?

[@mssburr]

I need something to test for formaldehyde buildup. Because I am having health issues, And I live in a home created by a builder that was class action sued for loads of people getting sick and developing cancer. I just found a lump and I and a healthy person.. Never drank or did drugs nor abused my body... and cancer does not run in my neither side family. I am unemployed due to covid permanently closing my job. And now this.. I need to get my home air quality checked and was trying to find out where to go.

[@accomplishedtheory9502]

how are you feeling?

[@mattclark5480]

I work in a cabinet shop and the only thing that there worried about is safety glasses and shoes

[@maelewnchief5156]

Air filter required, not just an air conditioner. Perhaps air filters replace air conditioning; just use powerful fans.

[@fitybux4664]

Air filters cannot remove CO2. Only outdoor air can help. (Well, until we've f-cked that up...)

[@HaploBartow]

air filters don't affect moisture or temperature which are the job of A/C. Filters should be used for any air-moving unit anyway, be it heating or cooling.

[@davidgagnon2849]

I heard somewhere that the difference between and HRV and an ERV is that one is for northern, colder states and the other is for the southern, warmer states. Which one for Florida and what is the major difference between the two?

[@FreshCutFrenchFries]

In the colder region where I'm from in Ontario we typically use HRV to recover lost warm air from exhausting and mix with preheated or heated forced air. An ERV could be used to recover heat losses from air in unison with a heat exchanger for water to help heat your hot water tank. Ive seen the ladder configuration in Southern regions before since there is no reason to preheat or air-mix warm air in a warm climate.

[@rosstrethewey9391]

The key difference is ERV provides energy exchange in the form of both temperature and humidity exchange, when HRV’s only transfer heat, meaning temperature only. I recommend ERV’s for all residential applications regardless of climate. We need temperature and moisture exchange. Another issue is that not all ERV’s are created equal. Use a static enthalpic core style, like Renewaire, Soler and Palau, Mitsubishi, etc which are rated for just about every climate.

[@davidgagnon2849]

@@rosstrethewey9391 Thank you Ross!

[@mrlocophone]

So basically instead of buying an air quality monitor I install a nice ventilation system and that should do the job right? At the end of the day monitors do not improve air quality

[@fitybux4664]

Or leave on a bathroom fan. You won't know if that's enough without a monitor though...

[@Monaleenian]

Monitors are needed so that you can be informed of the appropriate level at which to run your ventiation system. For example, if your indoor air quality monitors show that your air quality is satisfactory when your ventilation system is operating at only 50% capacity(which might be 2 air-change per hour for example) then you know that you don't need to run it at 100%(4 air-changes per hour in this example) at that time. You could even experiment with running it at 20 or 25% and see if your monitors still report the air quality as being satisfactory. The monitors are there to allow you to use the ventilation tools wisely so that you're not needlessly exhausting precious heated or cooled air to the outside, effectively sending money out the exhaust pipe.

[@dennisday2049]

I leave my AC on 24/7. Does npt this replace the air continually? NOTE: AC itself only comes on when it is hot days. Still, I need to know what air quality meter to buy, as I have accute asthma. HELP! anyone PTL

[@imadork123]

AC does not circulate air from outside with air inside. It takes the air inside and extracts the heat from it and sends it to your outdoor unit to dissipate in the outdoor air. The best that an AC can do is circulate your air within your home through your air filter, if you have central HVAC ducts. Make sure you are replacing that filter every 6-12 months. If you have a furnace that also uses the ductwork, it should be 6 months. It really depends on your usage of the air handler. I don't have the knowledge to answer your question about an air quality meter.

[@LondonOwen-c7x]

Erdman Throughway

[@AnhTuPhucDerrickHoangCanada]

oh so its true

[@martinlutherkingjr.5582]

Wtf no mention of radon?

[@XzTS-Roostro]

I just installed a Glas® smart thermostat by Jonson Controls earlier this year to replace the Honeywell® programmable thermostat that my mom had installed 15 years ago. The Glas® smart thermostat checks the indoor air quality and will run the HVAC circulation fan whenever necessary.

[@MommaKnowsBestest]

So important to just open windows and let air in.

[@grillo7196]

Momma Knows Bestest when you can. I concur.

[@MommaKnowsBestest]

@@grillo7196 fresh air does the body good childrensssss

[@brandonb9452]

Momma Knows Bestest thanks mom

[@MommaKnowsBestest]

@@brandonb9452 you're welcome. I'm full of wisdoms.

[@arthurmead5341]

And let wildfire particulate in?

[@roryjohnson9198]

who installs this?

[@moemanncann895]

I miss this show, did Norm Abrams and Bob Villa go their own way?

[@dtemp132]

Haven't seen Bob in 20 years. Norm stops by from time to time.

[@hifid3lity]

Grew up watching Norm every weekend.

[@BethGrantDeRoos]

Anyone using a app or other high tech item connected to a computer/WiFi should pause and ask themselves who else can see their information.

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

I sleep much more soundly at night knowing that it won't be you seeing my most private and valuable information, Beth.

[@Garry_G]

‘Breathing houses’ and air infiltration are two very different things

[@MattFerguson26]

Controlling the air movement is different than a leaky (uncontrolled) house. It takes a while to understand the difference.

[@BigZeus]

Just a cool $1800 for one of these..

[@MrVespel]

I think It's worth to buy one, if you just gonna open windows to let fresh air, you gonna loose a lot more money over time in heating your house

[@andyman820]

@@MrVespel over time as in length of the mortgage, or 5 years?

[@FreshCutFrenchFries]

ROI is about 3-4 years. Tested and these unit can last 20 years. 15+ years of energy recovery system will save you thousands in the long run. As a building system tech I can tell you there so much great tech out their for homes and buildings. Its the upfront costs that hurt.

[@daysetx]

DIY similar for 50$ they are easy to make

[@gerardcomeau2160]

*@This Old House* 💰 *Rocky/Pain And Experience Scene* *@Kevin O'Connor* 🎧 👊 *Guns N' Roses/You Could Be Mine* *L.L. Cool J/Ma'ma Said Knock You Out* *MC Hammer/Turn This Mutha Out* *Van Halen/On Fire* *Talking Heads/Burning Down The House* *Emerson Lake & Palmer/Welcome Back My Friends* *To The Show That Never Ends* *The Doors/L.A. Women* *@TMZ* ✔ 📞 *(Comment Section)* *Joe Cocker/A Little Help From My Friends* *(Managers)* *@Norm Abram* ✒ *@Bob Vila* ✒ T-4-2Party-Original-Pepe🐸

[@boydalexander4652]

Also make sure carbon monoxide gets out of the house.

[@mtakedown]

Buildings do not need to breathe, people need to breathe. Air sealed buildings with controlled air changes are code.

[@dianeibsen5994]

Interesting an indoor air quality video and they have a disgusting Versace cologne commercial before it??☣️🤮

[@tj_gsomething_]

Just open a door and a window on opposite side of house for a minute or two daily and save thousands!!!

[@tj_gsomething_]

@Joe T just opening your door does that! You can optionally buy a filter to fit your window and a fan for pennies on the dollar compared to this system. Don't get me wrong, of I was rich I would buy this system.

[@fitybux4664]

You'd need to have your window open 80% of the day. It might work for some. Not just a minute a day though.

[@gustavomatos9020]

Except that encouraged mold growth indoors so you can’t do that

[@Ivftinianvs]

My house was built in 1930. The wind blows through it as if two windows were open, according to the natural gas bills, anyway.

[@Fascistbeast]

No not in my experience if you live in an apartment with a busy road 🚗 It depends Science-medicine Don’t trust your intuition it could be faulty 👍 Fact check information first based on study and evidence. Don’t guess

[@Gekidofury]

Was that a fart joke lol

[@helfiebean9462]

Is this tool time from home improvement?? Haha

[@queerdor]

So maybe building homes that tight isn't a great idea

[@mattv5281]

With a HRV you get filtered air. With a leaky building all the pollen and dust from outside just blows in. Not to mention the mention the higher energy bills, and cold drafts all around the house.

[@ericspda]

It's vastly superior for IAQ if you build as tight as possible. Then you can control the quality, volume, and location the air enters the structure. With a leaky house, you have no control, its dirty, and costs you money. Some days when the outdoor temp is close to indoor you would get very poor ventilation even on a leaky house. With a mechanically ventilated house you get good ventilation all year round, its filtered, and you recover the energy from the air leaving. It's vastly superior for occupant comfort and structure durability in every way aside from cost.

[@بوفارسبونورا-ص7ه]

راسل ، أنت أطول من أبيك . أنا أريد إبني أن يكون أطول مني . Russell، you are taller than your father. I want my son to be taller than me .

[@9avedon]

Pressurized compartments are plane and simply unhealthy. Passive ventilation was better in many ways.

[@ZeoCyberG]

Also worse, there are trade offs for everything and you lack control and energy efficiency with passive systems that if you don't live in an ideal climate/weather area can give rise to a whole list of issues. Some people may also live in areas where the outdoor air quality is worse and you'll need to clean/filter the air coming into the house anyway...

[@9avedon]

@@ZeoCyberG Of course, but most houses are poorly situated to take advantage of the sun. Geothermal sounds great until you find out most systems for whatever reason have failed in many regions.

[@9avedon]

@@ZeoCyberG This is what I have seen with my own eyes. With so many abandoned homes across America ,the HVAC homes rot from the inside very quickly . At the same time the abandoned passive vented homes outlast the HVAC homes by not years but decades.

[@ZeoCyberG]

No, what you've seen is just bad designs. When HVAC was introduced there was a long period of time over a few decades where no one understood how to properly build a house to work with the new systems they were putting into them. Like when people switched from taking baths to taking showers many of the old bathrooms became ruined because they were not designed to work for people taking regular showers instead of baths... People have to understand a house has to work like a complete system. You can't just make a change and expect it to work without issues if the rest of the house isn't also updated to work with it... But properly done the new air tight homes can last far longer than the passive because it allows more control over the interior environment. It just has to be done properly and the whole house treated as a system instead of just a sum of parts...

[@9avedon]

@@ZeoCyberG My observation stands , Hvac homes literally fall apart when unplugged for as little as a couple of years.

[@tripham2850]

Glaucoma may be resulted of poor indoor air quality

[@gdhcbgxggshcgs3901]

Yang milih allah like 40000 ya

[@73caprice]

I think it’s time to get some new talent. Except for Roger, Norm, the brick guy, the girl, and the new Electrcian the rest have gone past their expiration date.

[@JamesJohnson-bb3xl]

Speak English

[@sab605]

Personally, I think this is BS. Just one more way to sell more and more useless products to the homeowner.

[@fitybux4664]

Modern humans spend LOTS of time indoors. You could fix a lot of these problems by being outdoors a majority of your day. Or, if you work indoors, you need these. (Assuming you won't just leave a window open. Not everyone has that choice though, if you live in freezing weather...)