You may already know that new energy efficient home building techniques have backfired resulting in some pretty unhealthy air quality issues. Homes have become so well sealed and insulated that fresh air intake – and associated fresh air circulation – have become almost non-existent. Sealing a home may be great for reducing energy consumption, but it’s proving to be pretty bad for the occupants.

A sealed environment void of fresh air intensifies the negative impact of off-gassing from newly installed construction products such as cabinets, carpeting, floating flooring and more.

Here are a few solutions to the problem:

Change furnace filter once a month

Run bathroom vent fan when showering to discourage mold growth

Clean humidifier and air conditioning drain pans

No smoking

Let new carpet, drapes, furniture “air out” before bringing inside

Keep gutters clean to avoid moisture penetration

Repair cracks in basement/foundation

Regularly clean and tune all fuel-burning appliances/fireplace

Another great way to enhance air quality is to install a whole house Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV).