Bad news for all you homebodies—your air is probably hurting you. And although air is invisible, the culprits that cause it are hidden in plain sight.
When people think about air quality, they often think about the outside. Meanwhile, indoor air pollution gets a free pass—unregulated and underestimated.
Indoor air pollution is where most of our exposure to air pollution occurs. The Environmental Protection Agency notes that the level of indoor air pollutants can be two to five times higher than outdoor pollutants.
What’s to blame?
- Improper ventilation
- Chemicals emitted from cooking and cleaning
- Personal care products, shower gels and fragrances
- Building materials and furniture releasing gases
- Tightly sealed homes
That’s Not Just Pumpkin Pie You’re Smelling
Researchers once cooked Thanksgiving dinner in a home and found levels of fine particulate matter reaching as high as 285 micrograms per cubic meter. 200 or above is considered unhealthy.
The Symptoms of Poor Air
- Diseases like asthma, pneumonitis and humidifier fever
- Irritation of eyes, nose, and throat
- Colds, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue
- Moisture buildup, mold, mildew, and rot in attics (Often referred to as Sick Building Syndrome)
The simple fact is that indoor air needs to be constantly replenished with outdoor air.
Remedying the Situation
The simple fact is that indoor air needs to be constantly replenished with outdoor air, especially since people now spend approximately 90% of their time indoors.
Here are some simple tips for choosing the right ventilation for your home:
- Know the requirements in your state or city building codes.
- Make sure airflow circulates through soffit vents without blockages.
- Check your attic for things like insulation shrinking, mold, and mildew.
- If you’re updating your roof, ask your roofer about the NFA (Net Free Area) of their trim and vents.
Take a Deep Breath
Quality Edge offers a secret weapon in the battle for clean indoor air—vented soffits with a generous overhang, available in a wide variety of colors and styles. Quality Edge soffits offer the highest NFA rating in the market, maximizing air coming in. Breathe easy—by helping your home do the same.
TruVent® Hidden Vent Soffit
TruBead® Jet 45 Vented Soffit
