AIR QUALITY
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Dangerous or not? Here's how to tell whether a strange odor is a serious problem or an easy fix.
Nobody wants to breathe in dust, dander, pollen, and mold. Unfortunately, though, the air in our homes is loaded with...
A hardworking room humidifier is a lifesaver during the dry, cold months of winter. Its dedicated function—adding moi...
What you don’t know can hurt you—the air inside your home may contain concentrations of potentially hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) up to 10 times gre...
Nothing refreshes a room and improves its ambience quite like a new coat of paint. If you’re like most DIYers, you ha...
Heating and air conditioning strip your home’s air of its natural humidity. The result: An uncomfortable dryness that...
If you're looking for a new city to call home—or even just choosing a holiday destination—you’ll want to read this list first! Our collection of the cleanest and ...
There are few homeowner problems more terrifying than mold. While thousands of molds are part of the natural environment, ghastly examples of it can be lurking in...
Q: I recently inherited a beautiful armchair from my grandparents. Unfortunately, they were heavy smokers, and the sm...
Few things are as important as the air we breathe. One of the most popular products available in the ongoing quest fo...
If your goal is indoor air that’s as fresh and healthy as possible, you may think about hiring a firm to clean your h...
With temperatures low across the country, heating systems on full blast, and houses buttoned up against the cold, the air in your home can pretty dry this time of...
Winter doesn’t just bring colder temperatures outdoors; in most areas, it also means bone-dry air inside your home, a...
Improve your home’s indoor air quality—and your overall mood—with an easy-to-grow houseplant.
Pull the clothespin off your nose and instead try these 10 common household items to deodorize every nook and cranny of your abode.
Houseplants are more than just decorative accents. These natural household helpers reduce carbon dioxide and dust levels, and look great while doing it. But did y...
Basements were once used solely as utility rooms that housed furnaces, laundry areas, and overflow storage for seasonal items, tools, and sometimes even root vege...
Ever walked into a bathroom and paused to question the mustiness of the space? It's not news that those damp quarters...
It's winter, so get ready for several months of that hot, dry air that your HVAC system pumps out. Even worse, while the heat is on your house will be buttoned up...
Though often overlooked, air conditioner filters are responsible for a mighty important job: keeping dust, dirt, and ...
As a naturally occurring and pervasive substance in our world, mold exists in a variety of different forms—many of wh...
Heating and cooling doesn't come cheap—especially if your HVAC system has to work harder to overcome heat loss due to...
Your bathroom may be your spot to relax in the tub after a long day, but with all that plumbing, humidity, and other business going on in there, the location’s fu...
Popular taste in decor changes over time, and even types of furnishings come and go. For example, these days TVs that...
For a century, the naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral asbestos was a mainstay of the building industry, use...
Stop your sniffling and your shivering this winter, and invest in a happier, healthier you. With a few well-chosen purchases, you can turn your home into a warm, ...
We commonly think of the kitchen as a comfy, cozy zone and “the heart of the house,” but according to a recent Depart...
Does this sound familiar? You step outside on a hot day, and though the weather may not be ideal, you can certainly t...
Q: I just went to clean our rental property after the tenant moved out, and I found black mold in the bathroom. Yuck!...
Warmer temperatures invite us to throw up the blinds and open a window. But good weather isn't the only reason to let the fresh air in. Even the cleanest homes ca...
If you have an unfinished basement, you probably don’t want to spend a ton of time down there. The air is musty, the floors are damp, and it feels just a tiny bit...
Bathroom odors rank as some of the most unpleasant household scents you can encounter, and they are definitely not on...
This season, as temperatures drive lower and lower, it's only natural for people to retreat into the safety and comfo...
If radon tests have found unacceptably high readings in your home, there are at least a few effective ways to address...
Believe it or not, in one fell swoop you can lower your energy bills and improve the air quality in your home. The se...
If replacing your tile or installing a new vanity lie outside your budget, you can afford one truly luxurious upgrade: transforming your bathroom into a tropical ...
Air quality can suffer in myriad ways. Excess humidity ranks among the least desirable effects. Left unchecked, moist...
Among household odors, mildew undoubtedly ranks among the worst. And unfortunately, it's all too common, lurking in t...
The air in your home may not be as fresh as you think it is. If you're not careful, indoor air can harbor not only be...
If you ask most people where they feel the safest, chances are the answer will be in their own home. But home safety depends on a variety of factors, and potentia...
No matter how clean your home may be, it's probably still a little dusty. It's a pervasive problem that everyone has to deal with every day. It's more than an ann...
We love the toasty warmth that our radiators and heating vents give off—but the dry indoor air that comes with all th...
Deep breathing has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and even improve digestion. But if the air you’...
Scratchy throats, frequent nosebleeds, dry skin, and static electricity can be common occurrences in winter—particula...
The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that indoor air pollution is often much higher than outdoors. Here ar...
How do I get rid of a cigarette smoke smell in my house?The smell of cigarette smoke can affect virtually every part ...
Today’s weather-tight homes are great for energy efficiency, but they’re not so good for indoor air quality. The grea...
Hot and muggy summer weather outside can mean excess moisture inside. Mold and mildew, musty odors, condensation, war...
Where to StartToday’s HVAC is more than just the equipment that heats, ventilates, and cools our home. It is the inte...
According to the American Lung Association, lung disease and breathing problems are the number one cause of death in ...
One in four Americans suffer from allergies or asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immun...
Mold is more prevalent today because the focus on improving energy efficiency resulted in more airtight homes that do...
We spend a large part of our lives indoors yet the idea of indoor air pollution can be easy to dismiss, especially if...
Many older houses incorporate construction materials that contain asbestos. Usually its presence is uncovered during ...
As the days are getting colder, the air is getting drier. While lotion coupons are at the forefront of the Sunday pap...
The EPA ranks poor indoor air quality as our fourth largest environmental threat. Some of the worst polluters of the ...
Poor Air Quality Threatens HealthThe American Lung Association reports that the death rate from lung disease has rise...
In West Palm Beach, FL, the American Lung Association has sponsored a designer showhouse that highlights a healthy home. Bob’s house tour focuses on the baby’s ba...
Bob visits the South Bronx, NY, where Habitat for Humanity has partnered with private developer Les Bluestone to create a green oasis for low-income families that...
Bob talks with landscape architect Rick Lamb about revisions to the plan. Bob points out the redesigned parking area and the plan for magically melting the snow.
Bob meets with architect Gregory Rochlin and expert carpenter Danny Ruffini to restore old double-hung windows and replace lead sash weights with new spring-loade...
A double window is installed in the kitchen, which will let in a lot of sunlight and give a view of the back yard.
Bob meets with the installer of the new HVAC system to discuss how it filters air and reduces energy costs.
Bob discusses the SpacePak HVAC system that's being installed to provide heating and cooling in the house and barn. The SpacePak system is well-suited to projects...
Bob joins Joe Sheridan (from Energy Guard) to learn more about the US Greenfiber Cocoon cellulose insulation being used in the barn.
Cole Stanton (from Fiberlock) joins Bob to talk about Child Guard, an encapsulating coating for lead-based paint.
