AIR QUALITY
Browse By Tag
Do you know if radon gas is present in your home? Radon is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that is naturally...
December is all about friends, family, and food (there, we said it!), which is why this month's tasks focus on keepin...
Everyone’s heard of Popular Science. The esteemed and iconic brand—owned by Recurrent Ventures—recently partnered wit...
Amazon’s Prime Early Access Sale is in full swing, with plenty of home deals to be found. For great savings on practi...
Typical Range: $395 to $753 National Average: $575A whole-house humidifier can dramatically improve the level of m...
As someone who prioritizes a clean home, I value the importance of utilizing products that keep my house looking and ...
Typical Range: $200 to $1,000Smelling cigarette smoke upon entering a home is not only unpleasant, it can have adve...
During hot summer months, staying cool and keeping your home comfortable is a top priority. However, choosing the bes...
Wildfires can be terrifying; the destruction the flames inflict is devastating. But wildfires wreak havoc in other wa...
Portable air purifiers filter out pollutants and allergens like their larger counterparts. However, they’re so small ...
The spring allergy season may kick off earlier and last several weeks longer by the end of the century thanks to clim...
Although some houseplants reportedly help clean the air, others can trigger allergy symptoms by adding extra baggage—...
Warm weather days are not the only ones that call for an open window. There are plenty of good reasons to crack open ...
Back in action after a 1-year hiatus, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) welcomed enthusiastic exhibito...
Since most of the dust in your home’s ducts tends to stay in the ductwork, air duct cleaning isn’t required regular m...
Household pollutants can come from everything from the materials used in home construction and off-gassing from adhes...
Humidifiers help increase the moisture content in a room. For many people, using a humidifier is a terrific way to to...
Q: I’m shopping for a new air purifier for my home and have noticed that many models list a CADR rating. What is CADR...
When most people think of a fan, the first thing that comes to mind might be a window fan or the old style with butto...
Wood and metalworking projects can range from entertaining hobbies to necessary professions, like carpentry and auto ...
Q: How often should I replace the air filters in my home, and what factors would require me to replace them in betwee...
Highlights Homeowners will typically pay between $268 and $490 for air duct cleaning; the national average cost is ...
Dusty vents, fast food remnants, spilled coffee, pet dander—all give cars a funky smell, making that commute to and f...
Crawl spaces are dark and dusty, and air quality isn’t always at its finest. If the humidity level climbs (which it o...
Single room humidifiers make it easy to replace lost moisture in small spaces, but to affect the entire home, you nee...
Q: We live in an area where humidity is high, so we regularly run a dehumidifier to keep the air in our home from fee...
According to a recent industry survey, 67 percent of American households own a pet. That's 85 million families who in...
It can be frustrating and uncomfortable when your living space experiences a decrease in the humidity level. But, a f...
Wildfire smoke consists of harmful gases and fine particles from burning plants and other materials. These extremely ...
Mold isn’t only unsightly; it can make a home smell unpleasant and, at worst, trigger health issues. Only air purifie...
Stinky gym clothes, beloved pets, and home cooking can all contribute to household odors. Products like air freshener...
Don’t suffer in silence; use these items to keep allergens at bay in your home.
Creating something with your hands, whether it’s woodworking, painting, renovating, or any other creative pursuit, ca...
Your personal battle against climate change takes place one day at a time. The way you use electricity, water, and fossil fuel can lower your carbon footprint and...
Indoor plants offer an aesthetic appeal, plus they can remove allergens from the air and oxygenate the space. The key...
Candles are a home decor staple. They’re attractive, smell lovely, and bring a warm ambiance into the space. The shee...
Not only does excess humidity make you feel sticky and uncomfortable, but it also increases the risk of mold growth i...
Breathing easy at home should be simple enough. Unfortunately, some gases, such as radon and carbon monoxide, are col...
When standard household cleaners won’t improve air quality, it’s time to bring in the big guns with the power of an o...
Black Friday, which is just a couple of days away, traditionally marks the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, bu...
Sources of smoke—from wood-burning fireplaces to cooking accidents—can irritate the eyes, sinuses, and throat. This m...
Can houseplants clean the air inside your home? Learn about the research behind this health benefit and see the low-maintenance plants that will give your home a ...
Some DIY activities can send irritating particles or vapors into the air. Having to work around airborne particulates...
Heating and air conditioning strip your home’s air of its natural humidity. The result of uncomfortable dryness leave...
Stop the sneezing! With these smart tips and tricks you can maintain a dust-free house.
Our homes are loaded with dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and other indoor air pollutants. Poor ventilation and the u...
Q: I suffer from seasonal allergies, and a friend suggested I buy an air purifier for my home. What does an air purif...
Q: During the winter, the central heating in our home makes the air super dry. Not only do my nasal passages get infl...
Here's how to tell whether a strange odor inside your home is hazardous to your health, or an easy fix.
A hardworking room humidifier is a lifesaver during the dry, cold months of winter. Its dedicated function—adding moi...
Q: My husband and I just moved from Reno, Nevada, to Baytown, Texas, and the humidity here is high, even indoors. We’...
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...
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...
Pull the clothespin off your nose and instead try these 10 common household items to deodorize every nook and cranny of your abode.
The mere presence of certain plants in your sleeping area can actually help you sleep better. These fronds and flowers are some of the best bets for lulling you o...
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...
Have you ever walked into a bathroom and wrinkled your nose because the space was so musty? It’s not news that damp q...
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 ...
Knowing how to get rid of a black mold is a skill set every DIYer and homeowner should have in their know-how arsenal...
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...
Some prefer bright light and others like low light, but all of these indoor plants thrive in bathrooms’ high humidity and will add a spa-like quality to your space.
Air quality can suffer in myriad ways. Excess humidity ranks among the least desirable effects. Left unchecked, mois...
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...
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.
