How can I improve the air quality in my basement?

How to Improve Basement Air Quality

1. Clean the Air. The most simple way for how to improve basement air quality is by cleaning the air.
2. Dry it Out.
3. Ventilate.
4. Keep Windows Closed.
5. Seal Up Cracks and Gaps.
6. Remove High VOC Contributors.
7. Use Low-VOC Paint.
8. Test for Radon.

Does humidity cause poor air quality?

High humidity increases the rate of harmful or toxic chemicals in the air. It also causes dust mites in our homes, dampening the quality of air. Low humidity also causes airborne germs. Mind you, respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis thrive in environments with low humidity.

Does humidity affect indoor air quality?

Your home’s humidity level is just as important as the indoor temperature and actually impacts it. Humidity affects comfort, overall health, and even the air quality. Whether there is too much or too little humidity, health and home can be affected, so balance is key.

What factors increase poor indoor air quality?

Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.

Do basements have bad air quality?

Ultimately, the biggest reason that basements suffer from poor air quality is a lack of ventilation. Because basements rarely get enough fresh, outside air, the indoor air pollutants build up into higher concentrations.

How does heat affect air quality?

Heat waves often lead to poor air quality. The extreme heat and stagnant air during a heat wave increases the amount of ozone pollution and particulate pollution. Drought conditions can also occur during a heat wave, meaning that soils are very dry. During a drought, forest fires are more common.

What is best indoor humidity?

between 30-50\%
The ideal relative humidity for health and comfort is somewhere between 30-50\% humidity, according to the Mayo Clinic. This means that the air holds between 30-50\% of the maximum amount of moisture it can contain.

Does basement need cold air return?

I recommend that all basements should have at least 2 supply registers and 1 return register in the basement/equipment area just to keep that area slightly warm or cool and the air fresh. If you are going to finish that area to be used as living space, then more supply and returns will be needed.

How does your basement affect your indoor air quality?

A basement itself have high levels of indoor pollutants. Those pollutants can get into the rest of your home through the floors and doorways. So if you want to improve your home’s indoor air quality as a whole, it’s important to address the air quality in your basement.

Should I heat the basement since heat raises?

Should I be heating the basement since heat raises, or would I be using too much heating to heat the same square feet of basement and the main floor? Yes, you should heat your basement. Finished or not it is important to keep the basement conditioned for: health reasons.

Should heating ducts be above or below the basement floor?

PROBLEM: If heating ducts are installed beneath a basement floor slab, the drainage system may be inappropriately left at a level higher than the duct. In effect, the duct becomes the drainage system. With standing water within the heating duct, there are potentially serious health consequences from mold contamination.

Why does my basement get cold when it’s Cold Outside?

Since heat migrates to cold if the basement is colder than the air in the ducts a portion of that heat is going to migrate into the basement. If the ducts aren’t sealed (cold air return side) you will actually drawn cold air out of the basement, causing a depressurization that draws more outdoor air into the basement through rim/band joist leaks.