Before You Move in Read This Before You Move In

Healthy and Affordable Housing: Practical Recommendations for Building, Renovating and Maintaining Housing

BEFORE YOU MOVE IN READ THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN

U.S. Department of Energy Asthma Regional Coordinating Council of New England Program Partner READ THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN The Do’s and for Don’ts aHealthy Home Living in Your Healthy Home The Building Connection Healthy and Affordable Housing: PracticalRecommendations for Building, Renovating and MaintainingHousing The SevenStepstoaHealthyHome Housing andAsthma Comfortable Toxic ChemicalFree Pest Free Free Combustion Product Well Ventilated Clean Dry Getting Started ✽✪✫✵✮✒✸✯✒✬✸✷✽✮✷✽✼ 2 READ THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN 3 ✭✲✼✬✵✪✲✶✮✻ ✪✬✴✷✸❀✵✮✭✰✶✮✷✽✼ Copyright ©2001 Building Science Corporation Support for the production of this document was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Healthy and Affordable Housing: Practical Recommendations for Building, Renovating and Maintaining Housing Maintaining and Renovating Building, for Recommendations Practical Housing: Affordable and Healthy Joseph Lstiburek at [email protected]; or Marty Nee, HUD Region 1 at [email protected] Marty Nee, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Marty Nee, U.S. Department Associates ERT Ellen Tohn, Urban Development U.S. Department of Housing and David Jacobs, Ph.D., CIH, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Taylor, Ellen AIA, State of Connecticut Lisa Humble, Authority Kate Bennett, Boston Housing University Tufts Naomi Mermin, Eric Oetjen, ICF Consulting John Snell, Peregrine Energy Associates David Grimsrud, Ph.D., Grimsrud & Building Science Corporation MD, Yost, Nathan AIA, Building Science Corporation Betsy Pettit, Please direct any comments to the authors by email: This document and the recommendations within do not represent federal or state government This document and the recommendations within do not represent federal They are the opinions of the authors. policy. This document was prepared by Joseph Lstiburek and Terry Brennan. The illustrations and layout The illustrations Brennan. Terry prepared by Joseph Lstiburek and This document was significantly enhanced by the thoughtful The document was Finegan. were done by Stephanie individuals: review of the following READ THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN

come pests. healthy andcomfortablefor youatthesametimethatitisnotafriendlyplacefor theseunwel- for peststoliveinyourhome. Ifyoukeepyourhomecleananddrywillhave ahomethatis pesticides thatarenotgoodforpeopletobreatheoringest (eat).Foodandwaterareaninvitation home inyourhome.Pestsinsidecanlead toallergic reactions;pestsleadtotheuseof conditions andingredientsformold,insects,mice,rats, roachesanddustmitestomaketheir How youliveinyourhomeaffects eachofthesevensteps. Water, clutteranddustprovidethe There aresevenstepstoahealthyhome. A healthyhomeis: The SevenStepstoaHealthyHome asthma worse. pollution thatotherwisecanmakeyousickoryour of airinyourhome. You cancontrolmany ofthesesources and howyoucleanmaintainyourhomeaffect thequality What youbringintoyourhome,howliveinhome particles thatcanalsomakepeoplesickorasthmaworse. ozone, sulfurdioxide,carbonmonoxide,pollensandother Some indoorairpollutantscomefromoutside. These include make asthmaworse. dioxide, radonandotherparticlesthatcanmakepeoplesickor (chemicals releasedfrommaterials),nitrogendioxide,sulfur Indoor aircontainsotherpollutantssuchascarbonmonoxide,volatileorganic compounds mice, rats,roachesandpets. outdoors. Among themarethemostcommonasthmatriggers:particlesfrommolds,dustmites, also increasingatanalarmingrate.Manyairpollutantsarefoundhigherlevelsindoorsthan Asthma isaseriousdiseasethataffects millionsof Americans, particularlychildren. Asthma is Housing andAsthma © buildingscience.com

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© buildingscience.com Healthy and Affordable Housing: PracticalRecommendations for Building, Renovating and MaintainingHousing Comfortable Toxic ChemicalFree Pest Free Combustion ProductFree Well Ventilated Clean Dry The Building Connection 4 Americans, children especially Asthma affects millionsof READ THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN Sealed combustion 5

Living in Your Healthy Home Healthy Your in Living

Healthy and Affordable Housing: Practical Recommendations for Building, Renovating and Maintaining Housing Maintaining and Renovating Building, for Recommendations Practical Housing: Affordable and Healthy buildingscience.com ©

Dry rodents and mites. much water results in mold, insects, Too much water in your home is bad. Too Remember that a healthy home is a dry home. Humidifiers add uncontrolled amounts of One of the worst things you can do is use a humidifier. They also have to be cleaned each week. water to indoor air. Ð use a vaporizer. If you must use a humidifier – don’t to use one, keep the interior relative if we can’t convince you not If you must use a vaporizer, monitor humidity you need a measuring device To humidity below 30 percent in the winter. Clean the vaporizer regularly if you use it. called a hygrometer. when showering. If you have bathroom fans use them when you are in the bathroom, especially They remove water from bathrooms. when you are cooking If you have a kitchen fan use the fan when you are cooking. Especially And you already know how we feel about humidifiers. humidifier. Boiling water is a with water. The first thing is to do is to learn about your home. Familiarize yourself The first thing is to do is to learn about and equipment. Learn where the main with the operation of all appliances valves are. Learn where the electrical panel is and water and gas shut off the to turn off Learn how power. the electrical which switch turns off hot water tank in case a hose bursts water to the clothes washer and to the or they begin to leak. learn about your home is how to Probably the most important thing to If a leaky pipe leaks a right away. report problems and to report them can occur. little bit for a long time major problems Getting Started Ventilation removes stale air from your home and brings fresh air inside. This helps to remove This inside. brings fresh air your home and stale air from removes Ventilation or ventilation have to use the fans home. But you up inside your pollution that builds some of the ventilation is inadequate, If and unhealthy. from becoming stale keep your home system to the air home. High humidity levels make up increasing the humidity in your moisture can build love high humid- and dust mites, however, for most people. Mold feel sticky and uncomfortable quality go hand in hand. no pests and good indoor air So comfort, ity. never as carbon monoxide — these should produces combustion products such Burning gas or oil let anyone smoke inside so don’t home. Smoking is a form of combustion; be present in a healthy your home a healthy home. your home. Keep The containers that lead to problems. into homes and store inside can often What people bring chemi- oil-based paints slowly release the cleaning compounds, solvents and store toxic chemical When in doubt, get them out products into your home. bring these Don’t cals into the indoor air. by disposing of them properly.

moisture allowsmoldtogrow. walls fromdryingiftheygetwetÐespeciallyvinylwallpaper. Trapped And finallydon’t installwallpaperinyourhome. Why? Wallpaper keeps your basementdry. gutters anddownspouts.Keepingwaterawayfromthewallshelpskeep If youhaveguttersordownspouts,keepthemclean.Don’t disconnect tion. insulation. The onlythingthatshouldbeinyouratticisairÐandinsula- interferes withairflowandalsoprobablycausesproblemsattic attics withoutfloors.It’s importantthatattics arewellventilatedandstoringthingsinattics While wearetalkingaboutstorage,don’t storethingsinatticseither. This adviceonlyappliesto any paperproductsorfabricsinyourbasement.Usesealableplasticcontainers. circulation. Don’t letanypaperorcardboardtouchthefloorawall.Betterstill,don’t store plastic racksorshelvingthatelevatesthingsabovebasementfloorslabsandallowslotsofair If youhaveadrybasementandwanttostorestuff init–don’t. Butifyoumust,usewireor walls thesamewaywatercondensesonoutsideofacoldglass. Outside airinthesummertimeishumidandmoistureitwillcondenseoncoldbasement Don’t openyourbasementwindowsinthesummertime,willonlygetwetter. dehumidifier. Mold willprobablygrowonwhatyoustoreinadampbasement.Ifyourbasementisrun toxic chemical dumpbystoringpowerful chemicalcleaners.Don’t store pesticidesthere. When youuse cleanersusemild andsoaps.Don’t turnthe areaunderyoursinkinto a the bagwhennecessary. an embeddeddirtdetector (it indicateswhenthefloorisclean).Checkbagregularly. Replace Use avacuumregularly. Ifyoucanafford one,getavacuumwithhighefficiency filtrationand A goodtrickistohaveapair ofinsideshoesandapairoutsideshoes. clutter yourhome. mat andkeepitclean. Vacuum andfiltertherestaway. And makethehome easytoclean.Don’t the door. Take off youshoesandprovideaspaceforyouratthedoor. Provideawelcome is trackedinonfeet.Housedustknowntocontain manyhazardousmaterials.Stopthedustat Dust isbad;itcontainsasthmatriggers.Overtwothirds ofdustinhomesoriginatesoutdoors,and Clean exhaust hood Kitchen © buildingscience.com

© buildingscience.com Healthy and Affordable Housing: PracticalRecommendations for Building, Renovating and MaintainingHousing Basements areoftendamp.Don’t storeanythinginadampbasement. headache andneedtobefixedrightaway. Leaking clotheswashersandleakinghotwatertankscanbeamajor Be apest.It’s important. your waterifyouhavealeak.Reporttheleakandinsistthatitgetfixed. Plumbing leaksneedtobefixedÐrightaway. Findouthowtoshut off vent itinsideisahumidifier…andyoualreadyknowhowwefeel… If youhaveaclothesdryer, makesureitisventedtotheoutside.Ifyou 6 downspouts Gutters and READ THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN High efficiency furnace filter 7

Use your bathroom fans, when you are in the bathroom and after Use your bathroom fans, when you showering. Use your kitchen fan when cooking. cold (or when it is not too hot or Open your windows when it is not too humid if you have air conditioning). powerful cleaning agents (the When you are cleaning, especially with your windows and we told you not to store under your sink), open stuff turn on an exhaust fan.

Combustion Free carbon monoxide and When something is burned it produces products of combustion, particularly air of a Products of combustion should never be found in the indoor particles that are unhealthy. healthy home. smoke in a healthy home. Don’t The aromatic candles burn candles in a healthy home Ð at least not the scented ones. Don’t (chemicals that are not good to breathe). generate soot and other bad stuff Bathroom exhaust fan Well Ventilated Well otherwise be prevented or removed. to indoor pollution that cannot Dilution is the solution chemicals or moisture. If there are too many pollutants off Almost everything in your home gives a problem. Since people love their possessions and we can’t in the air that you breathe you have pollutants we have to ventilate give off that don’t get rid of their possessions or find possessions the pollutants in the indoor air out. – moisture, odors, carbon dioxide….we’ll stop the list stuff people also give off Oh by the way, in the house need the people So even in a house without stuff, here because it can get pretty ugly. cook – well they themselves generate. People also ventilation air to dilute the “bio- effluent” get the picture. You stuff. some of them do Ð and generate more Air it out outside if you If you can, ventilate your dry cleaning before you hang it in your closet. Better still buy clothes can. Or on a porch, or in your garage. Or in a room with an open window. need to be dry cleaned. Some “dry clean only” clothes can be washed – but be careful. that don’t Change your furnace filter regularly Ð or insist that it be changed. Filters that it be changed. regularly Ð or insist furnace filter Change your dust spot efficiency). (35 percent or better 6-8 rated at MERV should be irritant Ozone is a respiratory an ozone air cleaner. use or purchase Don’t use air And while we are at it, don’t attacks. and can trigger asthma They are indoor air pollutants that air deodorants. fresheners or room causing respiratory deaden the senses if they are not mask problems and own. problems on their

from furniture. Finally, don’t dounusualthingsindoorslikewelding orstrippingpaint out anddisposeofthemproperly. products shouldnotbestoredinsidethehouse. When indoubt,getthem are storedinslowlyreleasethechemicalsintoindoor air. These solvents cancontaminatetheair. Manyofthecontainerstheseproducts Toxic cleaningcompounds,pesticides,oil-oralkyd-based paintsand Toxic Chemical Free 130 midify thesethingswithourbodies.Controlisbywashingitemsinhotwater(greaterthan much oftheyear. They colonizebedding,stuffed animalsandfavoritechairsbecausewehu- In theNortheast,dustmitesdonotgenerallycolonizebuildingsbecausearetoodryfor wall injectedpesticidesÐexceptboricacid. necessary getaprofessionalwhospecializesinintegratedpestmanagementtoapplyit.Don’t use Don’t usemothballs. They releasechemicalsthatarenotgoodforpeople.Ifapesticideis out. Cleanyourdishes.Don’t pourgreasedowndrains. Reduce foodandwateravailability. Keepkitchenwasteincoveredcontainers.Don’t leavefood materials suchascopperorstainlesssteelmesh.Rodentscanchewthroughmanymaterials. Block pestentries.Sealutilityopeningsandjointsbetweenmaterials.Usecorrosionproof ants. Don’t storetrashandclutternearbuildings. provide food,alivingplaceandshelteredpassageforpestssuchasrats,mice,birds,roaches Keep themout.bushesandtreesatleast3feetfromhomes.Bushesnearahome used. allergens andasthmatriggersreleasedbythepestsitcanreduceamountofpesticides Making ahomepestresistantproduceshealthiertwoways:itreducesexposureto are gone,theirskin,hairandfecescanremaincauseallergies. Infestations ofcockroaches,miceandratscanallcauseallergic reactions.Evenafterthepests Pest Free open. don’t warmitupinthegarage. And neverrunyourcarinthegaragewithdoortohouse If youhaveagaragedon’t operateyourcarinthegarage(excepttogetitorout).Certainly Don’t purchaseoruseventlesskerosenegasspaceheaters. Don’t everuseagasovenorthestovetoptoheatyourhome. When youcookusethekitchenfan. © buildingscience.com

° Fahrenheit),whichkillsthemitesandwashesaway allergens.

© buildingscience.com Healthy and Affordable Housing: PracticalRecommendations for Building, Renovating and MaintainingHousing 8 of pesticides Improper storage READ THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN 9 Healthy and Affordable Housing: Practical Recommendations for Building, Renovating and Maintaining Housing Maintaining and Renovating Building, for Recommendations Practical Housing: Affordable and Healthy Comfortable over do not a humidifier, you decide to use in the winter and uncomfortably dry If you are To the winter. than 30 percent in humidities to less interior relative your home. Limit humidify device called a hygrometer. humidity you need a measuring measure the relative you blinds open to capture solar gain. In the winter keep for west This is particularly important gain. your blinds drawn to reject solar In the summer keep facing windows. install them for the winter. storm windows, remember to If you have removable below 75 degrees Fahr- Temperatures home. your do not over-cool If you have air conditioning the see it) and sweating within walls (where you can’t enheit can cause problems with summer condensation can promote mold growth. READ THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN 10. Occasionallycheck forwaterleaksinthefollowingplaces: 9. Knowwhotocontact forplumbingleaksandflooding thewatersupply,gassupplyandelectricalpower 8. Knowhowtoshutoff 7. Keepyourhomecomfortable oftoxicchemicals 6. Keepyourhomefree 5. Keepyourhomepestfree ofcombustionproducts 4. Keepyourhomefree 3. Keepyourhomewellventilated 2. Keepyourhomeclean 1. Keepyourhomedry f. Bewarewallpaperespeciallyvinyl e. Drainrainwaterawayfromthebuilding d. Bewarestoring“things”indampbasements c. Fixwaterleaksquicklyanddryoutwhatgotwet b. Runexhaustfansinbathroomsandkitchen a. Avoidhumidifiers .Underthe hotwaterheater c. washing machines b.Around a. Undersinks c. Remembertoinstallyourstormwindowsforthewinter months b. Inthesummershadeyourwindowsorlowerblinds a. Inthewinterkeepyourblindsopenorshadesupto captureheatfromthesun a. Don’t useorstoretoxicchemicalspesticidesinside b. Blockuppestentryholesinoutsidewalls a. Noplantsorlitterwithin3feetofthebuilding e. Don’t warmupanautomobileinattachedgarage d. Don’t heatwithaventless(unvented)keroseneorpropaneheater c. Don’t heatwithagasovenorstove b. Don’t burncandles a. Don’t smokeinside b. Air outdrycleanedclothing a. Runexhaustfansorventilationsystem f. Don’t useairfreshenersandroomdeodorants e. Don’t useozoneaircleaners d. Replacefurnacefilterregularly c. Avoid toxiccleaningcompounds b. Vacuum andcleanthoroughlyatleastweekly a. Stopoutsidedirtatthedoor Healthy and Affordable Housing: PracticalRecommendations for Building, Renovating and MaintainingHousing Ten Do’ s and Don ’ ts for aHealthy Home 10 READ THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN 11 Notes Healthy and Affordable Housing: Practical Recommendations for Building, Renovating and Maintaining Housing Maintaining and Renovating Building, for Recommendations Practical Housing: Affordable and Healthy The water shut off valve is located: valve shut off The water is located: valve The gas shut off is located: switch shut off The main electrical call: plumbing leaks or flooding For 1. 2. 3. 4. ______READ THIS BEFORE YOU MOVE IN Healthy and Affordable Housing: PracticalRecommendations for Building, Renovating and MaintainingHousing Asthma RegionalCoordinatingCouncil U.S. ofEnergy Department Program Partner of NewEngland 12