Alliance for Healthy Housing working for affordable healthy housing for all. - 09/29/10 10:07 AM
Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality
Proper ventilation helps improve indoor air quality. Ventilation can control indoor humidity and airborne contaminants, both of which either contribute to or act as health hazards. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and several states (Minnesota, Washington, and Vermont) have ventilation standards designed to ensure acceptable indoor air quality. High indoor humidity can spur mold growth. High humidity may result from poor construction/rehabilitation, site design that does not properly manage water, and/or inadequate air exchange. A reasonable target for relative humidity is 30-60 percent. A low cost hygrometer, available at hardware … (0 comments)

Alliance for Healthy Housing - 09/29/10 09:54 AM
About Health and Housing A century ago, advances in housing - everything from indoor plumbing to vented combustion appliances - were driven by the need to protect health. Today, the link between good housing and good health is often overlooked or taken for granted. However, housing directly affects everyone's health, and conditions in our homes can cause or contribute to many diseases and conditions. Many common health hazards in housing are also environmental problems that can place young children, the elderly, and even entire communities at greater risk.
Housing Is a Health Issue
Because most individuals spend so much time inside, our … (0 comments)

How can I control the humidity in my home during the summer? - 09/28/10 10:13 AM
Humidity has an important effect on comfort during the summer. Some weather forecasters in the summer talk about the comfort index, which attempts to show how much hotter the air temperature is likely to feel to you because of the humidity. The higher the humidity, the hotter you will feel. One of the ways air conditioners operate is to remove humidity from the air, which makes you feel cooler.
If you live in an area with high humidity, be careful about leaving windows and doors open during the summer. This will allow moisture from the outside air to enter your home. … (1 comments)

How can I determine the level of moisture in my home? - 09/28/10 09:47 AM
Weather forecasters talk about the relative humidity outdoors. Likewise, the inside of your home has a relative humidity, which is a measure of the moisture content in the air. Hardware stores sell instruments to measure the humidity inside your home.
Humidity is an important factor affecting the comfort level in your home. Have you ever awakened in the middle of a winter night to discover that your throat and nose feel very dry? That could mean the humidity in your home is too low. To remedy the problem, some people use humidifiers, which are designed to raise the humidity in a … (1 comments)

How to reduce household allergens - 09/22/10 12:49 PM
Reducing indoor allergens is simpler and cheaper than you think!
Sneeze, cough, blow your noise, sneeze, cough, and blow your nose... Does this sound familiar? Is this a seemingly never ending cycle for you while you are trying to relax in your own home? You are not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from all sorts of allergies which affect daily living at home. In fact, as many as one in four Americans suffer from indoor allergies.   The most common indoor allergens are dust and mold. Your quality of life at home can greatly improve by taking steps to reduce household … (4 comments)

Jackson Apartment Complex Cited for Mold - 09/22/10 12:38 PM
Managers at a South Jackson apartment complex have been cited for code violations.
City officials are now in the process of notifying managers to correct problems tenants have been complaining about for months. 
Code enforcement officers inspected several units at Highland Square apartment complex this week.  They issued a number of citations after they found mold growing and other problems.
Once they have received written notice of the problems, the complex will have 30 days to bring the problems units back up to code.
http://www2.wjtv.com/jtv/news/local/article/jackson_apartment_complex_cited_for_mold/192115/
 
… (0 comments)

Woman Getting the Mold Shoulder From Condo Officials - 09/22/10 12:09 PM
Condo leaks, mold takes over, but no one will fix itBy ARI ODZER
When it rains, it pours, inside Hilda Conley's apartment.
"The damage is coming from there, " Conley says, pointing to the top of the folding door of her laundry area. "It's leaking through the wall, as you can see it's dripping, as I'm trying to do laundry I'm getting soaking wet, this is just from yesterday."
There's a bucket on the floor collecting the water that's dripped through her ceiling, down the closet door, but that's not the worst of it. That title belongs to Conley's daughter's room, … (1 comments)

If my home has not had a flood or other serious water problem, does that mean it is unlikely to have excessive moisture? - 09/22/10 12:00 PM
Many sources can add moisture to the air in your home. When you go outside on a cold day and can see your breath, you really are seeing moisture coming from your lungs as a normal part of breathing. Breathing and perspiring send moisture from your body into the air of your home. Other sources are:
· Taking a shower or bath
· Boiling water or cooking
· Washing dishes and letting them dry on a drainboard
· Hand washing clothing and hanging it to dry indoors
· Operating certain types of appliances, such as a clothes dryer that is not vented to the outdoors
· Having … (0 comments)

Are there risks associated with having mold in a home? - 09/22/10 11:46 AM
The growth of any type of mold in a home is never acceptable. Your safest and most prudent course of action is to treat all molds with caution and to remove them from your home as soon as possible.
In the spring, some people experience no health effects from the increased amount of pollen in the air, while other people have serious allergic reactions. The same is true with mold spores, both inside and outside a home. Some people experience little or no reaction from high levels of exposure to mold spores. Other people exposed to low levels can have allergic … (3 comments)

How do I know if my home has a mold problem? - 09/22/10 11:36 AM
If mold is growing in your home, you most likely will be able to smell it. Have you ever walked into a room that has a musty or earthy odor? You probably are smelling mold. Sometimes, you can see the mold on the surface of an object. In such cases, the item may be discolored or look as if it has smudges or blotches.
Often, you will not be able to see mold that is causing an odor. The mold could be growing behind walls, underneath carpets, or in other hidden areas. Mold growth is common in areas of a home … (3 comments)

Is it possible to have a home tested for mold? - 09/22/10 11:27 AM
Yes, but health agencies and experts do not recommend testing houses as a first line of detection and prevention.
Mold testing can be expensive and time consuming, and it usually requires special equipment and licensed, insured, and trained mold assessors to obtain reliable results. Once you determine the level of mold in a home, there are no standards for judging if the level could cause problems for the occupants or when a house is clean. But most importantly, you probably will not get the results from your mold test for a couple of days or even a week, during which mold … (0 comments)

Creating a mold resistant home - 09/22/10 11:17 AM
Mold can grow anywhere in your home. We've got tips for how to keep it at bay.
There is no such thing as a mold-proof home. Mold spores exist in the air inside our homes, but we can cohabit peacefully as long as those spores don't find moisture and start growing. If they do, it's only a matter of time before mold spreads, and once that happens, it can be difficult to nearly impossible to eradicate. There is a silver lining: you can't eliminate mold, but you can discourage its growth. By taking steps to make your home mold resistant, you'll … (0 comments)

CDC, EPA, HUD Officials to Join IAQA 14th Annual Meeting - 09/22/10 10:24 AM
Representatives from leading government agencies addressing indoor environmental quality, including CDC, EPA and HUD, will help kick-off the IAQA 14th Annual Meeting by participating in a series of workshops and panel discussions.  The meeting takes place February 15-17, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas and is being called "The Summit for Healthy Home and Healthy Building Professionals."
Government officials joining the convention program include Peter J. Ashley, DrPH, Director, Policy and Standards Division, HUD Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control; Kathy Seikel, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Administrator, Office of Children's Health Protection; and, Deborah Millette, Deputy Director/Senior Advisor … (0 comments)

RPA to Join IAQA and ACCA at 2011 Indoor Air Expo - 09/22/10 10:21 AM
The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and the Radiant Panel Association (RPA) have announced that the three organizations will hold their annual meetings at the same time in 2011, and share the Indoor Air Expo.
   RPA is a non-profit national association representing manufacturers, distributors, designers, dealers, and installers of radiant panel heating and cooling systems and components.
   The 2011 Indoor Air Expo will be held February 15-17, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas. At the same time, ACCA will conduct its 43rd Annual Conference, IAQA will hold its 14th Annual Meeting, and RPA … (0 comments)