Quality indoor air, free of allergens and irritants, is essential to healthy breathing for people with asthma and allergies. With last week’s study showing 90 percent of homes have toxic dust inside them, it becomes even more important to find a good way to improve the air we breathe. Here at Allergy & Asthma Network, we’re always on the lookout for easy and affordable ways to improve quality of life for those with asthma and allergies. We ran across a story about a family experiencing air quality issues in their home and a unique service – and wanted to share.
The Kodicals live in San Ramon, California with their 5-year-old daughter. She has allergies and asthma and they wanted to make sure they were doing everything they could to prevent her symptoms. They knew indoor allergens and irritants impacted their daughter, but they didn’t know what was in the air or what the best solution was. They decided to try HomeLab’s service.
First, HomeLab sent an air monitor so they could actually see pollutants in their home. They viewed their particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide and humidity on their app, and were given a plan to clean their air. A HomeLab building scientist then reviewed their home with them via phone, answering questions and providing additional advice.
They were able to reduce particulates found in their home – pollen, dust and car emissions, to name three – by 47%. How? By almost exclusively using what they already had available to them, such as turning on the kitchen stove fan and bathroom exhaust fans, and opening windows in smart ways to vent out particulates and dilute VOCs.
The Kodicals moved the monitor from room to room, identifying pollutants and cleaning their air as they went. They focused their efforts in the fall, winter and spring since that’s when their daughter’s symptoms were worse.
The Kodicals’ daughter has seen a noticeable improvement in the frequency and severity of her symptoms. Details about the Kodicals’ experience can be found here.
HomeLab has a 30-day free trial and has agreed to provide a discount to Allergy & Asthma Network members through September 27, making it only $7.99 per month to clean your air (that’s two lattes). Use the coupon code “aan” when signing up and receive 20% off. View their nifty how-it-works video and learn more about the service.
810304 Eaton Place, Suite 100