What You Can Do About Your House to Help with Asthma?

No-cost/low-cost lifestyle changes

• Stop cigarette smoking.
• Find another home for your pets or house them outdoors.
• Do not use pesticides. Use traps or baits and seal entry points.
• Persuade family members to be perfume-free.
• Discard harsh chemical cleaners and scented household cleaners.
• Avoid air fresheners and deodorizers. They mask odours and add pollutants to the air.
• Do not rely on plants to get rid of pollutants. The soil can be a source of molds.
• Candles and oil lamps are a source of respirable particles and soot. Minimize their use.

Fuel-based appliances can be a source of contaminants

• Electric stoves are preferable to gas stoves.
• Be aware of contaminants from fireplaces or woodstoves.
• Do not use kerosene or similar heaters inside your house.
• Your house should have a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector.
• Have your furnace serviced by a heating contractor.
• Maintain your furnace filters regularly. Upgrade to at least a pleated paper type.

Dust mites and molds both love moisture

• Vacuum thoroughly and often. Use a vacuum cleaner with a good (HEPA) filter or central exhaust or a portable exhausting to the outside.
• Minimize carpets. They are good dust collectors. Reduce amount of soft furnishings in bedrooms.
• Dust mites need humidity (RH>55%) to grow. The most effective control for dust mites is reducing moisture in the house, not the use of chemicals or barriers.
• High moisture levels lead to molds. Molds can be a more serious concern than dust mites.

No-cost/low-cost ways of controlling moisture and molds

• Divert water away from your foundation: lead downspouts away and/or regrade.
• Dehumidify the basement in the warmer months. Keep basement windows closed when dehumidifying.
• An air conditioner provides dehumidification only when it is operating. A dehumidifier is needed when the air conditioner is off.
• Measure the relative humidity with a hygrometer before you humidify.
• Discard stored, unused materials and furnishings from your basement. Store as little as possible and only washable items in your basement. Keep them off the floor and walls.
• Do not line dry clothes in the basement. Dryers must be vented to the outside.
• Act immediately if there is a leak or a flood.
• Do not store firewood inside the house.
• Clean up small areas of mold yourself, following CMHC's Clean Up Procedures for Mold in Houses or About your House: Fighting Mold. Seek professional help if there is a lot of mold.
• Carpets in the basement or bathroom are likely places for molds to grow.
• Areas of the house that are cold or unheated or damp are likely to get moldy. Dirt floors or crawlspaces have to be dealt with properly.
• Use the bathroom fan when taking a shower or bath. The fan must exhaust outside.
• Use the kitchen fan when cooking to get rid of moisture and odours.

Reducing chemical contaminants

• Do not paint or renovate when the house is closed up. Use only new, low-odour paints and check that the paint does not smell spoiled before using.
• Remove chemical odours from the bedroom (e.g. unsealed particle board, perfumes).
• Solid hardwood furniture or flooring is recommended over pressed or laminated wood.
• Paints, lacquers, solvents should not be stored inside the house.
• Portable air cleaners may not solve all your indoor air problems. Do not use ozone generators.
• Some problems are not easy to identify. Refer to The Clean Air Guide and This Clean House video from CMHC for more information.