There’s nothing like a new coat of paint on the walls to spiff up your interiors. But what about those paint fumes and their effects on air quality?
Paint and VOCs
We all know inhaling paint fumes can cause health problems, including the following:
- nausea
- dizziness
- headaches
- fatigues
- loss of memory
- allergic skin reaction
- loss of coordination
Long-term exposure can cause asthma, cancer and damage to kidneys and lungs.
Many types of paint contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs are the byproducts of solvent-based chemicals, and are given off as gases. Generally, the paints will be giving off gases for a while after being applied, so it’s a good idea to be mindful of ventilating the home as well as you can.
Also, low-VOC or VOC-free paints are available, and should be chosen whenever possible.
Whether you are painting the walls yourself, or just present in the house while someone else is painting, you should always limit exposure. Here are some tips to keep everyone safe while the painting takes place:
Avoiding Paint Fumes
1. Crack windows and turn on fans to circulate air. This won’t get rid of all fumes, but will help.
2. If you’re highly sensitive to paint fumes, you might look into a carbon activated air cleaner, which can handle the larger molecules given off in paint fumes. Activated carbon is used in homes, businesses and in industry to absorb gases and odors. Your HVAC consultant should be able to help you decide if this type of filter can work for you.
3. Take frequent breaks from the paint fumes, whether you’re doing it yourself or just present in the home.
4. Sometimes raising the temperature in the home can help “bake off” the fumes, so that the gases in the paint become inert. Remove people, pets and plants; turn up the thermostat as high as possible; and leave for 24 hours. When you return, if fumes are still present, repeat the process.
To learn more about paint’s effects on air quality, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning. We serve Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area