Does your basement quickly get stuffy? Or does it smell like mildew or other unpleasant smells that linger? We’ve been to many basement apartments in Toronto which offer very little in the way of air quality, ventilation, and humidity control. Here is how to improve your basement’s air quality.
Understand Microbial Organic Compounds
While your basement may have poor quality air for many reasons, the distinct “basement smell” is usually the result of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs.) These are air contaminants released by bacteria, which tend to grow in environments with limited airflow and high humidity and where insulation, gypsum board, or other porous construction materials are present. You can see why basements are a perfect breeding ground for these bacteria.
To resolve MVOCs, you need to do three main things: improve ventilation, control humidity and add an air purifier. These will also help mitigate other air quality issues in basements, including high carbon dioxide, lingering smells, and dust.
Add an Air Purifier
While sometimes thought of as a last resort, a dedicated air purifier for your basement is a powerful solution that can solve your air quality problems. Air purifiers with carbon filters can absorb foul smells and other contaminants from the air. Quality air purifiers will also filter out other concerning debris in your air, such as:
- Allergens
- Dust
- Bacteria
- Mould
- Viruses
True HEPA filters are capable of removing 99.7% of these particles, as long as they are over 0.03 microns in size (which is quite small.) But you could also use an ultraviolet light air purifier to achieve similar results.
Looking to improve your basement’s air quality? Reach out to our expert team today!
Improve Ventilation
Basements are often designed and constructed without proper ventilation. Especially unfinished basements, which may not have their portion of the HVAC ducting installed at all. You should get a professional assessment to determine what kind of ventilation your basement has and what it may need. If you have a kitchen or a bathroom in your basement, they may need local ventilation, as well as more widespread ventilation in the rest of the space.
In addition, options like heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) can help you improve air freshness without sacrificing your home’s energy efficiency.
Control Humidity
Basements often suffer from higher humidity, especially in the summer months. This high humidity can increase MVOCs and also encourage mould and mildew growth. If your basement has a mildew smell, humidity is certainly worth checking. You can reduce your humidity with a dehumidifier dedicated to your basement. Sometimes, improving ventilation may take care of this problem.
Get Basement Air Quality Support
What should you do about your specific basement’s poor air quality? We can help you improve it. We will assess the air quality in your basement, talk to you about the specific concerns you have with it, and then give you our professional recommendations. Reach out to Cedarwood Heating & Cooling to improve your basement’s air quality today.
