Flooring is one of your home’s major surfaces that affect indoor air quality. Biological contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have all been associated with flooring and flooring-related products. Let’s take a closer look at the IAQ concerns that flooring materials pose.
Carpet
Carpet flooring can trap contaminants like pet dander, dust, and lead. These can become airborne during vacuuming, renovation, and as you walk on the flooring if you fail to maintain it regularly. Because of carpet’s absorbent nature, it can harbor mold if left in contact with water for a long period.
Vinyl
Unlike carpet, vinyl doesn’t absorb indoor pollutants. However, it can affect your air quality by off-gassing harmful solvents during installation. It’s also vulnerable to water damage. Therefore, when water saturates the underlying material, it’s easy for mold to grow.
Hardwood
Generally, hardwood is a decent flooring option for air quality. It is, however, usually finished with chemicals that can emit high levels of VOCs for a certain period.
Laminate
Some laminate floors emit formaldehyde, which is a serious indoor air pollutant. What’s more, the floors can introduce contaminants into your home’s air when being cut to size.
Minimizing Flooring IAQ Concerns
Due to the impact that floors can have on air quality, it’s essential to take the necessary steps to promote a healthy living space.
- Look for certifications — Only consider flooring products that meet or exceed the set air quality performance standards. Such floors have certification labels like FloorScore, Greenguard, and Green Label Plus.
- Clean regularly — Clean your flooring regularly to prevent contaminants from getting into your home’s air.
- Avoid water damage — Clean up any water spills as soon as they occur. Also, avoid installing floors that are neither water-resistant nor waterproof in rooms that are highly exposed to water, such as bathrooms.
Indoor air quality can have a significant impact on your health and wellbeing, so make sure you consider it when choosing floors for the different rooms in your house. For more information on IAQ concerns, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We help homeowners breathe easy in the Yuma area.
