Having a gym in your Downer’s Grove, IL, home is convenient. You can exercise as long as you want, whenever you want. However, your home gym could be affected by indoor air pollutants. Indoor air quality problems can affect your breathing and other aspects of your health. Here are some of the most common indoor air quality problems in home gyms and some tips on what you can do in order to make your home’s air cleaner and healthier.
Mold
Mold spores are one of the most common causes of indoor air quality problems in humid climates like that of Downer’s Grove. Home gyms that are located in basements may have high mold spore levels. The damp, mild conditions of a basement and the many surfaces of a home gym provide an ideal growing environment. Condensation from around windows, splashes of water, or droplets of sweat also fuel the mold growth. Running a dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system and using an air purifier and high-efficiency particulate air filter will reduce mold and mold spores.
Asbestos
If your home was built before 1980, it could contain asbestos vinyl flooring or ceiling tiles. These products were often used in storage rooms, garages, and basements. If your home gym is located in the basement, asbestos fibers could be floating through the air. Asbestos tiles in good condition are not a risk. If the tiles or sheets are cracked, professional abatement is necessary.
Radon
Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas. It comes from soils naturally rich in uranium. The uranium breaks down into other elements over time, including radon. Radon gas can seep into your home through foundations, sump pump openings, crawl spaces, and basement windows. It’s heavier than oxygen, and it persists in the lower level of your home. If your home gym is in the basement, radon could be a problem. Consider testing for radon. If it’s found, you can install a radon abatement system.
Lead Particles
If your home was built before 1978, your home gym could have lead particles. Lead was commonly used in paint. Old lead pipes can also leach lead particles. You can purchase a lead testing kit or have a professional test the areas around window and door frames and around plumbing fixtures. Although children are at the highest risk of lead poisoning, breathing in lead particles could cause nerve, kidney, brain, red blood cell, or heart damage in anyone.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, are off-gas from plastics, upholstery, fabrics, and other items. In a home gym, they may even off-gas from new shoes or workout clothing, floor mats, workout equipment, or accessories. Volatile organic compounds can also come from deodorant, aftershave, and lotions. The paint on your home gym’s walls and floor could also contain these compounds. Before bringing in new equipment or accessories, let them off-gas in your garage or on your porch for a day or two. Choose paints and fabrics free of volatile organic compounds.
Carbon Dioxide
When you exhale, you emit carbon dioxide. During a long or intense workout in your home gym, the carbon dioxide level could go up by a considerable amount. If your home gym is not well-ventilated, you may find it more difficult to breathe after a while. Improving the ventilation in your home gym can help. An exhaust fan or running your heating and cooling system on fan only improves the airflow and dissipates the carbon dioxide.
Dust
As you move around in your home gym, you’ll stir up dust. Dust is a combination of shed skin cells, clothing and upholstery fibers, carpet fluff, and dirt tracked into the house from pets or your shoes. When the dust is airborne, you breathe it. Some of the particles can get trapped in your lungs. When dust is in your body, it can trigger a coughing attack or can make your chest feel tight. This impacts your ability to breathe and do an intense workout. High-efficiency particulate air filters do an excellent job of trapping dust.
At Fire 'n' Ice Heating & Cooling, Inc., our qualified technicians identify the indoor air quality issues in your home gym and the rest of your living space. Our services also include heating and cooling repairs, maintenance, and installations. You can rely on us for high-efficiency air filters and other indoor air quality solutions, too. To learn more about the indoor air quality problems in your home gym, contact us at Fire 'n' Ice Heating & Cooling, Inc..
