Air Quality Indoor / Outdoor meters and Air Filters

@donrealtesting
Do you have an air intake directly from outside into your heating system? Our home is very tight, and on low air quality days we keep it closed up. At times I would get headaches if I stayed inside all day. We added a 4" intake vent & pipe that end directly above our furnace, and next to our gas hot water heater. Much better CO2 levels than before, and we don't even have to think about it. Our friends with a larger home have 6" intake pipes.
Also adding house plants to your main living area can help. We have about 10-15 in our open kitchen/living/dining area (about 600sf) and more in the lower level family & work room area.
Sue

@donrealtesting
Do you have an air intake directly from outside into your heating system? Our home is very tight, and on low air quality days we keep it closed up. At times I would get headaches if I stayed inside all day. We added a 4" intake vent & pipe that end directly above our furnace, and next to our gas hot water heater. Much better CO2 levels than before, and we don't even have to think about it. Our friends with a larger home have 6" intake pipes.
Also adding house plants to your main living area can help. We have about 10-15 in our open kitchen/living/dining area (about 600sf) and more in the lower level family & work room area.
Sue

Hi Sue, thanks for your work here. I wonder if you take into account that houseplants have soil that often harbors mold? I have wondered about the benefit of houseplants vs the mold issue, as I am very allergic to mold. I do have and love houseplants. What is your opinion? Thanks!
Lori

I do keep an eye on it. Most of my soils are covered by coconut coir (fiber) or pebbles. The biggest cause of mold on houseplant soil is overwatering. After 60 years of raising them, I do not rely on my finger or a schedule for watering. I still use a moisture probe to test each pot and only give it water according to the plant's needs. In winter, many of my larger plants only get a drink every 2-3 weeks.
Another thing I do is (masked and gloved) remove the top inch or 2 of soil in each pot & replace with sterile potting soil each Fall (when the big pots come inside from the patio) or repot as needed - again sterile potting soil.
Since I learned not to overwater, I haven't had issues.
Sue

Hi Sue, Yes our home is about 5 years old Florida so its tight they mud =
it inside and out concrete block as well. There is a intake 6=E2=80=9D =
on roof. We have added a few house plant that has helped. Might get a =
few more. I set the ac omode to circulate, instead of auto that seemed =
to help a bit. Just opening front and back for 5 minutes does the =
trick. Yes Ive had the headaches too. Is why i=E2=80=99m concerned in =
this. We will talk to our AC guys to see if they can increase airflow as =
well. Thanks for your help.=20

> On Mar 23, 2023, at 10:18 AM, Mayo Clinic Connect =
wrote:
>=20
>

I do keep an eye on it. Most of my soils are covered by coconut coir (fiber) or pebbles. The biggest cause of mold on houseplant soil is overwatering. After 60 years of raising them, I do not rely on my finger or a schedule for watering. I still use a moisture probe to test each pot and only give it water according to the plant's needs. In winter, many of my larger plants only get a drink every 2-3 weeks.
Another thing I do is (masked and gloved) remove the top inch or 2 of soil in each pot & replace with sterile potting soil each Fall (when the big pots come inside from the patio) or repot as needed - again sterile potting soil.
Since I learned not to overwater, I haven't had issues.
Sue

I do keep an eye on it. Most of my soils are covered by coconut coir (fiber) or pebbles. The biggest cause of mold on houseplant soil is overwatering. After 60 years of raising them, I do not rely on my finger or a schedule for watering. I still use a moisture probe to test each pot and only give it water according to the plant's needs. In winter, many of my larger plants only get a drink every 2-3 weeks.
Another thing I do is (masked and gloved) remove the top inch or 2 of soil in each pot & replace with sterile potting soil each Fall (when the big pots come inside from the patio) or repot as needed - again sterile potting soil.
Since I learned not to overwater, I haven't had issues.
Sue

Many plants don't like water on their leaves either. Lots of humidity here so I won't worry about water for a week, then won't saturate it either. The new iPhones have a plant identifier on them, we've been using it tons. Press the info button i.. after taking pic. If you don't have a new iPhone download Seek Inaturals it's free. Works pretty good. We hit a botanical garden today, surprised a two foot black snake at the garden.