Remodeling your kitchen can get you new counters and cupboards, kitchen islands, top-of-the-line ovens and ranges… and a boost to your indoor air quality. If you’re planning kitchen renovations, don’t neglect to take ventilation and air sealing into account.
Kitchens can be major producers of moisture, carbon monoxide and airborne particles. Moisture can encourage mold growth, which can be hazardous to your health. You don’t want to be breathing in smoke, even if it’s just an accidental sauce splash on your burner. To keep your kitchen air clean and healthy, you’ll want to pay attention to a few basic areas.
Sealing air leaks in your kitchen won’t just lower your heating and cooling bills; it will also prevent moisture-laden air from getting trapped in cracks and crevices. When moisture gets trapped, mold can grow, fixtures can corrode, and wood can decay. With steam from cooking dishes, dishwashers and microwaves, a properly sealed kitchen is essential.
And the better your kitchen is sealed, the more it needs to be ventilated. Smoke particles; odors from in-sink disposals, trash cans or compost bins; chemical cleaners and carbon monoxide can all linger in the air and attack your lungs. Good air circulation should be a priority, whether in the form of an air purifier, a range hood or one of many other options.
When it comes to carbon monoxide, a detector – placed about 15 feet from your gas range to avoid false positives – is a good start, but you should also read up on gas ranges if you’re upgrading or installing one. You should also make sure that other appliances, such as water heaters, which might be located in your kitchen or an attached utility closet, are properly maintained.
If you have any questions or would like suggestions on how to improve your indoor air quality, don’t hesitate to contact us at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning. We’re proud to have served the Fresno area for more than 40 years, and will be happy to help you make the most of your home improvements.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area 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 Resource guide.
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