I was at a client's home in Los Angeles, California today providing a comprehensive green home remodeling analysis. Our client's main concern was indoor air contamination that was causing constant allergies. Below are problems and solutions that make indoor air quality toxic or poor, leading and contributing to allergic reactions.

We sweep our floors, spray our bathroom or even scrub the whole house with a full arsenal of home cleaning products. But what about the part of the house that we don’t see yet breathe into our lung thousand times a day. 

Keep reading after the link for 11 top causes of indoor pollution and some solutions:

1. Old carpets that harbor dust mites and new carpeting can emit VOC’s or volatile organic compounds. 

Solution: Look for a contractor or carpet company to install sustainable low VOC carpeting and low VOC glue.

2. Showers adds humidity to indoor spaces, which can contribute to mold development.

Solution: Add proper ventilation to the bathroom shower, and check for and remove any mold.

3. Many household cleaning products emit harmful VOC’s ( volatile organic compounds) when they’re used and stored.

Solution: Keep them in a separate closed cabinet.

4. Cooking vapors, odor smoke and grease can contribute to indoor pollutants.

Solution: Double check proper ventilation passes effciently.

5. Leaky return ducts in crawlspaces can draw contaminants into the house.

Solution: Check and replace any leaky ducts.

6. Poorly flashed and sealed windows, doors and through-wall penetration can allow moisture to enter living space.

Solution: Renovate or update windows and their sealing.

7. Unvented combustion appliances such as gas fireplaces, can transfer combustion by-products into the house.

Solution: Make sure all exaust is properly attached and vented.

8. A cracked slab can allow radon from soil and moisture into the house.

Solution: Special sealing techniques can mediate the problem.

9. Cabinets and pressed-wood are often made with adhesives that contains formaldehyde, which is emitted into the home.

Solution: Shop for and purchase “no-added” formaldehyde cabinets or formaldehyde-free cabinets.

10. Garage is the most common place for toxic chemicals, car exhaust, and VOC’s that can migrate into the house.

Solution: Separate venting from the garage and proper sealing of the door leading to the garage if it is an attached garage.

11. Basement and subareas with moisture problems increase humidity levels and promote mold growth.

Solution: Check for mold growth and professionally remove if it exists.