Our polluted indoor air affects not just us, but our pets too. Some homes are trying too fragrantly to cover up smells that maybe just a good cleaning would improve. Good videos, please keep making them. Thanks!
Proprietary "fragrances" need to be required to show what VCPs are in them or better yet, banned. But as you said, we shouldn't buy things with fragrance in them. Sometimes when walking I'll be hit by the VOCs from a house's laundry detergent use (probably from the dryer vent) and that's never fun.
Absolutely. I live in the US - I'm jealous of other countries where certain fragrance ingredients are banned. Great example, I really hate when the smell of laundry detergent and/or dryer sheets fills the neighborhood.
You are a great communicator and your positive and progressive attitude is inspiring. I would like to see a video on when second hand goods make sense to purchase because they have offgased and when they don't if perhaps they have broken down into Vocs after a length of time
Thanks for the compliment, that makes me feel good! That's an interesting question - I'll put it on my list. I have mixed feelings on second hand goods as someone with mold sensitivity - you never know if an item may have come from an extremely mold home or not. But I do appreciate the utility and benefit of second hand materials.
I have purchased used cars for just this reason. Get the VOC off-gassing out of my driveway! Any tips for helping that process in such a dense, confined space filled with the usual suspects would be super helpful.
@@J4Julz That's a great point! I definitely get annoying symptoms after I spend time in a new car. For that scenario, I replace the cabin air filter in the car with a HEPA filter (pureflow is good), and turn the fan on high (with recirculate turned off so fresh air gets drawn in the car to dilute the VOCs. Of course, you can also try leaving the windows open whenever the car is parking and it's dry out. It's tough though - I believe new car VOCs are very very harmful. For some, it might be best to just buy used, yeah.
I'm just gonna comment purely to help boost the video. Maybe we can help get this guy popular so people stop using these stupid products! While im here i might as well say i appreciate your content.
Hey Alex, always love your content. Have you ever researched Radon in homes? I had a buddy of mine say their daughter got very sick in a newly built home and it wasn’t mold, bacteria or viruses, but instead very high levels of Radon. They had to mitigate it professionally with proper ventilation from the ground up to the roof. I’d be curious to see what your thoughts are on that.
Thanks so much for the support, Peter! I’ve definitely looked into radon-it’s a serious indoor air quality concern, especially in some areas where it's naturally higher. As you probably know, radon is a radioactive gas that can seep into homes from the ground, and it's actually the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Professional mitigation, like what your buddy did, is the right approach, as it typically involves ventilating from below the foundation to the roof to safely vent the gas outside. I might consider doing a video on this topic in the future. I want to add that I typically don't feel great in new buildings. I think it could be from the VOCs from the off-gassing building materials. People with mold illness like me are even more sensitive to that.
Radon is a huge issue in MN homes. It's featured in every disclosure packet for buyers and sellers and we often get it tested for most inspections unless a system is already installed. Even changing something as little as your AC unit or degradation of the air gap in your attic can create a huge vacuum that can suck even more radon into your home.
I’m learning so much thank you! Do you have any hopeful advice for those beginning to heal from living in mold? Rebuilding a new life in a new home with so much new knowledge about indoor air quality and a lot of concerns is challenging me daily.
Thank you so much for sharing, and I’m glad you’re finding the videos helpful! Starting over after living in mold can feel overwhelming, but it’s also an opportunity to create a healthier space for yourself. It sounds like you’ve already gained a lot of valuable knowledge, and the next step is putting it into action in a way that feels manageable. If you’d like more personalized guidance or some hopeful advice tailored to your situation, I’d love to help. Feel free to visit my website and schedule a chat-we can work through your concerns together and make this transition a bit easier.
I dislike when my neighbours do their laundry and the wind blows the dryer exhaust my way. Also the exhaust from a natural gas furnace. I find it smells like bleach or chlorine. Also, going to the pool and hot tub is simply too much for me. I can’t go anymore.
Really good info glad I was moving away from using heavy odor products another subject that would be good to touch on would be electronics especially those which produce lots of heat like gaming pc's. I saw a study from over a decade ago talking about VOC's being released by monitors that would be interesting to see how they can be affecting us when I stop using my gaming pc I can feel a noticeable difference in how the air feels not just the temps but also the smell they could be causing other issues due to the added heat but heating something that's filled with different kinds of metals and plastics can't be good.
Great question. It depends what you're intending to use it for. VOC sensors that test for specific VOCs can be useful in some scenarios - that's a complex subject that I'll cover in a future video, and it's different from everyday monitoring. I don't personally use a VOC sensor for everyday monitoring. Instead, I rely on my nose-if something has a noticeable odor, I either remove it or clean it. I also use a kitchen exhaust hood to remove the large amount of VOCs generated by cooking. Most importantly, I continuously ventilate with fresh air, which majorly dilutes any VOCs.
@@HealthyHomeGuide gotcha thx, yeah we have some new bedroom furniture that has been in garage off gassing for two months, and it still has a smell. I'm interested in actually measuring things
I’ve used the Awair and kaiterra, they are generally good to get a feel for IAQ, but yeah voc are complicated and I’d be intrigued to learn about all the various sensors out there
What are your thoughts on steam cleaners (like the Dupray)? Was considering getting one for cleaning tough grime. I’m concerned it will introduce too much humidity and breed mold where I use it.
Great question! Steam cleaners like the Dupray can be effective for removing tough grime, but it’s important to consider the balance between cosmetic cleaning and health-focused cleaning. For health, the goal isn’t necessarily to have things looking spotless but to create an environment that doesn’t impact your well-being. Tools like microfiber mops are great for trapping and removing fine particles, especially those from mold, which can resuspend into your breathing zone or settle on your skin. Steam cleaners can introduce a lot of moisture, which may not fully evaporate in certain areas, potentially creating conditions for mold growth. If you’re focused on cleaning for health, I’d recommend weighing whether the aesthetic improvement justifies the added moisture and effort. In many cases, a good microfiber cleaning routine may be a safer and equally effective approach for keeping your home healthy.
I have a medical condition that causes me to be so unbelievably sensitive to odors from fragrances in products (and a billion other things) and it's a nightmare. Tide, Gaine, and Lysol are the literal worst for fragrance vcps, like I still can't be in the same room as my old blanket after my dad took it to the laundry mat cuz someone before him used Tide. Like he didn't even need to use it the fragrance left over in the washer machine was enough to set me off so badly I still can't he near it 5 whole months later like it's nuclear waste. I can only stand things like 100% pure olive oil castile soap for cleaning most things, with only one brand of unscented laundry detergent being "safe". The rise in popularity of essential oils has also made this so so much worse because all the natural products are getting essential oils added in and they are not only not regulated by any gov body so anything could be in them, but they are often just like perfumes health wise but with the rep of being safer than perfumes. I have a carbon filter in my face mask to at last cut down the vcps/vocs in the environment because I'm so sensitive and reactive to them, and I have carbon filters in basically everything that has air flow to it in my house and that helps me at least a little bit from my experience.
You’re not alone in dealing with this, and I completely get it-it’s like navigating a minefield, where even the smallest leftover fragrance feels like it’s everywhere and impossible to escape. Tide, Gain, and Lysol really do seem to leave these intense, lasting residues. That leftover fragrance can latch onto anything it touches in the wash, so I totally understand why you still can’t go near that blanket. The essential oils trend has made it even harder to find truly scent-free products, and it’s frustrating that they’re marketed as “safe” or “natural” when they can be just as irritating. The lack of regulation around what’s really in them is so concerning too. The extra layer of carbon filters on everything sounds like a huge help; even though it doesn’t erase the problem, every bit of relief counts when you’re that sensitive. Have you found any specific brands that are safe for you, besides the castile soap and the one detergent? Your experience speaks volumes for people who might be dealing with similar challenges, especially with the rise of “fragrance everything” around us.
Could you be more specific as to the amounts of carbon that would be required to remove most of the VOC's in a home? I get a thin pre filter won't cut it, but would something like the Amaircare AirWash Whisper 350? It has the option to add a 7lb or a 30lb carbon filter. Seems more than adequate to me. What are your thoughts?
Thanks for your question! You're absolutely right about the filter sizes-adding a 7lb or 30lb carbon filter could certainly help reduce VOCs in a home. However, the effectiveness of carbon filters can vary significantly depending on the specific VOCs present, as different compounds have different adsorption rates. When it comes to VOCs, it's worth noting that they're much more challenging to measure than particulate matter. There are thousands of different VOCs, each with varying levels of toxicity. Some are present at high concentrations but may not be very harmful, while others are much more toxic and occur at trace levels, requiring advanced (and often costly) detection equipment. It's also important to consider that it's not really feasible to test how saturated a carbon filter is across all types of VOCs or to predict how quickly it will become saturated. Different VOCs interact with carbon in different ways, and factors like humidity and temperature can also affect adsorption. So while a larger carbon filter is likely to last longer and be more effective, it's still tough to say with certainty how well it will perform over time. While air purifiers with carbon filters can be part of the solution, introducing fresh air through ventilation is a much more well-established solution for diluting indoor VOCs. Relying solely on filtration can lead to diminishing returns, especially if there's a continuous source of VOCs indoors. Ultimately, a combination of source control, ventilation, and filtration is the best approach for improving indoor air quality.
Now my indoor air is so much cleaner from the outside air that when I open the windows(especially now in winter) I always get traumatized, maybe I should build an ERV aswell
I totally get that! Once you’ve experienced consistently cleaner indoor air, it’s hard to go back to outdoor air, especially in winter when things like wood smoke or inversion layers can make it worse. An ERV could definitely help if you want fresh air without sacrificing your indoor air quality. It balances ventilation while retaining heat and moderating humidity, which is especially useful in winter. If you’re up for another DIY project, it could be a game-changer! If you want more info or help getting started, feel free to visit my website and schedule a chat-I’d be happy to help.
So, it was not me imagining things and the outside really does smell like "air freshener". I guess most people just get used to living in homes full of VOCs so they stop noticing these smells everywhere.
Exactly. Yeah it blows my mind that people get used to these smells. And some people with chronic health issues don't even realize that some of their symptoms could be from constant exposure to these chemicals.
I can say without doubt that Carbon filters Work! BUT they only remove a very small amount and when the outdoor contamination is gone it will recharge itself with fresh air by releasing the captured voc into your home. So instead of heavy spikes every now and then its more like a slow curve up and down. I have a Chinese HRV that came with HEPA and activated carbon filter and it have worked great, never any smell (and i live next to a pig farm and the smell outside sometimes gets unbearable) but when i changed the filter for an non OEM without carbon but still HEPA the same day i noticed that the smell sometimes where awful and i turned off the ventilation. And the old filter really smells awful on the intake side. So yeah i really perfere activated carbon filters even after 1 year use it does remove smell.
What would be the best way to bring in fresh air when neighbors frequently burn/grill or otherwise generate unpleasant smells outside? Is it worth trying to filter this air through carbon filters?
I feel for you. In the last place I lived, my next door neighbor would use a meat smoker all the time - like 20 feet from our condo. I had to shut off my fresh air intake system during those times. Eventually I got so fed up that I just asked him to stop. Eventually he listened - meat smoking generates a ridiculous amount of smoke so he shouldn't have been doing that so close to the house to begin with. But I can imagine that in your situation, it might be harder to ask them not to do it. Honestly, if the smoke is super bad outside your house, I just wouldn't bring in fresh air during those times.
At 0:57 after health the cut was too sharp and music too loud, you needed like half a second of transition from silence to the volume increasing for it to not be jarring
I think if you had a tiny transition from “sometimes you can even smell it happening” break eye contact and look right, then pan the outside camera from left to right to reveal the girl and start the scene, would feel less harsh of a transition
Sorry the artschool jumped out of me, but its a really great video and the small potential editing improvements would make it more polished, i hope this is not unwelcome
Ironic that suburban people try to get out of the city's pollution which is the very pollution the suburbs created. Suburbs require a lot of deforestation to build highways, parking lots, streets, grassy lawns, malls, and office parks. Suburbs make a bad deforestation situation worse by requiring the use of very polluting cars. The the back-yard escape from the city's pollution is what created the pollution in the first place. City residents drive less than half that of people in the suburbs and put out a lot less pollution yet they are the ones who suffer the most from it. Many people in the city don't even have a polluting car. Edenicity on UA-cam has some interesting ideas on the subject.
@@HealthyHomeGuide On an individual level :* if you work at an office, try to live where you can walk, bike, or take transit to work. * If you have to drive, choose a fuel efficient or electric car and use it as little as possible * Look into movements such as "Restorative Cities" "Not Just Bikes", or "Edenicity". On a community scale, promote walkability * Small blocks are more walkable, around 200' or one square acre * Mix uses so different uses are close to each other. Offices next to commercial, or residential over retail * Increase density so people within walkable, bikeable and transit distance can support the uses * Reduce car use with fewer lanes (Rarely more than 3) * narrow lanes to slow traffic, and minimal parking * Improve non-car transit with beautiful walkable sidewalks, and efficient bike and transit infrastructure * Make cities enriching with parks, trees, recreation, social interaction, etc...
Making emotional twitter (and other social media) post is a major part of raising awareness because you can control what is in your home but you cannot control what is in places you don't own such as your office. Regulating your own environment is just a small part of overall solution. How do you think all the environmental benefit come to you?
You're absolutely right. It's mainly just not my style. I choose to deliver a different kind of content. Doomy twitter posts honestly just make me feel hopeless and scared, and I'm definitely not alone in that. Of course, there are some twitter posts that do a good job of raising awareness, yes.
@@HealthyHomeGuide Thank you for the response. Ok "emotional" isn't necessary to deliver a message and you are right those content does wear people down but my criticism is that the way you convey your messaging is more along the sentiment of "just worry about oneself because everything else is an emotional drainer and let's put our head in the sand" when the reality is that if we don't actively push for the betterment of society, others will take advantage of that void to regress it and secondly, societal solution requires collaboration and raising awareness is a major part of it. You did ask people to vote but honestly that's the minimum required and most likely the person you're voting for does not even know the problem to start with. Your content is superb and is a great way to be used to educate everyone, I just wish people realise that it's not all or nothing, a simple sharing of your video on social media goes a long way and sharing it to your relevant politician's social media goes a long way.
@Coz131 I do agree with you. I can see how my message could be construed in the way you did. All ways to attack an issue are totally valid. That being said, my personal belief is that the best way to improve things on a larger scale is to educate the consumer, and empower them with concrete, practical information to change their behavior, and therefore reduce the demand for these products - that's what I'm trying to do. And I did mention that not buying these products, and using safer materials when building/remodeling reduces one's contribution to VOC emissions. I personally believe that's the most impactful thing we can each do right NOW, not only for ourselves, but also for the collective good. But again, all ways to attack an issue are valid, and you should absolutely advocate for your favorite ways. Messaging local politicians can be very impactful. Above all, I want to make content that can be shared WITHOUT making people feel so scared and hopeless that they end up doing nothing. I'm trying to spread knowledge and solutions instead of doom, and I do feel compelled to push back against other types of content I see, the kind that simply spreads the message that things are really bad. I think that kind of content often does more harm than good, because it makes people feel like we're screwed no matter what.
There are many aspects of my plan that are quite easy. Eliminating products with fragrance is not difficult at all. You just buy unscented versions. Using air purifiers isn't hard either. Neither is cleaning properly. Setting up an ERV takes work, but it's very worth it, especially if you have sensitivities. But really, anyone can benefit from more fresh air. Harvard research shows that more fresh air is associated with significantly increased cognitive function, among many other benefits. I'm not sure what you feel is impossible, but I promise, none of this is.
Our polluted indoor air affects not just us, but our pets too. Some homes are trying too fragrantly to cover up smells that maybe just a good cleaning would improve. Good videos, please keep making them. Thanks!
So true!
Proprietary "fragrances" need to be required to show what VCPs are in them or better yet, banned.
But as you said, we shouldn't buy things with fragrance in them.
Sometimes when walking I'll be hit by the VOCs from a house's laundry detergent use (probably from the dryer vent) and that's never fun.
Absolutely. I live in the US - I'm jealous of other countries where certain fragrance ingredients are banned.
Great example, I really hate when the smell of laundry detergent and/or dryer sheets fills the neighborhood.
You are a great communicator and your positive and progressive attitude is inspiring. I would like to see a video on when second hand goods make sense to purchase because they have offgased and when they don't if perhaps they have broken down into Vocs after a length of time
Thanks for the compliment, that makes me feel good! That's an interesting question - I'll put it on my list. I have mixed feelings on second hand goods as someone with mold sensitivity - you never know if an item may have come from an extremely mold home or not. But I do appreciate the utility and benefit of second hand materials.
I have purchased used cars for just this reason. Get the VOC off-gassing out of my driveway! Any tips for helping that process in such a dense, confined space filled with the usual suspects would be super helpful.
@@J4Julz That's a great point! I definitely get annoying symptoms after I spend time in a new car. For that scenario, I replace the cabin air filter in the car with a HEPA filter (pureflow is good), and turn the fan on high (with recirculate turned off so fresh air gets drawn in the car to dilute the VOCs. Of course, you can also try leaving the windows open whenever the car is parking and it's dry out. It's tough though - I believe new car VOCs are very very harmful. For some, it might be best to just buy used, yeah.
I hate smelling laundry detergent outside. It makes me sick
Me too!! It's the worst.
really appreciated the "why does it smell like a" part, LOL
Hahah nice!
I'm just gonna comment purely to help boost the video. Maybe we can help get this guy popular so people stop using these stupid products! While im here i might as well say i appreciate your content.
Thank you! This is just the start :) I'm definitely going on a crusade of sorts where I try to raise awareness against fragrant products.
Hey Alex, always love your content. Have you ever researched Radon in homes? I had a buddy of mine say their daughter got very sick in a newly built home and it wasn’t mold, bacteria or viruses, but instead very high levels of Radon. They had to mitigate it professionally with proper ventilation from the ground up to the roof. I’d be curious to see what your thoughts are on that.
Thanks so much for the support, Peter! I’ve definitely looked into radon-it’s a serious indoor air quality concern, especially in some areas where it's naturally higher. As you probably know, radon is a radioactive gas that can seep into homes from the ground, and it's actually the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Professional mitigation, like what your buddy did, is the right approach, as it typically involves ventilating from below the foundation to the roof to safely vent the gas outside. I might consider doing a video on this topic in the future.
I want to add that I typically don't feel great in new buildings. I think it could be from the VOCs from the off-gassing building materials. People with mold illness like me are even more sensitive to that.
@@HealthyHomeGuide great point you make there. I wasn’t sure if new built homes are a better option or not. This clarifies it. Thanks Alex.
Radon is a huge issue in MN homes. It's featured in every disclosure packet for buyers and sellers and we often get it tested for most inspections unless a system is already installed. Even changing something as little as your AC unit or degradation of the air gap in your attic can create a huge vacuum that can suck even more radon into your home.
Great vid. You're the leading air quality expert on UA-cam and deserve way more views
Aw that's very kind, thank you :)
I’m learning so much thank you! Do you have any hopeful advice for those beginning to heal from living in mold? Rebuilding a new life in a new home with so much new knowledge about indoor air quality and a lot of concerns is challenging me daily.
Thank you so much for sharing, and I’m glad you’re finding the videos helpful! Starting over after living in mold can feel overwhelming, but it’s also an opportunity to create a healthier space for yourself. It sounds like you’ve already gained a lot of valuable knowledge, and the next step is putting it into action in a way that feels manageable.
If you’d like more personalized guidance or some hopeful advice tailored to your situation, I’d love to help. Feel free to visit my website and schedule a chat-we can work through your concerns together and make this transition a bit easier.
I dislike when my neighbours do their laundry and the wind blows the dryer exhaust my way.
Also the exhaust from a natural gas furnace. I find it smells like bleach or chlorine.
Also, going to the pool and hot tub is simply too much for me. I can’t go anymore.
I dislike all of those as well!!
Really good info glad I was moving away from using heavy odor products another subject that would be good to touch on would be electronics especially those which produce lots of heat like gaming pc's. I saw a study from over a decade ago talking about VOC's being released by monitors that would be interesting to see how they can be affecting us when I stop using my gaming pc I can feel a noticeable difference in how the air feels not just the temps but also the smell they could be causing other issues due to the added heat but heating something that's filled with different kinds of metals and plastics can't be good.
That's a great suggestion! I've also noticed odors from electronics.
Wonderful, as always. Thanks Alex.
Glad you enjoyed it, Lance!
Amazing info and video! And helpful solutions for moving forward!
Glad you think so!
is there a cheapish sensor for measuring VOCs that you recommend?
Great question. It depends what you're intending to use it for. VOC sensors that test for specific VOCs can be useful in some scenarios - that's a complex subject that I'll cover in a future video, and it's different from everyday monitoring. I don't personally use a VOC sensor for everyday monitoring. Instead, I rely on my nose-if something has a noticeable odor, I either remove it or clean it. I also use a kitchen exhaust hood to remove the large amount of VOCs generated by cooking. Most importantly, I continuously ventilate with fresh air, which majorly dilutes any VOCs.
@@HealthyHomeGuide gotcha thx, yeah we have some new bedroom furniture that has been in garage off gassing for two months, and it still has a smell. I'm interested in actually measuring things
I’ve used the Awair and kaiterra, they are generally good to get a feel for IAQ, but yeah voc are complicated and I’d be intrigued to learn about all the various sensors out there
The problem is that finding a replacement all cleaning products we use for unscented ones...
What are your thoughts on steam cleaners (like the Dupray)? Was considering getting one for cleaning tough grime. I’m concerned it will introduce too much humidity and breed mold where I use it.
Great question! Steam cleaners like the Dupray can be effective for removing tough grime, but it’s important to consider the balance between cosmetic cleaning and health-focused cleaning. For health, the goal isn’t necessarily to have things looking spotless but to create an environment that doesn’t impact your well-being. Tools like microfiber mops are great for trapping and removing fine particles, especially those from mold, which can resuspend into your breathing zone or settle on your skin.
Steam cleaners can introduce a lot of moisture, which may not fully evaporate in certain areas, potentially creating conditions for mold growth. If you’re focused on cleaning for health, I’d recommend weighing whether the aesthetic improvement justifies the added moisture and effort. In many cases, a good microfiber cleaning routine may be a safer and equally effective approach for keeping your home healthy.
I have a medical condition that causes me to be so unbelievably sensitive to odors from fragrances in products (and a billion other things) and it's a nightmare. Tide, Gaine, and Lysol are the literal worst for fragrance vcps, like I still can't be in the same room as my old blanket after my dad took it to the laundry mat cuz someone before him used Tide. Like he didn't even need to use it the fragrance left over in the washer machine was enough to set me off so badly I still can't he near it 5 whole months later like it's nuclear waste. I can only stand things like 100% pure olive oil castile soap for cleaning most things, with only one brand of unscented laundry detergent being "safe". The rise in popularity of essential oils has also made this so so much worse because all the natural products are getting essential oils added in and they are not only not regulated by any gov body so anything could be in them, but they are often just like perfumes health wise but with the rep of being safer than perfumes. I have a carbon filter in my face mask to at last cut down the vcps/vocs in the environment because I'm so sensitive and reactive to them, and I have carbon filters in basically everything that has air flow to it in my house and that helps me at least a little bit from my experience.
You’re not alone in dealing with this, and I completely get it-it’s like navigating a minefield, where even the smallest leftover fragrance feels like it’s everywhere and impossible to escape. Tide, Gain, and Lysol really do seem to leave these intense, lasting residues. That leftover fragrance can latch onto anything it touches in the wash, so I totally understand why you still can’t go near that blanket.
The essential oils trend has made it even harder to find truly scent-free products, and it’s frustrating that they’re marketed as “safe” or “natural” when they can be just as irritating. The lack of regulation around what’s really in them is so concerning too. The extra layer of carbon filters on everything sounds like a huge help; even though it doesn’t erase the problem, every bit of relief counts when you’re that sensitive. Have you found any specific brands that are safe for you, besides the castile soap and the one detergent?
Your experience speaks volumes for people who might be dealing with similar challenges, especially with the rise of “fragrance everything” around us.
Could you be more specific as to the amounts of carbon that would be required to remove most of the VOC's in a home? I get a thin pre filter won't cut it, but would something like the Amaircare AirWash Whisper 350? It has the option to add a 7lb or a 30lb carbon filter. Seems more than adequate to me. What are your thoughts?
Thanks for your question! You're absolutely right about the filter sizes-adding a 7lb or 30lb carbon filter could certainly help reduce VOCs in a home. However, the effectiveness of carbon filters can vary significantly depending on the specific VOCs present, as different compounds have different adsorption rates.
When it comes to VOCs, it's worth noting that they're much more challenging to measure than particulate matter. There are thousands of different VOCs, each with varying levels of toxicity. Some are present at high concentrations but may not be very harmful, while others are much more toxic and occur at trace levels, requiring advanced (and often costly) detection equipment.
It's also important to consider that it's not really feasible to test how saturated a carbon filter is across all types of VOCs or to predict how quickly it will become saturated. Different VOCs interact with carbon in different ways, and factors like humidity and temperature can also affect adsorption. So while a larger carbon filter is likely to last longer and be more effective, it's still tough to say with certainty how well it will perform over time.
While air purifiers with carbon filters can be part of the solution, introducing fresh air through ventilation is a much more well-established solution for diluting indoor VOCs. Relying solely on filtration can lead to diminishing returns, especially if there's a continuous source of VOCs indoors. Ultimately, a combination of source control, ventilation, and filtration is the best approach for improving indoor air quality.
Now my indoor air is so much cleaner from the outside air that when I open the windows(especially now in winter) I always get traumatized, maybe I should build an ERV aswell
I totally get that! Once you’ve experienced consistently cleaner indoor air, it’s hard to go back to outdoor air, especially in winter when things like wood smoke or inversion layers can make it worse. An ERV could definitely help if you want fresh air without sacrificing your indoor air quality. It balances ventilation while retaining heat and moderating humidity, which is especially useful in winter. If you’re up for another DIY project, it could be a game-changer! If you want more info or help getting started, feel free to visit my website and schedule a chat-I’d be happy to help.
Love your videos ♥️ Thank you!
Glad you like them!
So, it was not me imagining things and the outside really does smell like "air freshener". I guess most people just get used to living in homes full of VOCs so they stop noticing these smells everywhere.
Exactly. Yeah it blows my mind that people get used to these smells. And some people with chronic health issues don't even realize that some of their symptoms could be from constant exposure to these chemicals.
Thank you.
You're very welcome.
I can say without doubt that Carbon filters Work!
BUT they only remove a very small amount and when the outdoor contamination is gone it will recharge itself with fresh air by releasing the captured voc into your home.
So instead of heavy spikes every now and then its more like a slow curve up and down.
I have a Chinese HRV that came with HEPA and activated carbon filter and it have worked great, never any smell (and i live next to a pig farm and the smell outside sometimes gets unbearable) but when i changed the filter for an non OEM without carbon but still HEPA the same day i noticed that the smell sometimes where awful and i turned off the ventilation.
And the old filter really smells awful on the intake side.
So yeah i really perfere activated carbon filters even after 1 year use it does remove smell.
Thanks for sharing that!
What would be the best way to bring in fresh air when neighbors frequently burn/grill or otherwise generate unpleasant smells outside? Is it worth trying to filter this air through carbon filters?
I feel for you. In the last place I lived, my next door neighbor would use a meat smoker all the time - like 20 feet from our condo. I had to shut off my fresh air intake system during those times. Eventually I got so fed up that I just asked him to stop. Eventually he listened - meat smoking generates a ridiculous amount of smoke so he shouldn't have been doing that so close to the house to begin with. But I can imagine that in your situation, it might be harder to ask them not to do it. Honestly, if the smoke is super bad outside your house, I just wouldn't bring in fresh air during those times.
Is it worth getting indoor plants?
Host has “Good educator” vibes.
Do you know what captures car exhaust pollution better: HEPA filter or VOC Carbon pellets/granules ?
I use a HEPA cabin filter.
At 0:57 after health the cut was too sharp and music too loud, you needed like half a second of transition from silence to the volume increasing for it to not be jarring
“Why does it smell like the inside of a halloween mask” 😂 funny gag!
I think if you had a tiny transition from “sometimes you can even smell it happening” break eye contact and look right, then pan the outside camera from left to right to reveal the girl and start the scene, would feel less harsh of a transition
Sorry the artschool jumped out of me, but its a really great video and the small potential editing improvements would make it more polished, i hope this is not unwelcome
That's great advice, thank you!
Ironic that suburban people try to get out of the city's pollution which is the very pollution the suburbs created. Suburbs require a lot of deforestation to build highways, parking lots, streets, grassy lawns, malls, and office parks. Suburbs make a bad deforestation situation worse by requiring the use of very polluting cars. The the back-yard escape from the city's pollution is what created the pollution in the first place. City residents drive less than half that of people in the suburbs and put out a lot less pollution yet they are the ones who suffer the most from it. Many people in the city don't even have a polluting car. Edenicity on UA-cam has some interesting ideas on the subject.
Interesting. Genuine question: what are we supposed to practically do with that information?
@@HealthyHomeGuide On an individual level :* if you work at an office, try to live where you can walk, bike, or take transit to work. * If you have to drive, choose a fuel efficient or electric car and use it as little as possible * Look into movements such as "Restorative Cities" "Not Just Bikes", or "Edenicity". On a community scale, promote walkability * Small blocks are more walkable, around 200' or one square acre * Mix uses so different uses are close to each other. Offices next to commercial, or residential over retail * Increase density so people within walkable, bikeable and transit distance can support the uses * Reduce car use with fewer lanes (Rarely more than 3) * narrow lanes to slow traffic, and minimal parking * Improve non-car transit with beautiful walkable sidewalks, and efficient bike and transit infrastructure * Make cities enriching with parks, trees, recreation, social interaction, etc...
Commenting to boost algy
Nice, thanks!
hint: hepa filters and most air filters will not filter VOCs
I suppose one thing it does do is capture high surface area to weight particles which are breaking down into VOCs
@@danthelambboy accurate pm size 2.5 and larger
Making emotional twitter (and other social media) post is a major part of raising awareness because you can control what is in your home but you cannot control what is in places you don't own such as your office. Regulating your own environment is just a small part of overall solution. How do you think all the environmental benefit come to you?
You're absolutely right. It's mainly just not my style. I choose to deliver a different kind of content. Doomy twitter posts honestly just make me feel hopeless and scared, and I'm definitely not alone in that. Of course, there are some twitter posts that do a good job of raising awareness, yes.
@@HealthyHomeGuide Thank you for the response. Ok "emotional" isn't necessary to deliver a message and you are right those content does wear people down but my criticism is that the way you convey your messaging is more along the sentiment of "just worry about oneself because everything else is an emotional drainer and let's put our head in the sand" when the reality is that if we don't actively push for the betterment of society, others will take advantage of that void to regress it and secondly, societal solution requires collaboration and raising awareness is a major part of it. You did ask people to vote but honestly that's the minimum required and most likely the person you're voting for does not even know the problem to start with. Your content is superb and is a great way to be used to educate everyone, I just wish people realise that it's not all or nothing, a simple sharing of your video on social media goes a long way and sharing it to your relevant politician's social media goes a long way.
@Coz131 I do agree with you. I can see how my message could be construed in the way you did. All ways to attack an issue are totally valid.
That being said, my personal belief is that the best way to improve things on a larger scale is to educate the consumer, and empower them with concrete, practical information to change their behavior, and therefore reduce the demand for these products - that's what I'm trying to do. And I did mention that not buying these products, and using safer materials when building/remodeling reduces one's contribution to VOC emissions. I personally believe that's the most impactful thing we can each do right NOW, not only for ourselves, but also for the collective good. But again, all ways to attack an issue are valid, and you should absolutely advocate for your favorite ways. Messaging local politicians can be very impactful.
Above all, I want to make content that can be shared WITHOUT making people feel so scared and hopeless that they end up doing nothing. I'm trying to spread knowledge and solutions instead of doom, and I do feel compelled to push back against other types of content I see, the kind that simply spreads the message that things are really bad. I think that kind of content often does more harm than good, because it makes people feel like we're screwed no matter what.
I completely understand if you are extremely sensitive to these things, but this is nearly impossible for the average person to implement.
There are many aspects of my plan that are quite easy. Eliminating products with fragrance is not difficult at all. You just buy unscented versions. Using air purifiers isn't hard either. Neither is cleaning properly. Setting up an ERV takes work, but it's very worth it, especially if you have sensitivities. But really, anyone can benefit from more fresh air. Harvard research shows that more fresh air is associated with significantly increased cognitive function, among many other benefits. I'm not sure what you feel is impossible, but I promise, none of this is.
Dont use them. Best way to protect your health.
Agreed!
ten bucks says this is paid for by an ERV supplier
You'd lose that bet. I install ERVs in a way that isn't approved by ERV manufacturers (in a window, like an AC). I don't think they'll go near me.