Buying an air purifier for basements

Basements are notorious for their stagnant, stale air. The lack of air flow and windows in basements makes them prime locations for indoor air pollutants to accumulate. This not only leads to potential adverse health problems when you access your basement, but these pollutants may easily escape and contaminate the rest of the house. Which indoor pollutants can be found in a basement? How can an air purifier for basements protect us from negative health effects? Read on to learn more.

Basements: a unique microenvironment in the house

Basements are unlike most other rooms in the house. Typically used as storage spaces, for many, they are rarely or very occasionally accessed. They are known for their distinct ‘basement smell’, an unpleasant, musty odour unique to these types of spaces.

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Basement features

Why are basements often synonymous with poor basement air quality? Some factors include:

Use as storage

As mentioned above, individuals commonly store unused items in their basements. Some examples may be pieces of furniture, garden equipment, and do-it-yourself, home maintenance products like paints, lacquers, and petrol. All of these items emit significant levels of indoor air pollutants. Since it is a rarely-used part of the home, this also means that it is not cleaned as regularly as other rooms in the house. This ultimately leads to a build-up of dust, mould and mould spores, mildew, musty and unpleasant odours, and other contaminants that impact indoor air quality (IAQ) in basements.

High humidity levels

Basements are in direct contact with the ground, sometimes even being partially or completely underground. Water and moisture from rain or groundwater can gain entry to the basement through multiple mechanisms: liquid water flow, vapor diffusion, capillary suction, and air movement, as seen below. Moisture can also gain access through poor construction like inadequate grading, missing gutters, improper window wells, structural cracks, and foundation settling. Moisture and humidity in basements lead to proliferation of mould and mould spores and an unpleasant, musty odour.

Limited natural ventilation

Basements are known for their humid, stale air. This is due to the fact that most basements have no or few windows, making it impossible to properly ventilate the space. As a result, indoor pollutants accumulate and the air is rarely, if ever, renewed.

Stack effect

Did you know that upwards of 40% of the air you breathe in your home comes from the basement? Known as the ‘stack effect’, ‘pulling effect’, or ‘chimney effect’, the air in your home is constantly rising. This is a natural process and occurs from the temperature differences from the outside to the inside of your home. Due to the stack effect, you are likely unwittingly breathing in your dangerous basement air pollutants even if you keep your basement door closed.

Sources of air pollutants in your basement

According to a 2008 study, approximately 10 to 20% of the indoor air pollution found in homes are sourced from the basement⁴.

Poor indoor basement air quality may have a variety of sources. Biological air pollution, especially mould and mildew, is one of the most common air pollutants found in basements.  As previously mentioned, the conditions in a basement, particularly high humidity, damp environments, provide the perfect breeding ground for mould growth and spores. Black mould infestations are often a main cause of ‘sick building syndrome’. This is why it is highly recommended to dry as much excess moisture as possible if there is flooding in your basement.

Chemical pollution like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is also very common in basements. A 2015 study found nearly 100 different VOC particle compounds present in basements. Some include benzene (a known human carcinogen), toluene, naphthalene, and limonene, most of which were sourced from gasoline-powered equipment, household cleaning products, air fresheners, solvents, and cigarette smoke. Most concerningly, the presence of VOCs was detected in 75% of the basements analysed, and those same contaminants had spread to 15% of living spaces. The study further states that ‘even if the basement is not part of the living area, air in the two zones is coupled’⁵.

Radon is also a concern in basement air quality. Based on figures from a 2002 study in Northern England, high concentrations of radon were found in 20% of homes⁶. Radon is particularly problematic in basements due to its proximity to the soil, where radon is found. A radioactive gas produced when uranium decays in soil, radon can penetrate a home directly through basements. It leads to serious health effects, and proper ventilation is crucial. Check your local radon maps to learn if you live in a high radon area.

Other indoor air pollutants are found in basements that have a negative impact on health like carbon monoxide, an odourless and tasteless gas known as the ‘silent killer’.

Health risks

Exposure to indoor air pollutants in your basement may be responsible for many unpleasant symptoms in both the short- and long-term. This is particularly the case if you store cleaning products, chemicals, and other VOC-causing products in your basement. Symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Allergy symptoms
• Irritation of the eyes, nose, and/or throat
• Difficulties breathing
• Cough
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• General malaise and discomfort
• Nausea
• Problems concentrating

Long-term exposure to indoor air pollutants may lead to increased risk of respiratory disease, cancer (especially lung cancer), and nervous system and/or liver damage.

The benefit of an air purifier for basements

Installing a basement air purifier is an excellent way to provide clean air and protect you and your loved ones from the dangers of indoor air pollution in your basement.

Reduce air pollutant concentrations

An air purifier for basements that comes equipped with multiple purification technologies can combat all three of the main types of air pollution: fine particulate pollution, chemical pollution, and biological pollution. It is important to find a device that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air)-certified filter, as this ensures that 99.97% of particles down to 0.01 microns are removed from your air. This includes:

• Particulate matter, or fine particle pollution, like PM10, PM2.5, and PM0.1
• Allergens like dust and dust mites, pet hair and dander, and pollen
• Mould and mould spores
• Cigarette smoke (first-, second-, and third-hand) and smoke particles
  

Do keep in mind that most basement air purifiers only contain one or two air purification technologies, and HEPA filters alone cannot remove VOCs from your basement’s air. For this, your device will require supplementary technologies. Eoleaf’s devices, for example, come equipped with 8 different filtration technologies, cleaning and removing all types of airborne pollution! Read more on this below.

How to choose an air purifier for basements?