Don't Forget to Exchange Your Air!

Don't Forget to Exchange Your Air!

One of the worst mistakes people make is to keep their windows closed, never exchanging the inside air for what's outside.

It's unhealthy to keep the windows closed for too long.

One of the first reactions to the poor air in Korea is to keep the windows closed, hoping to keep the dust out. This is usually successful, if you own an air purifier, but did you know that neglecting to exchange the air in your home can make you very sick, as well?

If you live in Korea, you should make a habit of opening all of your windows and airing-out your home for about 10 to 15 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. It sounds crazy, right? Why let all of that dirty air into the home, after spending time and energy to clean it? Believe it or not -- it's essential that you do.

I am from the United States. I grew up in the state of Iowa, where it's not uncommon for the air to stay "green" most days out of the year. Even though the air is fresh outside, and there is no worry of toxic dust invading the lives of Iowans, the new homes there are required by law to have an air exchanger. Why? This is because homes have become so "tight" that the fresh air is often not brought in. When fresh air is not allowed in, then VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds -- also called TVOC's) can build, causing sickness.

VOC's come from flooring, wallpaper, glue used in pressed-wood shelves, desks, and other furniture, paints, foam, and books with lots of color photos. Those ink-filled children's books can be nasty for this, in large amounts. We moved our books out of our daughter's sleeping area, because of them. 

Avoid Buying Cheap Furniture

Some of the most harmful products you can add to your home are pressed-wood and melamine furniture. Those cheap laminate shelves and closets sold on G-Market or Coupang, or that corner furniture shop? Avoid them. Spend a little money on a trusted maker, and do your research as to VOC emissions levels. As of a few years ago, Korea allows a higher level of VOC furniture emissions than countries like the USA. Some furniture is actually rated for emissions, and it's something you should pay attention to. The simple way to avoid the problem is buy solid wood products from larger stores like IKEA, Costco, or E-Mart. They have some quality control. Unknown brand furniture sold online can come from anywhere, and may not even be safe to have in your home.

“Have you ever heard of Koreans refer to "sick house syndrome?" That's caused by VOC's. A mistake people make is to shut their doors and windows, and not air-out the house, to keep the dust away. The VOC's will actually affect you faster than the dust.”

By the way, airing-out the house helps keep mold growth down, as well. VOC's are something green things (plants and mold) consume like candy. It encourages growth. Mold is a little different. It releases harmful CO2 which hurts our bodies.

"Mold, like many other diseases such as cancer thrives in high concentrations of carbon dioxide and acidic environments. It is one of the most highly developed and advanced organisms known on the planet and knows exactly how to break down and eventually kill its host.

Mold simply cannot survive in a high alkaline and oxygen environment. If you understand these facts, you can then get on the road to recovery by implementing a health protocol that includes detoxing with a high alkaline diet, extra oxygen and mold and carbon dioxide avoidance." -- moldsafesolutions.com

But all is not lost -- just air-out your home 3 or 4 times a day (depending on if you're there, of course) and get some fresh air in. But that air is full of dust -- right? Well, yes, but if you have an air purifier, just run it on high for 15 minutes while and after you air it out, to clean. On a really bad day, you might even wear a mask inside while airing the house, or do as we do, and air just a few rooms at a time while hiding in the other rooms.

Commercial air exchange ERV device with filtration

Or better yet, you can buy (or build) a filtered fan/air purifier into a window or vent and get fresh, filtered air in that way. There are also commercially available air-exchange solutions, if you contact an HVAC company, but they are not cheap.

Add Plants

Lastly, think about adding several plants to your home, to help keep VOC's at bay. Plants consume VOC's at night. E-mart is one of the best places to buy affordable greenery that both works, and looks beautiful. This Ted Talks recommends six large plants per person.