Mobile homes are often considered an economically effective housing solution. What is often not considered is the tremendous amount of off gassing from the mobile home itself and from products used in mobile homes that can send harmful chemicals into the air. This becomes an unhealthy situation quickly because of the initially tight seals, and lack of ventilation. Here are 5 ways to reduce the chemicals that mobile homes off gas; and reducing these chemicals will help you and your family stay healthy.
Avoid Carpeting If Possible
New carpet is infamous for the “new carpet smell”. That smell is often the off gassing of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde. Without proper ventilation, you and your family are subject to formaldehyde vapors which can cause your eyes and nose to burn, sore throat, headache, dizziness, and nausea, and frequent exposure to higher than normal levels of formaldehyde has been proven to cause serious long-term health issues.
Older carpet is a haven for numerous pollutants such as dust mites, pet dander, and small particles of dirt and/or sand, all of which are difficult to remove with a regular vacuum, and go airborne with normal daily activity. These microscopic pollutants can greatly aggravate existing problems such as allergy and asthma, and can cause symptoms that just make you miserable such as sneezing, watery eyes, and congestion not unlike that of a cold.
Ventilate
Use a fan to move the air through your home, and if weather permits, open windows to help exhaust fumes from your home. It is important to change the air rather than to just re-circulate it.
Keep Temperature and Humidity Stable
Many of the offending chemicals such as formaldehyde are affected by increases in humidity and temperature. Keeping both humidity and temperature low will decrease the amount of formaldehyde that will off gas into your air.
Allow Products to Off Gas Elsewhere
If you are planning to purchase products such as new carpet or that are known to contain solvents, adhesives, exposed particleboard, ask that they be opened and allowed to sit in the warehouse to off gas before they are brought to your home.
Use an Air Purifier to Remove Chemicals
All homes continue to settle after they are built. When mobile homes settle the seals loosen and chemicals and materials that have been previously sealed are now unsealed and can evaporate into the air. Using an air purifier that is specifically designed to remove airborne chemicals such as formaldehyde will help insure that the indoor air you and your family breathe is the healthiest it can possibly be.