Indoor Air Quality: The Impact of Cooking and Holiday Visitors

There is a certain stuffiness to the home once the holiday crowd has come and gone. The kitchen may be thick with smoke and odours from a large meal. One might even ask why there is more sneezing and coughing about when the family is all together for the season.

We at Alta Air LLC are in the business of making sure homeowners on the Wasatch Front can put their minds at ease when it comes to their indoor air, and we see our share of concerns during the holidays. Should you find your house is not as fresh as it ought to be with guests in attendance, pick up the phone and give us a ring at (385) 317-4056.

Of course the holidays are for good food and full houses, but they put an unanticipated strain on the air inside your home. Once you know what to expect, however, there are easy measures to have clean air while you are celebrating.

Pollutants on the Rise with More Guests

It is great to have the house full. But each person who comes in the door is bringing something other than good cheer. In the course of being active and present, people put carbon dioxide, moisture and small particles into the air.

Consider how your guests change the air in your home:

• Rooms become tired and stuffy as the level of carbon dioxide goes up with all the breathing
• Shoes and clothes are vectors for pollen, dust and the like from outdoors
• Any pets that visit will leave behind dander to set off allergies
• Allergens make their way in on luggage, blankets and coats
• The air is laden with chemicals from cologne, perfume and other scented items
• Then you have the cold Utah weather which means the windows are shut and all of it is trapped

With the windows closed tight over a Utah winter there is not enough fresh air to do any diluting. It just goes round and round.

What Your Holiday Cooking Does to the Air

You cannot have the holidays without the kitchen in use from morning to night. Yet cooking is a prime source of pollution in any home and the feasts of the season amplify it.

Use the gas range and you are putting out:

• Nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide from the burners
• Fine particulates in the course of roasting or searing
• Smoke and grease to float around and coat surfaces
• Potent smells that do not dissipate after the meal
• Humidity in the form of steam

Boiling and simmering will drive up the humidity and if it has no outlet it can lead to mold. And a roast that has been well seared or a casserole that is a touch burnt will send the particle count through the roof, haze or no haze.

Then There Are Candles and the Fireplace

For some ambiance one puts in a fire and some candles and diffusers. They are cozy but soot, smoke and chemicals are part of the package.

A wood-burning fireplace is a ready source of fine particles for your lungs. Volatile organic compounds come from the scented candle. Combine these with a busy kitchen and a house full of people and the quality of your air can take a nosedive.

Holiday Air You Can Rely On

There is no need to forgo a festive atmosphere for the sake of clean air. Some simple habits will do the trick.

In the run up to and at your get togethers we suggest:

• Put the exhaust fan on in the kitchen and let it run some time after you are done
• Get a new filter for the HVAC before the rush of the holidays
• If the weather is right, open a window for a bit
• Be mindful of humidity
• Do not have too many candles lit at the same time
• Make sure your heating system is in order

Your HVAC is the first line of defence against holiday air issues. With the furnace and filtration doing their job properly the air in the living room will be better for it, crowd or not.

Alta Air is Here to Help

We have been providing indoor air quality solutions to Utah homeowners since 2003. As a Day and Night dealer and a BBB Accredited Business that is fully licensed and insured, Alta Air LLC is on hand 24/7.

Our team is here for a heating tune-up ahead of the big dinner, or a humidity solution, or to put in a better filtration system. We will also assist with any equipment rebates on offer and have maintenance plans and financing available.

This season, call (385) 317-4056 and put an end to the smoky, stuffy house. Let us provide your family with the gift of healthier air.