Troubleshooting guide

5
Some Typical Household Pollutants
You can eliminate or reduce certain sources of indoor air
pollution by understanding where household pollutants
come from. However, no matter how careful you are, there
will always be some pollutants in your home and, therefore, a
need for ventilation.
Table 1 identifies the most common pollutants and their
sources. Additional information on indoor air quality
is available from the Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation’s Canadian Housing Information Centre
at the address provided on page 29.
TABLE 1
Common pollutants and their sources
Pollutant Source
Excess moisture (humidity)
and moulds
Urea-formaldehyde
Radon
Tobacco smoke
Household chemicals
Odours, viruses, bacteria
and dandruff
Combustion by-products
(including carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides, carbon
dioxide and particulates)
A crawl space with an exposed earth floor,
people, clothes drying indoors, cooking and
washing, plants, firewood stored indoors, etc.
Some types of particle board, panelling,
carpeting, furniture, textiles, etc.
Soil and ground water
Smoking
Cleaning products, certain hobby supplies,
paints and solvents, aerosols, etc.
People and pets
Fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces,
heaters, range/ovens, gas clothes-dryers,
fireplaces, wood stoves, etc.*
* CAUTION: Do not rely on an HRV to remove combustion by-products
from your home or to supply the combustion air requirements of fuel-
burning appliances. If combustion by-products are escaping into your
home, either an appliance or its venting system are not operating
properly and must be repaired immediately. Fuel-burning appliances
should be installed to vent to the outdoors. Unvented fuel-burning appli-
ances, such as barbecues, portable gas-fired or kerosene space heaters,
unvented gas fireplaces, etc., are not recommended for use indoors.
00-211 english booklet 3/20/03 12:00 pm Page 5