Bad air quality in a single room
Hi Everyone,
Air quality question for all of you. We have a home office and have been using it a lot more than previously with being home so much. I noticed I was getting tired more often so I brought my IQAir sensor into the room and the CO2 levels are crazy high. We have to keep the door closed during the day because our toddler will want to be in here when one of us is working and there’s stuff in here that cant be made toddler safe. I crack a window when its possible but that isnt always a possibility due to rain and weather. Anyone have something I can install to help with air quality? I do have an exterior wall so if I would have to install something I could. Of course not ideal to spend money on it, but if I have to then I have to.
Thank you all for your help!
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Replies
CO2 levels are controlled by ventilation, not by any sort of filter or purification gizmo. To lower the CO2 levels you have to change the air.
If you have an air handler or furnace you could run the fan constantly or intermittently to even out the air in the home. This should reduce localized spikes.
Your more spendy options are adding mechanical ventilation. There is a whole spectrum with a variety of draw backs and plus's.
Low end bathroom style fan (cheap but unbalanced and no energy recovery).
Central ERV/HRV so you get some energy recovery and balanced ventilation but $$$.
You could install a single room ventilator with heat recovery as well. (something like this https://www.canarm.com/hvac/heat-recovery-ventilators/light-commercial-single-room/hrv-micra-60.html, or https://www.canarm.com/hvac/heat-recovery-ventilators/light-commercial-single-room/hrv-micra-60.html
If you have a forced air HVAC system, check that you have both supply AND return air vents in your office. If you have only one (supply OR return), or neither, then your office probably isn’t getting much ventilation and that’s your problem. In my own home office, the previous owners covered over both supply vents and the return with flooring and drywall for some reason. I opened them all up again when I did my renovation and that has helped immensely. I mostly noticed the room being cold in the winter due to the lack of heating air.
Bill