Ask the expert

— I live in a recently built house that is energy efficient - i.e., thoroughly insulated and caulked, among other things. This is great, except that I worry sometimes that it’s too tight and we don’t get enough fresh air inside, especially now that it’s colder. What do you think?

The air inside your house can be five times more polluted than the air outside and even more dangerous for your health, according to the December issue of Prevention magazine. Come winter, weather proofing combined with heated, dry air can raise indoor pollution levels even higher by sealing in airborne toxins and lowering levels of humidity.

But Prevention provided some ways to help you breathe easier:

Crack a window:

Opening up windows when it’s freezing outside sounds, well, cold (and costly), says the magazine. But sealing a house too tightly doesn’t allow the entry of new oxygen or the escape of carbon dioxide that we exhale. As a result, your body doesn’t get the amount of oxygen it needs, and you end up feeling tired and lethargic.

So open your bedroom windows for five to 10 minutes in the morning and again before you climb into bed at night. This is enough time to let carbon dioxide out and oxygen in without chilling the rest of your house.

Clean up what you bring down:

Dragging winter blankets out of the attic and lugging decorations up from the basement stirs up dust, triggering allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, wheezing and congestion.

You can put on an N95 dust respiratory mask (available in drugstores) before you head to the attic or basement. It’ll shield you from 95 percent of airborne particles that set off sneezing fits. Take boxes outdoors to wipe off the dust (along with what is inside) before you bring them back in and pop them open in the front hall. Wash any blankets or linens in hot water before you use them (same goes for winter clothes that can go in the washing machine).

Use common (candle) sense:

Scented candles, especially the industrial strength and size that many people light around Christmas, give off more than fragrance. Studies show they produce tiny bits of pollution known as particulates that can inflame the respiratory tract and aggravate asthma, Prevention says. This is especially true if some of the dust you kicked up unearthing grandma’s decorations is still floating around.

Stop burning candles, especially the ones inside large jars, which tend to send even more particulates into the air. If Christmas isn’t the same for you without that soft candlelight, choose unscented tapered candles, and place them far from vents and other air sources. Or try flameless, battery operated candles.

Turn off ventilation fans:

Exhaust fans work by sending the stale indoor air outside and replacing it with fresh air. However, running powerful fans such as commercial-size kitchen fans, large exhaust fans or bathroom fans all at once can redirect exhaust gases that may include deadly carbon monoxide fumes produced by gas or oil heaters back into the house instead of up and out of the flue.

So turn exhaust fans off as soon as they’ve done their job, or consider replacing a manual switch with a timer to limit unnecessary use. Install carbon monoxide as well as fire detectors; they’re just as important.

Replace filthy filters:

The upside to winter’s drier air is that it makes it difficult for mold to grow. But existing mold from damp basements and lingering spores in air-conditioning systems can become airborne - and stay in the air - if all the windows are closed. Mold can irritate your eyes, cause congestion and worsen existing respiratory problems.

Change your heating system filters every 3 months. Filters act like armed guards, holding hostage pollutants that feed mold - such as human skin cells, pollen and pet dander - so they can’t escape into your indoor air. Prevention recommends a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating of at least 8. Check the packaging. And have a professional service your heating system annually. Late summer or fall may be the best time for the checkup. That way you can fix problems before you need the heat.

HomeStyle, Pages 37 on 11/27/2010

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