Many private houses have basements and some buildings have windowless spaces, for various reasons and uses. There is no doubt that while basements have their advantages, they also have quite a few disadvantages. One of the most serious disadvantages in such spaces is the lack of circulation – especially the longer we stay there and in certain cases even live within them. It is important to understand that, unlike other rooms in the house, a windowless space is completely sealed, making it hard for fresh air to get in. This, in turn, can cause serious health risks such as headaches, restlessness, hyperventilation and even elevations in pulse, heart rate and blood pressure. Thus, there is great importance in ventilating such a room often and making sure there is good and quality circulation within it. How can this be done?
The dangers we are exposed to in an unventilated basement or windowless space
As mentioned, the main danger we are exposed to in such spaces is the lack of circulation. This shortage can cause many allergens and other irritants to accumulate in the room – among them dust particles, germs, bacteria, types of smoke such as cigarettes, ozone gas, mold, etc. Prolonged exposure to those irritants in a closed room can create an array of issues, some more severe than others. However, the main risk that derives from the lack of air circulation in these spaces is the increase in carbon dioxide in the room.
As you know, people (and also animals) inhale oxygen and exhale CO2. That is why it is only natural that when many people are in a room together, especially in closed-off spaces such a basement or windowless space, their breathing process causes high levels of carbon dioxide in the room. According to all international standards, a prolonged stay in a room with more than 1% CO2 in the air can severely put the people within at risk. Research on the matter has found that after people spent three hours in a windowless space together, the CO2 levels rocketed to 28% - this puts all the people there at considerable risk.
So how can we purify the air in a basement/windowless space?
As mentioned, unlike other rooms the windowless space or basement are naturally sealed-off rooms. Though they might contain a window or two, keeping the room well-ventilated means ensuring those windows stay open most of the day. Unfortunately, this is not a very good idea, especially when they have to be closed. So how can you still ventilate these spaces? Here are a few methods you might want to try:
- Put plants in the room – unlike animals, the plants’ “breathing” is reversed. While we inhale oxygen and inhale CO2, plant make use of the CO2 in their photosynthesis process and emit oxygen into the room. Putting plants in the room, even though it is not really circulation, helps reduce the CO2 levels in the windowless space/basement.
- Use air-purifying plants – there are quite a few plants that are not only used to reduce the levels of CO2 in the room, but also purify the air and get rid of various irritants in it. Plants like peace lilies, ivy and sword ferns are great examples for air-purifying plants that can do well in these kinds of spaces.
- Install a ceiling fan – a ceiling fan actually “stirs” the air in the room, contributing to the flow and better turnover of air in the room, especially if the windows in the space are opened.
- Purchase an air purifier for windowless spaces/basements – an air purifier for windowless spaces/basements is the best and most effective solution to purify the air since it helps defuse the various irritants in the room and generally purifies the air in the space.
What is an air purifier?
An air purifier is as its name implies. It is a mostly electrical device that helps filter the air in the room to remove irritants such as mold spores, dust, germs, bacteria and more. Even though there are quite a few air purifiers on the market, there is no doubt that not all air purifiers are created equal. While some purify the air in the room on a certain level, most of the air purifiers on the market mostly fragrance the air and are marketed as “air purifiers”. It is important to understand that an odor – whether good or bad – is no indication of air quality in the room. Although an odor can hint at certain irritants being found in the air, making the windowless space/basement smell better will not solve the issue, it will only specifically resolve the odor issue. Therefore, there is great importance in the type of air purifier we purchase in order to purify these spaces.
Which air purifiers are best for purifying a windowless space/basement?
To make sure that you are purifying the air in your windowless space/basement, it is extremely important to purchase an air purifier from a professional company that manufactures, markets or imports quality devices – such as Atmo. Atmo is an experienced and professional company that aims to provide its clients with advanced solutions in the field of air purification. The company imports a range of quality air purifiers that meet international standards and purify the air in the space in which they are installed at the highest level. The air purifiers offered by Atmo will help you maintain clean air in the windowless space/basement or any other room in which you would like to install them, and will guarantee the health of those in the room.