Air quality

AM · 11th December 2006, 10:09

Hiya

Have recently had a small problem with dampness and mould at home, but it got me to thinking well we breathe similar conditions in rebreathers! Plus we leave damp rebreathers lying around at home!

What are the implications of dampness/mould to human health? Both from rebreather diving and if it's untreated in people's houses?

Does anyone use an air purifier at home? Or a dehumidifier?

Regards
AM

Skeletor · 11th December 2006, 11:39

If ccr_ada is still alive, then I am presuming that there are no long term ill effects. When did he last wash out his counterlungs

Cheers,

Skelly

**nigelh** · 11th December 2006, 11:41

Quote: (Originally Posted by am)

Does anyone use an air purifier at home? Or a dehumidifier?

I can't comment on air purifiers but since your lungs exhale 100% humidity and since I feel so much better after a dive on warm, damp gas I would say a dehumidifier is more about your house than your health.

**PhilSiswick** · 11th December 2006, 11:48

Quote: (Originally Posted by am)

Hiya

Have recently had a small problem with dampness and mould at home, but it got me to thinking well we breathe similar conditions in rebreathers! Plus we leave damp rebreathers lying around at home!

What are the implications of dampness/mould to human health? Both from rebreather diving and if it's untreated in people's houses?

Does anyone use an air purifier at home? Or a dehumidifier?

Regards
AM

From limited knowledge, I think the spores produced by the mould are more of a problem than the dampness itself in most cases.

HTH,

lizardland · 11th December 2006, 11:58

Dampness in buildings is usually a money making scam by liquid DPC contractors unless you have serious amounts of structural timber. Surface dampness (i.e. condensation) is usually a lack of ventilation or cold bridging (badly done insulation).

If you're sensitive to breathing disorders like asthma then airborne spores from mould can cause problems but for the vast majority of people then I'd doubt it. The air in your house (unless you have a swimming pool) won't be any damper than the outside air and if it's heated then the RH will be much lower. At the other end of the scale, having overheated, dry buildings is probably worse for the general health than dampness.

As for dehumidifiers, if the problem is rising damp (i.e. damp being wicked up from the ground into the structure) then all the dehumidifiers on the planet will do feck all. Condensation, you'd be better off either introducing some ventilation or looking at how you heat the place (condensation needs a temperature difference to form -- don't have cold surfaces in hot rooms). De-humidifiers, in my opinion, are just a waste electricity in the home.

Cheers,

Stuart

pchanning · 11th December 2006, 12:42

Quote: (Originally Posted by am)

Hiya
What are the implications of dampness/mould to human health? Both from rebreather diving and if it's untreated in people's houses?

From my experience damp is generally unpleasent but mould has induced colds/ sickness in me and those living in such a property. A healthy home begins with good conditions. I wouldn't worry about chiming cymbals in corners and the placement of mirrors etc just yet but I find it helps to perform an exorcism on my home and Rebreather now and then.

Looking inside the CL bags (on an Inspo - sorry KISS divers) can be quite revealing / scary!

Quote: (Originally Posted by am)

Does anyone use an air purifier at home? Or a dehumidifier?

Dehumidifiers are used very effectively in construction to reduce humidity - in freshly plastered buildings for example. It is surprising how much vapour they can pull out of the air but they don't fix penetrative damp problems. I have had no experience of air purifiers - I just open all the windows

Janos · 11th December 2006, 13:20

Quote: (Originally Posted by pchanning)

Looking inside the CL bags (on an Inspo - sorry KISS divers) can be quite revealing / scary!

No need to apologise. I think this is quite an ecumenical matter. I clean out my lungs after a weekends diving. Sometimes I get home late and I can't be arsed. When I come to tip out the lung liquid, it's a delightful shade of green (think Percy in Blackadder). Mmmmm. Nice.

Janos

Janos · 11th December 2006, 13:21

Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland)

De-humidifiers, in my opinion, are just a waste electricity in the home.

Fecking great for drying dive kit though.

Janos

narked@10m · 11th December 2006, 13:53

hi
took me little kiss out to play in lake last week,next morning woke up with blotchy red face n dizzy, not sure symtoms connected to dive but it had sat festering in hallway for a month.not washed out since prev dive .
during dive tasted ok but loop did have strange smell to it.

any ideas??

hate to look in my inspo lungs as thats been sitting next to the kiss festering for 2 months!!
best i do give that a clean before i dive it next .
pete

pchanning · 11th December 2006, 17:23

I replaced a bladder in my girl's wing a while back. It had salt ROCKS in it! Surprising. Properly washing out a bladder on a unit can be very hard. Certainly made me think.

Anyway, back on track...

11th December 2006, 10:09	#1 (permalink)
AM Highly amused!! Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Earth. Posts: 559	Air quality Hiya Have recently had a small problem with dampness and mould at home, but it got me to thinking well we breathe similar conditions in rebreathers! Plus we leave damp rebreathers lying around at home! What are the implications of dampness/mould to human health? Both from rebreather diving and if it's untreated in people's houses? Does anyone use an air purifier at home? Or a dehumidifier? Regards AM __________________ Attitude keeps you alive
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11th December 2006, 11:39	#2 (permalink)
Skeletor The 4th King Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Purgatory Posts: 48	Re: Air quality If ccr_ada is still alive, then I am presuming that there are no long term ill effects. When did he last wash out his counterlungs Cheers, Skelly
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11th December 2006, 11:41	#3 (permalink)
nigelh New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brighton, Sussex, UK Posts: 824	Re: Air quality Quote: (Originally Posted by am) Does anyone use an air purifier at home? Or a dehumidifier? I can't comment on air purifiers but since your lungs exhale 100% humidity and since I feel so much better after a dive on warm, damp gas I would say a dehumidifier is more about your house than your health. __________________ nigelh
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11th December 2006, 11:48	#4 (permalink)
PhilSiswick WSKD 0001 Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 922	Re: Air quality Quote: (Originally Posted by am) Hiya Have recently had a small problem with dampness and mould at home, but it got me to thinking well we breathe similar conditions in rebreathers! Plus we leave damp rebreathers lying around at home! What are the implications of dampness/mould to human health? Both from rebreather diving and if it's untreated in people's houses? Does anyone use an air purifier at home? Or a dehumidifier? Regards AM From limited knowledge, I think the spores produced by the mould are more of a problem than the dampness itself in most cases. HTH, __________________ Phil No comment on open circuit... it's an evolutionary dead end not really worth discussing here. Dave Sutton, 2007 I have always felt that the dive I am on is not nearly important as the dives I plan to be on the rest of my life. Tom Rose, 2007 www.hugsac.org.uk
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11th December 2006, 11:58	#5 (permalink)
lizardland Yak Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North... Posts: 1,253	Re: Air quality Dampness in buildings is usually a money making scam by liquid DPC contractors unless you have serious amounts of structural timber. Surface dampness (i.e. condensation) is usually a lack of ventilation or cold bridging (badly done insulation). If you're sensitive to breathing disorders like asthma then airborne spores from mould can cause problems but for the vast majority of people then I'd doubt it. The air in your house (unless you have a swimming pool) won't be any damper than the outside air and if it's heated then the RH will be much lower. At the other end of the scale, having overheated, dry buildings is probably worse for the general health than dampness. As for dehumidifiers, if the problem is rising damp (i.e. damp being wicked up from the ground into the structure) then all the dehumidifiers on the planet will do feck all. Condensation, you'd be better off either introducing some ventilation or looking at how you heat the place (condensation needs a temperature difference to form -- don't have cold surfaces in hot rooms). De-humidifiers, in my opinion, are just a waste electricity in the home. Cheers, Stuart __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f**ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk Azerbaijani Association of Technical Divers Publicity Officer and Goat Wrangler Last edited by lizardland : 11th December 2006 at 12:02.*
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11th December 2006, 12:42	#6 (permalink)
pchanning PFO free :) Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: fixed! Posts: 454	Re: Air quality Quote: (Originally Posted by am) Hiya What are the implications of dampness/mould to human health? Both from rebreather diving and if it's untreated in people's houses? From my experience damp is generally unpleasent but mould has induced colds/ sickness in me and those living in such a property. A healthy home begins with good conditions. I wouldn't worry about chiming cymbals in corners and the placement of mirrors etc just yet but I find it helps to perform an exorcism on my home and Rebreather now and then. Looking inside the CL bags (on an Inspo - sorry KISS divers) can be quite revealing / scary! Quote: (Originally Posted by am) Does anyone use an air purifier at home? Or a dehumidifier? Dehumidifiers are used very effectively in construction to reduce humidity - in freshly plastered buildings for example. It is surprising how much vapour they can pull out of the air but they don't fix penetrative damp problems. I have had no experience of air purifiers - I just open all the windows __________________ Cheers Paul The key to enlightenment... is survival. Last edited by pchanning : 11th December 2006 at 12:46. Reason: You can have that one for free Am, but I'll have to charge you for the next one ;)
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11th December 2006, 13:20	#7 (permalink)
Janos "Two Sheds" Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: East Surrey Posts: 594	Re: Air quality Quote: (Originally Posted by pchanning) Looking inside the CL bags (on an Inspo - sorry KISS divers) can be quite revealing / scary! No need to apologise. I think this is quite an ecumenical matter. I clean out my lungs after a weekends diving. Sometimes I get home late and I can't be arsed. When I come to tip out the lung liquid, it's a delightful shade of green (think Percy in Blackadder). Mmmmm. Nice. Janos __________________ You can lead a horse to water but you can't climb a ladder with a large bell in both hands - Vic Reeves www.hellfins.com/shed
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11th December 2006, 13:21	#8 (permalink)
Janos "Two Sheds" Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: East Surrey Posts: 594	Re: Air quality Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland) De-humidifiers, in my opinion, are just a waste electricity in the home. Fecking great for drying dive kit though. Janos __________________ You can lead a horse to water but you can't climb a ladder with a large bell in both hands - Vic Reeves www.hellfins.com/shed
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11th December 2006, 13:53	#9 (permalink)
narked@10m New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Evolution Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: uk Posts: 70	Re: Air quality hi took me little kiss out to play in lake last week,next morning woke up with blotchy red face n dizzy, not sure symtoms connected to dive but it had sat festering in hallway for a month.not washed out since prev dive . during dive tasted ok but loop did have strange smell to it. any ideas?? hate to look in my inspo lungs as thats been sitting next to the kiss festering for 2 months!! best i do give that a clean before i dive it next . pete
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11th December 2006, 17:23	#10 (permalink)
pchanning PFO free :) Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: fixed! Posts: 454	Re: Air quality I replaced a bladder in my girl's wing a while back. It had salt ROCKS in it! Surprising. Properly washing out a bladder on a unit can be very hard. Certainly made me think. Anyway, back on track... __________________ Cheers Paul The key to enlightenment... is survival.
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