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I got a air quality monitor when we had the California wildfires, and I was shocked to learn that my air quality was worse indoors when cooking than outdoors du
by surfmike 7y ago
I got a air quality monitor when we had the California wildfires, and I was shocked to learn that my air quality was worse indoors when cooking than outdoors during the wildfires. (I am now in the process of getting a properly vented range hood instead of the dinky recirculating one we have).
- nitrogen 7y agoI've noticed that cooking byproducts are less irritating than wildfire byproducts. You still definitely want good ventilation.
- sjg007 7y agoAlso open a window when cooking.
- jly 7y agoI bought an AQI / PM2.5 monitor and was shocked to find the same thing. I placed it in an upstairs bedroom, far removed from the kitchen, and the PM2.5 readings jump to unhealthy levels within minutes or cooking, even that far away. HVAC systems do a great job of circulating bad air throughout the home. I've also observed measurable CO level increases in the upstairs while running a gas oven, using a low-level monitor. I've also come to the conclusion that a vented range hood is really an essential for indoor cooking of any kind. It should definitely be the #1 priority for any home to improve air quality.
- lukeschlather 7y agoAir quality sensors don't tell the whole story, and they can only notice particulates of certain sizes. The worst day for me during the past few years' Seattle-area smoke events didn't register as a bad day on the official air quality reports because the particles were too big. But it was the only time where I actually had to stop and take a taxi 7 blocks because I just started coughing uncontrollably and couldn't carry my groceries home.
- closeparen 7y agoAnything you can smell is technically air pollution, no?