Delhis air sucks. The outside AQI often exceeds 999. What to do? In three categories we share our experiences. "Home", "Car" and "Outside". Today "Home".
The basic idea is to reduce the amount of outside air entering the house or flat. Sealing the home is crucial. We monitor all openings to the outside (Windows, doors, exhaust fans, ACs, etc) and seal them with broad duct tape, sealing bars and silicone.
We won't open the windows anyway (ventilation happens via exhaust fans) so it is just fine to completely seal these opening with duct tape. Any door to the outside that is not urgently needed is treated in the same manner. For doors and windows that are still required we use sealing bars and sealing tape. All these measures are very cheap as duct tape, silicone and sealing bars are not really expensive.
The exhaust fans for the bathrooms and the kitchen should have automatically closing shutter slats. Additionally we have constructed an inside box around the fan, that can be completely closed with a door. One set of shutter slats = 200 INR. A wooden box in front of the fan = 500 INR.
To avoid possible cross ventilation within the house or flat the main doors within the house should be kept closed.
Doors to the outside that are frequently in use can be equipped with a fan inside the room facing towards the door. Whenever the door is opened switch on the fan first. Deskfan = 800 INR.
After the house has been sealed additional measures can be undertaken to improve the indoor air quality.
"What gets measured, gets managed." (Peter Drucker) A measuring device displays the exact pollution level. Laseregg = 7.000 INR.
Plants help to filter the air and enhance the overall airquality. The NASA space tested four most effective air filtering plants are: Moneyplant, Bamboo Palm, Peace Lily, Mother-in-Laws. Six plants per person in a room are fine. One plant with pot = 1000 INR.
Air purifiers with Hepa filters are cleaning the air effectively. These machines require constant maintenance (vacuum cleaning and filter change), and they need some electrocity. One Sharp Air Purifier = 30.000 INR
Photo: Fully with duct tape sealed window.