Car Doctor: Best fix for moldy carpets is exposure to sunlight - The Providence Journal

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 06:30 PM PDT

Q: After water got into my car from clogged moon-roof gutters, there is mold in the carpeting and maybe other locations as well. The leak is now fixed.

What's the best way to clean and deodorize the carpeting? Can it just be shampooed?

A: The best solution is to remove the carpeting, clean it and allow it to air dry in the sun. Sunlight has a dramatic effect on mold/mildew. I would also remove the padding under the carpet and replace it. Trying to shampoo the carpet will just add more moisture and possibly add to the issue. Using an extractor style cleaner, combined with an electronic air purifier (plugged in and allowed to run in the car) may kill the mold.

Q: I am trying to sell my car. It's a 2011 Honda Civic with only 60,000 miles on it. Overall, the car is in good condition.

Looking online, I have the car priced right. Several people have looked at the car, but no one has made a reasonable offer yet. I am firm on the price. The only thing that anyone can question is a little paint damage on the rear bumper.

Any suggestions for making this sale happen?

A: At nearly nine years old, even with low mileage, the car will not appeal to everyone and buyers may be somewhat limited. Depending on where you are financially with the car, you might want to repair the paint damage to the bumper and then have the car thoroughly detailed. Shiny paint and a clean, fresh-smelling interior can make a substantial difference.

To the best of your ability, list any repairs you did on the car. If you have maintenance records for oil changes, this will help show you maintained the car on a regular basis. Document as much of the condition of the car as you can with pictures when you list the car for sale.

Although you may be firm on the price, keep in mind that there are carrying costs for keeping the car. Each month, the car depreciates further due to age, and you're paying for insurance as well. These ongoing costs should be considered before you turn down a decent offer.

Q: I have a new-to-me 2012 Buick Regal and it is burning oil. The car only has 91,000 miles on it.

I took it to the used car dealer where I purchased it, and to my local repair shop. No one could really find anything wrong. The car is using about three quarts of oil every 7,000 miles — the mileage when I change the oil.

What do you think I should do? My local garage told me to just add oil, which I have been doing. Is there a better solution?

A: If there isn't an oil leak, the engine is burning oil. The problem is most likely a valve guide/seal issue.

According to your numbers, the car is using about a quart of oil every 2,300 miles. Although some engines use hardly any oil between oil changes, with today's multi-viscosity oils and the age of the car, I don't see a problem worth repairing.

Check the oil every 2,000 miles and add as necessary.

Q: I have a 2012 Mazda Miata that I really like driving, and I may, in fact, drive it a bit too hard. Lately, I get a banging noise going over bumps, especially if I am turning. After a couple of 90-degree days, the noise has just about gone away.

I have had the car checked out and the mechanic tells me everything is tight. Do you have any idea what the problem could be?

A: The problem could be a combination of a bit of spring sag and the rubber bumpers inside the strut assembly.

The rubber bumpers may have hardened to the point that they don't cushion the suspension over bumps. When the weather is hot, the rubber softens a bit.

At this age, if you plan to keep the car and still plan to drive it aggressively, it makes sense to replace the springs and strut assemblies.

— John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 30 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put "Car Doctor" in the subject field. At 8:30 Saturday mornings, tune in to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at wrolradio.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.

Do Air Purifiers Work? An Expert Explains If Air Purifiers Really Help With Allergies - GoodHousekeeping.com

Posted: 14 Jul 2019 12:00 AM PDT

The promise of an air purifier is an enticing one: An appliance designed to cleanse the air in your home, getting rid of all the impurities including odors, smoke, dust, and pet dander. Given the fact that indoor air can have levels of certain pollutants up to five times higher than outdoor air, we get it. But in reality, not all air purifiers necessarily live up to the marketing hype.

How do air purifiers work?

Air purifiers usually consist of a filter, or multiple filters, and a fan that sucks in and circulates air. As air moves through the filter, pollutants and particles are captured and the clean air is pushed back out into the living space. Typically, filters are made of paper, fiber (often fiberglass), or mesh, and require regular replacement to maintain efficiency.

That means, in addition to the purchase price of an air purifier, you should also factor in operating costs and filter replacement costs. Operational costs can easily amount to $50 annually, since you should be running air purifiers near constantly to garner the benefits. Filter replacements can run upwards of $100 a year all told.

How frequently you will have to change filters varies based upon the purifier type and usage. Some filters are reusable and washable, but they require meticulous maintenance, so you don't usually find them on the most effective air purifiers. Reusable filters are generally better at removing larger particles from the air, like dust mites and pollen. You'll also find UV (ultraviolet light) filters on the market, which often claim to destroy biological impurities like mold or bacteria, but many require higher wattage and greater exposure to be effective (not to mention some bacteria is UV-resistant).

Other air purifiers use ionizers to help attract particles like static — negative ions bond to dust and allergens and make them settle out of the air. If you're interested in buying an air cleaner that uses ionizers, make sure it does not produce ozone, a gas made up of three oxygen atoms that is often marketed as helping break down pollutants, because ozone could be a lung irritant and further aggravate asthma conditions. Usually the air purifiers with ozone will have that listed on packaging or in the marketing descriptions.

What are air purifiers supposed to filter out — and do they actually do it?

Most filters on the market are designed to capture particles like dust and pollen, but don't catch gases like VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or radon. That would require an adsorbent, like activated carbon. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that the functionality of air purifiers is limited in terms of filtering out gases, and that you must frequently replace filters for optimal functionality, usually about every three or so months.

So while many air purifiers are good at filtering pollutant particles out of the air (dust, smoke, pollen, etc.), they are not necessarily very good at removing gaseous pollutants like VOCs or radon from the air that may accumulate from adhesives, paints, or cleaning products. Allergens that are embedded into furniture or flooring are also not captured by them.

Additionally, the effectiveness of air purifiers in real-world situations likely won't mimic those of controlled conditions in a lab (what those "99% effectiveness" claims are referring to!). The location, installation, flow rate, and how long it is operating for will all vary, as will the conditions in the space. In addition, there are other things happening in your home that may effect the efficacy like ventilation (open or closed windows), and new particles are constantly emerging, so the air may not as filtered as the claims may have you believe.

If you are concerned about mold, we'd recommend buying a dehumidifier or humidifier to help maintain the appropriate moisture levels in your home and stave off mold growth issues. Air purifiers do not prevent mold growth, so it is necessary to eliminate the source of moisture that is allowing it to grow.

So… should I buy one?

Before you do, know that air purifiers are not a cure-all. There is very little medical evidence to support that air purifiers directly help improve your health or alleviate allergies and respiratory symptoms. That's due in part to the fact that it is very difficult to separate the effects of known air-quality pollutants in your home from other environmental and genetic factors. (For instance, how are the furnishings and ventilation in your home affecting you in addition to any indoor pollutants?) But if you are an allergy or asthma sufferer, an air purifier with a HEPA filter may be helpful for you as it will be good at removing fine airborne particles.

What is a HEPA filter?

HEPA is an acronym for High Efficiency Particulate Air. HEPA filters capture variously sized particles within a multi-layered netting usually made out of very fine fiberglass threads (much thinner than the size of a human hair strand!) with varying sized gaps. The filter is airtight, and comprised of a dense sheet of small fibers pleated and sealed in a metal or plastic frame. The air purifier's fan draws air into the filter and particulates are captured in the filter. The larger particles (ones bigger than the fibers) are captured via impaction (particle crashes into the fiber), mid-sized particles are captured by interception (particle touches the fiber and is captured), and ultra-fine particles are captured by diffusion (while zig-zagging the particle will eventually hit and stick to the fiber).

What should I look for in an air purifier?

CADR (clean-air delivery rate) rating. This measures the cleaning speed of the purifier for removing smoke, dust, and and pollen. Look for a CADR of at least 300, above 350 is really great.
Size guidelines. For proper efficacy, you need a model designed to work in the room size. Choose a model that is designed for an area larger than the one you are outfitting it for if you want to operate it at a lower, quieter setting.
AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) Verified mark. AHAM's standards are design to ensure the safety, efficiency and performance of many home care appliances, including air purifiers. The standards are designed to provide a common understanding between manufacturers and consumers to help make the purchasing process simpler. While voluntary, most reputable air purifiers have undergone this certification program, which often provides a CADR rating and size guidelines.
True HEPA. True HEPA filters are effective at removing ultra fine particles (think: dust, dander, pollen, mold and other common allergens in the home). The industry standard for such is that the unit must be able to remove at least 99.97% of particulates measuring 0.3 micron diameter in a lab setting. Remember, it is important to note that in real life settings, the actual efficacy of these devices would be far less as new pollutants are constantly emerging. Note that there is no industry standard for the terms "HEPA-like" or "HEPA-type," and are mostly used as marketing ploys to get consumers to purchase the product.

What are other ways I can improve the air quality in my home?

The best advice is to address the source of indoor air pollution and ventilate your home. If you are looking to supplement the work of your air purifier or see if you can get by without one, we recommended trying these steps to help reduce indoor air irritants:

If you can, keep your windows open to prevent locking irritants into rooms (when air purifiers aren't running!). Create a stronger cross draft by opening windows on opposite sides of the room if possible.
Vacuum often. If you are on the market for a vacuum, opt for one that is sealed, has a bag and is HEPA-certified. They're better at trapping dust instead of sending it back into the air. The Good Housekeeping Institute recommends the Miele U1 Maverick SHAE0.
Regularly change air filters to properly maintain HVAC equipment and maximize effectiveness.
Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen (and bath and laundry areas if possible). Switch it on before preheating the oven or firing up the burners, and leave it running for a few minutes after you're done cooking.
While it may seem obvious, minimize the use of candles or lighting wood fires and ban smoking inside the home. Reducing pollutant sources is a surefire way to improve air quality.

Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping Institute Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering Rachel is the chief technologist and director of engineering at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all labs.

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