Unless you make a special effort to buy safe, nontoxic candles, odds are that burning candles in your home harms your indoor air quality (IAQ). Candles made from paraffin emit polluting gases when they’re burned called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds cause mild to serious health problems, from nasal irritation to cancer and nervous system disorders.
VOCs come from products made from petroleum. Besides candles, they’re found in cleaning products, perfumes, dry cleaning, paints, glues and flooring products, air fresheners, makeup, and furniture and shower curtains. Since they’re health hazards, manufacturers have developed alternative products that don’t contain VOCs. Their labels normally indicate that they’re clean air compliant or contain no VOCs.
When the HVAC system isn’t running, the pollutants from candles are more likely to be isolated in the area where you’re burning the candles. When your HVAC system is running, the particles and gases will circulate throughout your home. The air returning to the blower goes through the air filter where the larger VOC particles like soot will collect on the filter. The smaller particles will circulate through the air, lowering the overall indoor air quality.
Improving IAQ When Burning Candles
If you burn candles routinely, check the air filter for your HVAC system more often. Too much soot and other particulates slow the air flow going through the system, which drives up energy costs, wears out the HVAC components and lowers IAQ.
Switch to soybean or beeswax candles. Neither of these kinds emits VOCs and will burn cleaner. You won’t need to check the HVAC system’s air filter as often, nor will you be breathing soot particles and VOCs.
Inspect the candle wicks before burning. A long wick tends to produce more smoke and soot than a short wick.
Use candles in a draft-free space. Drafts create more smoke and soot.
Candles do impact indoor air quality and can affect your health and energy bills. To learn more, contact the pros at Ace Hardware Home Services, providing HVAC services for Dayton-area homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
