Do I need to worry about paint fumes when painting?

Painting is considered a fairly common way to improve your household, so people might not think about the risks associated with it. It might be hard to think about risks when you’re not dealing with power tools or anything sharp. But there are dangers associated with the very paint you’re using in your home. 

Specifically, paint fumes. The chemical smell that paint gives off once the bucket is opened can be very harmful to your health if you inhale too much of it. 

Your painting services team will help you avoid inhaling paint fumes. But here are the things you should know. 

Why does indoor paint give off fumes? 

There’s a lot of ingredients that go into giving your paint that perfect color and sheen. Some of these ingredients are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These are released into the air as gasses from liquids or solids like paint and varnishes. 

You can buy low-VOC or no-VOC paints when working with your painting services professional. But ideally, instead of paint that doesn’t have VOCs at all, you’re better off limiting your exposure. 

What can happen with too much exposure? 

Normally you’ll notice that paint fumes will start to irritate your eyes, nose, or throat — things that will clear up when you go outside. 

You might also get a headache or feel dizzy, lightheaded or vaguely nauseous. Sometimes you might have trouble breathing. If you start feeling these symptoms when around your painting project, you should go out into fresh air immediately. 

How to avoid it? 

Whenever you’re painting, you’ll want to make sure that the area you’re painting in is well ventilated. You’ll also want to consider wearing a facemask if you’re going to be around the paint for a longer period of time. 

The best way to avoid inhaling paint fumes is to let a professional painter handle your painting project. Not only are they skilled at painting, but they know how to properly ventilate the room and avoid having the paint fumes build up to the point of you inhaling them directly. 

If you’re really worried about paint fumes in your project, talk with a painting services company like Handyman Connection today.