It’s no accident that more and more homeowners are wondering how to improve indoor air quality. The good news is that today's homes are built to be more energy efficient than ever. Tight construction methods effectively hold heat and cooling inside the structure and reduce operating costs.
The bad news? The same airtight construction methods that conserve energy also minimize fresh air ventilation and allow the enclosed indoor environment to stagnate. Inside the tightly sealed envelope of the house, airborne particulates, fumes and humidity accumulate to levels far more concentrated than you would typically encounter outdoors. Continuous daily exposure to airborne household pollution may cause discomfort, allergic reactions and even illness in susceptible individuals.
The answer to the issue of how to improve indoor air quality lies in both improved technology as well as simple home maintenance. Here are 3 easy steps to reduce household contaminants while still maintaining energy efficiency and comfort in all seasons.
The air filter in your HVAC system is the front line of defense against poor indoor air quality. A typical central heating and cooling system circulates over 1,000 cubic feet per minute of air through the filter. This means the entire air volume in your house passes through the filter multiple times every day.
A clean filter effectively removes airborne particulates, ranging from dust to invisible microscopic particles. A dirty filter, however, can actually make indoor air quality worse by acting as a reservoir for dirt, dust and other airborne contaminants that are continuously circulated back into your breathing air.
During both the heating and cooling season, change the air filter monthly. Instead of cheap, throwaway fiberglass panel filters, choose quality pleated fabric filters rated to trap airborne particles down to a size of 3 microns.
Replacing stale indoor air is another option for homeowners asking how to improve indoor air quality. Simply opening doors and windows isn’t a viable option in frigid winter weather or the heat of summer.
The goal of proper ventilation is balance. Remove stagnant, unhealthy air and replace it with an equal amount of fresh, filtered outdoor air to dilute indoor contaminants and restore healthy air quality. Heat recovery ventilators (HRV) are now the gold standard for residential ventilation.
Utilizing small diameter dedicated ductwork connected to a central controller, an HRV removes stale air from the kitchen, bathrooms and utility rooms while adding a precisely equal volume of fresh outdoor air to bedrooms and other living spaces. Inside the controller, a heat exchange core also helps preserve indoor temperatures by pre-warming incoming fresh air in winter and cooling it in summer.
Humidity accumulates in tightly-sealed residential environments due to activities like cooking, bathing and simply breathing. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends indoor humidity levels between 30 percent and 60 percent. High indoor humidity creates a breeding ground for toxic mold and bacteria.
Active growing mold releases airborne reproductive spores by the millions, contaminating household air. If household humidity is consistently above recommended levels, consider installing a whole house dehumidifier inside your HVAC ductwork to maintain healthy indoor air quality.
Controlled by a wall mounted humidistat, just like the thermostat that operates your furnace or A/C, a wholehouse dehumidifier treats all the air in the home as it passes through the ductwork continuously day and night.
The question of how to improve indoor air quality is a year round issue. The answer lies in a multi-faceted approach that addresses the sources of poor air quality. Controlling the dust, mold or lack of ventilation and maintaining your homes humidity will help improve the air quality in your home.
