How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality at Home: A Friendly, Proven Guide

Indoor air feeling stale, dusty, or smoky? You don’t need a pile of gadgets—you need a simple plan. Below you’ll find practical indoor air quality solutions and exactly how to improve indoor air quality at home: fix sources first, add smart ventilation and HEPA/MERV filtration, balance humidity, and then check that your air actually improved.

Indoor Air Quality Solutions: What Works (And What Doesn’t)

What works

• Source control first: Fix leaks and damp spots, remove musty materials, store paints/solvents outside living areas.
• Smart ventilation: Use a ducted kitchen hood; run bath fans during/after showers; add balanced ventilation (ERV/HRV) in tight homes.
• Effective filtration: HEPA purifiers sized to the room (match CADR) + MERV 11–13 in central HVAC (if compatible).
• Simple verification: Track PM2.5, CO₂, and RH with a basic monitor before/after changes.

What doesn’t work well

• Masking odors with sprays or fragrances (adds VOCs, hides the cause).
• Recirculating hoods as the only cooking strategy (they don’t remove NO₂/grease particles to outdoors).
• Undersized purifiers (too little CADR for the room) or clogged/low-grade HVAC filters.
• Skipping moisture fixes while chasing gadgets (humidity drives many IAQ problems).

Bottom line: For real indoor air quality improvement, tackle sources, ventilate to the outside, filter particles properly, manage humidity—and confirm it worked with simple measurements.

Quick Answers

• Fix the source. Dry leaks, control moisture, and keep chemicals sealed and stored safely.
• Use both tools. Ventilation moves air in/out; filtration cleans the air that stays inside.
• Pick the right filter. HEPA purifiers handle smoke and dust in a room. MERV 11–13 HVAC filters clean the whole home—if your system can handle them.
• Watch humidity. Keep it between 30–50% RH. Anything over 60% for long makes mold more likely.
• Check results. Use a simple PM2.5, CO₂, and humidity monitor before and after changes so you know the air really improved.

Step-by-Step Plan (Do These in Order)

1) Hunt the Source (Fast Room Walkthrough)

Look for water stains, musty smells, unvented gas heaters, strong fragrances/solvents, and cluttered storage. Remove or fix what you find. Source control is the foundation of indoor air quality improvement.

2) Fix Moisture First

• Repair leaks and dry wet materials promptly.
• Use bath/kitchen fans; aim for RH 30–50%.
• Dehumidify damp areas; address crawlspace/basement moisture.

3) Ventilate Smartly (Fresh Air on Your Terms)

• Kitchen: Run a ducted range hood every time you cook.
• Bath: Run the fan during showers and 20–30 minutes after (timer switch helps).
• If air feels stale (or CO₂ runs high), schedule fresh air or consider balanced ventilation (ERV/HRV) in tighter homes.

These simple changes are core to improving indoor air quality without expensive remodels.

4) Filter Effectively (Particles & Smoke)

• Central HVAC: upgrade to MERV 11–13 if compatible; seal gaps around the filter slot.
• Rooms: add HEPA purifiers sized to the space (match CADR to room size) and run continuously on low.

HEPA purifiers and MERV 11–13 filters are high-value indoor air quality solutions for smoke and dust.

5) Create a “Clean Room” for Bad Air Days

Pick one bedroom or living room. Close the door/windows, run a HEPA purifier continuously, and use it for sleep, work, or sensitive family members during smoke or high-AQI days.

6) Tame Chemicals & Odors (VOCs)

Choose low-VOC paints/adhesives. Ventilate after new furniture arrives. Store solvents/paints outside living spaces in sealed containers. Activated-carbon filters can help with odors.

7) Better Daily Habits, Big Wins

Cook on back burners, keep lids on, vacuum with a HEPA vacuum, damp-dust surfaces, and avoid idling cars in an attached garage. Skip heavy air fresheners—they mask, not fix.

8) Combustion Safety = Non-Negotiable

Install and test carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Service gas appliances annually. If you notice exhaust smells, headaches, or fatigue around usage—get a pro check.

9) Verify the Improvement

Use a simple monitor to log PM2.5, CO₂, and RH for a week before and after your changes. You should see fewer particles, better humidity, and lower CO₂ peaks.

Tracking PM2.5, CO₂, and RH turns indoor air quality improvement into a repeatable routine.

Indoor Air Quality Improvement: Simple Changes With Big Impact

When to Consider Professional Testing

Call a pro if you’ve tried the steps above and still have persistent symptoms/odors, after water damage, or when you need lab-backed reports for a landlord, buyer/seller, or insurer. Pros can add spore sampling, formaldehyde/VOC badges, moisture mapping, and thermal imaging to pinpoint sources.

IAQ FAQs: What Homeowners Ask Most

What actually improves indoor air quality fast?

• Fix moisture at the source (dry leaks within 24–48 hours).
• Ventilate: run a ducted range hood while cooking and bath fans 20 minutes after showers.
• Filter: use a HEPA room purifier and a MERV 11–13 HVAC filter (if your system supports it).

• Verify: check PM2.5, CO₂, and humidity before/after changes.

What are the best indoor air quality solutions for wildfire smoke?

• Create a clean room: close doors/windows and run a correctly sized HEPA purifier on medium–high.
• Set HVAC to recirculate with a fresh MERV 11–13 filter.
• Seal obvious gaps (weatherstripping) and avoid opening doors unnecessarily.

Can an air purifier replace ventilation?

No. Purifiers remove particles; ventilation reduces CO₂ and VOCs. Most homes need both: run ducted kitchen/bath exhaust and use HEPA for particles.

What humidity should my home be for healthy indoor air?

Keep 30–50% RH. Sustained >60% increases mold risk; <30% can worsen dryness and dust. Use dehumidifiers/humidifiers as needed and address leaks or poor ventilation.

How big should my air purifier be (HEPA CADR vs room size)?

Match CADR to room size. Quick rule: CADR ≈ 2/3 of the room’s square footage (e.g., 150 sq ft → ~100 CADR for smoke/dust). Keep doors/windows closed in that room for best results.

HEPA vs. MERV: what’s the difference and which should I use?

• HEPA: standalone room purifiers that capture fine particles (smoke, dust, allergens).
• MERV 11–13: whole-home HVAC filters that improve air across the house, if the blower can handle it.
  Use both when possible: HEPA for targeted rooms; MERV 11–13 for whole-home support.