How To Improve Indoor Air Quality

At Aire Serv^®, we’re committed to improving indoor air quality. The air we breathe in our homes significantly impacts our overall health and wellness. Your HVAC system is essential to cleaning the air of your home, but there is more that you can do. So, let’s take a look at how to improve indoor air quality.

Indoor Air Quality Standards

Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the purity and composition of the air inside and around buildings. Since we spend about 90% of our time indoors, improving indoor air quality is essential for our health and well-being. Dust, pet dander, tobacco smoke, and other pollutants compromise IAQ.

Poor indoor air quality contributes to asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, infections, and lung cancer. The EPA and other advisory boards have established indoor air quality standards that measure the pollutants in our commercial and residential buildings. The standards limit the amount of contaminants considered safe to breathe. The pollutants governed include:

Carbon monoxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Formaldehyde
Lead
Asbestos
Dust
Dust mites
Pet dander
Smoke
Mold
Excess moisture
Volatile organic compounds
Cleaning chemicals
Off-gassing from carpets and furniture

If the indoor air quality fails to meet IAQ standards, updated HVAC equipment and personal responsibility are called upon to improve the indoor air.

Effects of Breathing Low-Quality Air

Exposure to poor indoor air quality can compromise your health in many ways, both big and small. Every year, more than 4 million deaths worldwide are attributed to indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution can cause or exacerbate lung cancer, respiratory disease, heart disease, and cognitive impairment. Other effects of exposure to poor-quality indoor air include:

Respiratory infections
Worsening asthma
Worsening allergies
Chronic headaches
Exhaustion or fatigue
Symptoms similar to the flu
Irritated eyes
Congestion
Nausea
Dizziness

It’s easy to overlook poor indoor air quality, but don’t. Improving indoor air quality is critical to safeguarding your family’s health and your own.

How To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

A well-maintained HVAC system is essential to improving indoor air quality, but you can do more. There are several practical ways to improve indoor air in your home, including:

Change your air filters frequently. When filters trap dust, pet hair, and other pollutants, they become clogged and unable to trap more. Change box filters once per year; replace regular filters every two or three months. Consult with a professional to ensure your filter replacement is compatible with your current HVAC system.
Clean your air ducts. Cleaning out the air ducts will help ensure that common irritants such as mold and dust do not compromise your indoor air quality.
Install a dehumidifier. Installing a dehumidifier eliminates extra moisture and helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
Get “fresh air” in your home. In addition to opening windows for fresh air, you can install mechanical whole-house ventilators to improve indoor air quality and airflow.
Dust and vacuum often. Dusting and vacuuming frequently will remove dust and other contaminants from your indoor air and ease the burden on your HVAC system, prolonging the life of the equipment.

Trust Aire Serv for Professional Indoor Air Quality Services

When you need help improving indoor air quality, call on the professionals at Aire Serv. Our comprehensive HVAC services include helping to clean your home’s air so you and your family can breathe easily.

All our work is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise^TM because the job isn’t done until it’s done right.

Request an appointment today. Improving indoor air quality is too important to put off.

Indoor Air Quality FAQ

What improves indoor air quality?

Improving indoor air quality comes down to your HVAC system’s function and filtration, as well as your own actions. Keep your HVAC system maintained, and change your air filters every 90 days. Avoid combustion in the home, including lighting a fire, burning candles, and using wood- or gas-burning appliances. Vacuum and dust regularly. Avoid chemical air fresheners, pesticides, and cleansers, or choose more natural options. Consider installing a dehumidifier, especially if you are in a humid climate.

What are the symptoms of poor air quality in a house?

Poor indoor air quality can cause eye irritation, headaches, irritability, fatigue, congestion, dry throat, nausea, and dizziness. In addition to these symptoms, poor IAQ can worsen allergies, asthma, and emphysema while putting an undue burden on your heart and lungs.