Indoor Air Quality Solutions

The quality of air inside structures is vital to the health of the people who occupy them. Terms like "pollutant" and "particulate matter" usually cause people to think of car exhaust or smokestacks when it comes to air quality, but studies have found that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air (U.S. EPA, 2019). Indoor air quality can be affected by a number of factors, not just people, which makes it a difficult variable to manage when trying to ensure the respiratory health of those who occupy a space. Still, there are some tangible steps that can be taken to improve it.

Enhancing the quality of air within buildings necessitates the combination of several disparate strategies and approaches. The fundamentals of good air quality were mentioned before: routine and thorough cleaning, maintaining proper ventilation, using air-purifying plants, and humidity control. Regular maintenance of heating and cooling systems, which includes complete and proper cleaning of these systems and their vital components (including replacement of air filters), is also a vital part of good air quality. And these components should be seen in the context of reduction and elimination of indoor air pollutants at their source.

A broad assortment of materials that can detrimentally affect air quality and health is found indoors. The chief tormentors involved are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by products such as paints and cleaning supplies, along with airborne particulates like dust mites, pet hair, mold spores, and tobacco smoke. In certain locales, potentially the biggest indoor air quality concern is radon—a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Almost all Americans are exposed to it in some measure. Despite some ridge variations, it is found across the country; however, 14 states have a significantly stronger presence than others.

There are different technologies that air purifiers can use to ensure the clean, healthy air of an indoors space. The simplest and oldest of these technologies is the HEPA filter, which can remove even minuscule particles (down to 0.3 microns in size) from the air. Purifiers also may use activated carbon filters, which are much better at absorbing odors and a range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) too small for HEPA filters to catch. Some whole-room purifiers use ultraviolet light to batter away the harder-to-neutralize pathogens that can exist in the air we breathe—like bacteria and viruses.

The quantity of moisture in the air has a large effect on indoor air quality and comfort levels. When the humidity is too high, it can foster the growth of mold and the moist conditions that allow dust mites to thrive. When the humidity is too low, it can cause the kind of respiratory problems, as well as the symptoms that look like asthma, that many have reported when gripped by a very dry winter. According to the EPA, we should maintain a relative humidity of between 30% and 50% for optimal indoor air quality.

How often should you change your air filter? It depends. A good place to start is with the recommendations for the kind of filter you have. If you use a basic disposable filter, you should change it every 1 to 3 months. If you use a more efficient type of filter, you might be able to stretch its lifespan a bit more, up to 6 to 12 months. But don’t go by that alone. Consider your household. If you have a lot of pets, or if someone in your home smokes, or if anyone in your house has a serious allergy, your filters might need to be changed more frequently. And remember: Changing a filter isn’t just about your HVAC system. It’s about the air you breathe.

Clear indications of subpar indoor air quality involve ongoing respiratory problems, unfathomable headaches, overwhelming fatigue, frequent dizziness, and bizarre allergic episodes. If mold is conspicuously growing inside your dwelling, if your residence has an indoor odor reminiscent of a damp, underground cave, or if your domicile is carpeted in a layer of dust, then you may have low air quality. If you and your housemates can’t make sense of it, then you can bet the air is in trouble.

Some houseplants can improve air quality because they can naturally filter out pollutants and generate oxygen. They can absorb harmful chemicals, pump up humidity, and act as a kind of particulate trap. And the best of these plants—snake plants, spider plants, peace lilies, and the like—are not just good at their jobs; they also look pretty great in your home. But while plants can and do play a part in ameliorating air quality, it would be something of a stretch to propose them as a kind of superhero solution to the problem.

You can assess the air quality inside your home in two primary ways: using a professional service or a home test kit. Either way, you can identify the specific pollutants that might be compromising your indoor air quality. If you opt for the kit route, know that home testing is a screening tool—it can tell you if you have a problem that needs further investigation. Those who live with mold or in the path of floodwaters are especially at risk for serious health problems. Even if air quality testing reveals no immediate concerns, you can take additional steps to ensure the air inside your home is safe.

Subpar air quality indoors can result in multiple consequences for both respiratory and overall health.