5 Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Five steps do most of the work: use the right filter and change it on time, keep humidity in a comfortable range, bring in fresh air, cut pollutants off at the source, and keep your equipment maintained. You can start on most of them today without buying anything new.

Indoor air often carries more of certain pollutants than the air outside, since dust, pet dander, cooking fumes and chemical vapors get trapped in a closed house. Around here, dry conditions and wildfire smoke add to the load.

1. Filter well, and change it on time

Your system's filter is the main defense, and it only works when it is clean. A 1 inch filter typically needs changing every one to three months, and more often during dusty weeks or smoke season. A better filter catches finer particles, but too dense a filter can choke airflow, so ask a technician which grade your blower can handle.

Also think about where the air enters. Leaky return ducts can pull dusty air from attics, crawlspaces and garages straight into the system, bypassing the filter you are counting on. If the house is dusty no matter how often you clean, ask a technician to check the return side.

2. Keep humidity in balance

Very dry air irritates throats and noses and lets dust hang around, while damp air encourages mold and dust mites. Winters here tend to be dry and some basements stay damp, so the fix depends on the house. An inexpensive humidity gauge shows where you stand, and a humidifier or dehumidifier can then correct the imbalance.

Watch for signs your balance is off. Condensation on windows, a musty closet or a damp smell points to too much moisture, while static shocks and cracked lips point to too little. Fix leaks, run exhaust fans, and address the moisture source, since dry-air problems are usually easier to solve than mold.

3. Ventilate

Run the bathroom fan during and after showers and use the kitchen exhaust when you cook, particularly on a gas range. On mild days, open windows to swap air. On smoky days, keep them shut and let the filter do the work. Newer, tightly built homes may benefit from a mechanical ventilation system that brings in fresh air without wasting your heating and cooling.

Wildfire smoke changes the rule. When the outside air is smoky, stop ventilating with windows, run the system fan with a clean filter, and avoid adding indoor particles by frying, burning candles or vacuuming with an unsealed machine. Once the smoke clears, open the house and flush it out.

4. Control the sources

• Use doormats and take shoes off at the door to keep outdoor dust and residue outside.
• Vacuum regularly, ideally with a machine that has a sealed system and a fine filter.
• Store paints, solvents and strong cleaners in a garage or shed instead of the living space.
• Skip scented candles and sprays if odors are a concern, and never smoke indoors.

Removing a pollutant is always easier than filtering it out after it has spread.

5. Maintain your equipment

A dirty coil, a neglected blower or leaky ductwork can spread dust and let unfiltered air in. Regular professional maintenance keeps the system clean and working as designed. Air-Tech's AT Advantage Program includes two visits a year, so the equipment gets attention before each heavy season.

Ask the technician to look at the indoor coil and blower while they are there, since dust builds up in those spots and is easy to overlook.

When to add equipment

If you have done these things and still notice dust, odors or stuffiness, extra treatment such as upgraded filtration, UV lights or a ventilator may make sense. If you are wondering where to start, call Air-Tech at (509) 392-2021 and we can talk through what you are seeing in your home.