What can I do to improve the air in my home?

There are a few basic steps to improving indoor air quality. The most effective first step is to eliminate the source. This maybe accomplished by removing, sealing, or enclosing individual sources. Source control is the most cost effective approach to protecting indoor air quality. Second is increasing ventilation, which may lower the concentrations of pollutant in a home, by increasing the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. 

Most home heating and cooling systems do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house. Opening windows, operating window fans, attic fans, or running window air conditioners with vents open increases outdoor air ventilation. Running kitchen and bathroom fans that exhaust outdoors can remove some localized pollutants. Third, air cleaners are another option. There are many sizes and different types of air cleaners. 

Some cleaners are highly effective at particle removal while others are much less effective. These air cleaners draw air through a filtering element and push out filtered air. Because of this the maintenance of the unit affects the effectiveness of the unit.

Show All Answers

1. Is there Radon in the Tazewell County Area?
2. Can I test for Radon myself?
3. Does Radon really cause lung cancer?
4. Do people in Illinois take Radon seriously?
5. My house doesn't have a basement, could I still have high Radon levels?
6. If my house has a high Radon level, is there anything I can do about it?
7. What causes indoor air problems?
8. How does indoor air affect your health?
9. Does your home have an indoor air quality (IAQ) problem?
10. Which of the following are pollutant sources?
11. What can I do to improve the air in my home?
12. Do schools need to test for radon?