How to Improve the Indoor Air Quality in Your Home

How to Improve the Indoor Air Quality in Your Home. If your home’s air had a Yelp review, what would it say? “A bit musty, slightly sneeze-inducing, but overall cozy”? While you might not think about it often, the air inside your home could be filled with dust, allergens, pet dander, and even invisible pollutants that affect your health and comfort.

The good news? You don’t have to live in a cloud of mystery particles. There are plenty of simple, effective ways to improve your indoor air quality (IAQ) and create a home that feels fresher, cleaner, and healthier.

Why Is My Indoor Air Quality Poor?

Before you can fix your home’s air, you need to understand what’s lurking in it. Here are some of the biggest indoor air quality offenders:

• Dust & Pet Dander – That fine layer of dust on your bookshelf? It’s not just dust—it’s dead skin cells, pet hair, and whatever else has been floating around.
• Pollen & Outdoor Pollutants – Opening your windows for “fresh air” might actually bring in pollen, smog, and vehicle exhaust.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – These come from household cleaning products, air fresheners, and even furniture.
• Mold & Mildew – Moisture buildup in your home can create the perfect breeding ground for mold, which is not something you want to breathe in daily.

Now that you know what you’re dealing with, let’s talk about how to get rid of it.

How to Improve Your St. Louis Home’s Indoor Air Quality

Upgrade Your Air Filtration

Your HVAC system is your first line of defense when it comes to indoor air quality. The problem? Many homeowners use cheap, low-MERV filters that barely catch anything.

• Standard HVAC Filters (MERV 8-10) – These trap some dust and larger particles but let smaller pollutants slip through.
• High-MERV Filters (MERV 12-16) – These capture much finer particles, including allergens and some bacteria.
• HEPA Filters – If you’re serious about clean air, HEPA filters are the gold standard. They trap 99.97% of particles, down to 0.3 microns.

SmartHouse Smart Tip: Not all HVAC systems can handle HEPA filters due to airflow restrictions, so check with an HVAC expert before upgrading.

Whole-Home Air Purifiers

If you want next-level air quality, consider an air purifier. But don’t just grab a small plug-in model—those only work for single rooms. A whole-home air purifier integrates with your HVAC system to clean the air throughout your home.

• UV Air Purifiers – These zap bacteria, viruses, and mold spores with ultraviolet light.
• Aerus Air Scrubber – This advanced air purification system reduces airborne contaminants and helps keep surfaces cleaner by using ActivePure® Technology, originally developed for NASA.
• Daikin AMPH 250 – A high-efficiency air purifier with multi-stage filtration, including activated carbon to remove odors and chemicals.

Control Humidity

Too much humidity? You get mold, dust mites, and a sticky, uncomfortable home. Too little humidity? Dry skin, irritated sinuses, and static shocks. The sweet spot for indoor humidity is between 30-50%.

• Whole-Home Humidifiers add moisture in winter to prevent dry air problems.
• Dehumidifiers help control excess humidity in the summer or damp areas like basements.

Ventilation

A tightly sealed home is great for energy efficiency, but not so great for air quality. If stale air is trapped inside, pollutants build up over time. The solution? Better ventilation.

• Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) – These bring in fresh outdoor air while filtering out pollutants and keeping indoor temperatures stable.

Chemical Overload

Your cleaning routine might actually be making your air worse. Many household products release VOCs, which contribute to poor indoor air quality.

• Swap harsh chemical cleaners for eco-friendly, non-toxic alternatives.
• Choose unscented or naturally scented candles and air fresheners.
• Opt for low-VOC paints and furniture whenever possible.

SmartHouse Smart Tip: Houseplants can help with air quality, but they’re not a replacement for proper filtration and ventilation.

Ready to Breathe Easier? Let’s Fix Your Indoor Air Quality.

Improving your indoor air quality isn’t just about comfort—it’s about your health, your home’s efficiency, and your overall quality of life. Whether you need a high-performance air purifier, better filtration, or a whole-home humidity control system, SmartHouse has the solutions to keep your air fresh and clean year-round.

Ready to improve the indoor air quality of your St. Louis home? You can call SmartHouse Heating & Cooling at 314-370-1816, text us at 314-310-2242, or schedule an appointment online.