By Anne Fonda 

How much do you know about indoor air quality (IAQ)? Did you know that according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), common pollutants can make some indoor air 2-5 times more polluted than the outdoor air? Since you and your family spend so much time in your home, ensuring the air you breathe is free of contaminants and optimized for your health is a worthwhile cause. 

Here, you’ll find resources (broken down by category) on how to monitor indoor air quality, why maintaining healthy humidity levels is important, and how whole-house solutions can improve the IAQ in every room of your home.  

Wondering what the indoor air quality is like in your home? The first step is an air quality assessment, or purchasing an air quality monitor. Once you know what the potential issues are, you can take steps to improve your indoor air quality. 

The easiest thing you can do to improve indoor air quality and HVAC system performance is to change your air filters regularly. Learn more with these resources. 

According to the EPA, the ideal indoor humidity for comfort and health is between 30% and 50%. While your air conditioner or heat pump dehumidifies the air as it runs, sometimes that’s not enough, and humidity levels inside your home can creep up to an uncomfortable and potentially hazardous level. Low humidity can also cause home and health problems.  

Learn more about optimizing humidity with a whole-house humidity control solution. 

It’s easy to forget about your home’s ductwork, since it is mostly hidden in the walls, ceiling, attic, basement, or crawlspace of your home. Over time, dust and debris can collect in your ductwork. Ducts can also deteriorate or separate at the joints or where they meet.  

Check out these resources to see if duct cleaning, duct sealing, or duct replacement might be necessary. 

While a good HVAC air filter can help keep some common pollutants from collecting in your HVAC system or circulating throughout your home, a whole-home purification system goes above and beyond. 

Also known as whole-home air purifiers or whole-house air cleaners, these systems replace a standard air filter and help to improve indoor air quality. These systems can be especially beneficial if you or a loved one has asthma or allergies, if you have pets, or if you live in an area prone to wildfires. 

Ventilation is what the V in HVAC stands for. Poorly ventilated homes may suffer from lingering odors, a feeling of stale air, and other issues. While opening windows can help, sometimes that’s not feasible, or not enough. That’s where a whole-house solution comes into play. 

Your local American Standard dealer offers more than just your basic heating and cooling equipment. They can perform an indoor air quality assessment to measure the levels of humidity, pollutants, airflow, and more. Once they pinpoint any issues, they will offer you a whole-house solution to improve your indoor air quality and protect your family. 

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A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need. 

She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.  

When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.