The three most important factors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that will improve your indoor air quality are controlling the source, ventilation and cleaning the air. Continual practice of these steps may not necessarily protect you and your family from all conceivable health hazards, but they will markedly improve indoor air quality.

Controlling the Source

It is common for homeowners to overlook many of the sources of home pollution that degrade indoor air quality. For instance, are you aware that a burning candle can emit pollution? More commonly known sources include tobacco smoke and burning wood in and smoke from a fireplace. Other sources include carbon monoxide produced by gas-powered equipment, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from chemicals found in cleaners and paints, and mold.

Regardless of the source, controlling it is a low-cost and effective means of improving indoor air quality. Source control can include using monitors, like carbon monoxide detectors, to assess pollution levels, as well as monitoring the aforementioned sources of air pollution when used. For instance, giving your fireplace regular inspections to ensure ventilation will decrease its impact on indoor air. If you're painting, make sure there is enough ventilation (or paint outside) to avoid exposure to paint fumes.

Improving Ventilation

Another way way to improve air quality is through ventilation, bringing the fresh air from the outside to the inside of your home. This can be accomplished in a few ways:

• Opening windows and doors.
• Using fans vented directly to the outdoors in the kitchen and bathroom areas.
• Installing a whole-house ventilation system that will provide a balance of supply air and exhaust air.

Cleaning the Air

The third approach to improved air is to use a mechanical air-cleaning system. Both table-top model and whole-house system are an option, with the latter able to clean all of the air in your home. Ensure that the system you select includes technology that can attack the class (or classes) of pollutants that you need it to, either particulates, bioaerosols, or VOCs.

For help improving indoor air quality, contact Tri-County Heating & Cooling. Serving Great Cincinnati residents since 1969.

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