How to Improve Indoor Air Quality This Winter

A cat lying on a couch next to a round air purifier on a small table and a tall plant in a room corner — Credit:
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Winter's chilly temperatures, wet weather, and gusty winds make staying inside an enticing option. But additional time spent indoors means prolonged exposure to your home's indoor air quality, making it more important than ever to prioritize the health of your home.

Poor air quality can cause a host of issues, from respiratory irritation to mold growth. Luckily, it’s easy to control your home’s air quality with a few simple habits. Ahead, home maintenance experts share their tips for improving indoor air quality, from vacuuming regularly to installing new air filters, so your air stays fresh until spring returns.

Gary McCoy, store manager for Lowe's
Lane Dixon, vice president of operations at Aire Serv, a Neighborly company

The Benefits of Improving Indoor Air Quality

During the winter, homeowners focus on conserving energy by keeping their homes tightly sealed. But keeping warm air in means you're also keeping in germs, allergens, and pollutants. "Poor indoor air quality often includes elevated allergens or pollutants, stale or stuffy air, excessive moisture or dryness, inadequate ventilation, and the need for frequent dusting—all of which can negatively affect your comfort, health, and even your home," says Lane Dixon, vice president of operations at Aire Serv, a Neighborly company. Healthy indoor air has low levels of pollutants, ideal humidity levels, and is filtered efficiently—all of which benefit your health and overall comfort.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

To keep the air in your home fresh and clean throughout winter, our experts recommend making the following adjustments.

Open Windows

Boosting fresh air and circulation within your home is one of the most effective ways to improve indoor air quality. The best option is also the easiest: Open your windows. "Even a few minutes of cross-ventilation each day helps refresh the home," says Gary McCoy, store manager for Lowe's. "Opening windows brings in fresh air and pushes pollutants out, improving overall air quality. It works best in living areas, kitchens, and bathrooms."

Install a Ventilation System

For a year-round solution that improves air quality even when it's too cold to open a window, consider a whole-house ventilation system. "Optimal airflow [helps] to prevent stale air and pollutants from building up," says Dixon. "Aside from keeping your windows open all the time, whole-house ventilation is the best way to replace stuffy, stale indoor air with fresh, clean outdoor air."

Use Exhaust Fans

If you can't invest in a whole-house system, experts also suggest using exhaust fans throughout your home for targeted ventilation that improves indoor air quality. "Run the bathroom exhaust fan when you shower and clean; flip on the kitchen range vent when you cook and clean; and turn on the laundry room exhaust vent when clothes are drying," says Dixon. "These habits help you eliminate pollutants at the source."

The filters built into your HVAC system, humidifiers, and air purifiers work behind the scenes to improve indoor air quality. However, to keep them working most efficiently, you need to regularly change their filters. "Fresh HVAC or purifier filters trap dust, allergens, and particles before they circulate," says McCoy. "Replace them regularly—typically every one to three months—to keep air cleaner throughout the home."

Clean Ducts

Like filters, air ducts also collect dust and debris that impact their efficiency. "Over time, dust, mold, and debris accumulate in your air ducts, which can circulate allergens and pollutants throughout your home and even affect proper airflow throughout the home and HVAC equipment," says Dixon. "Regular duct cleaning helps maintain a healthier living space and improves the overall efficiency of your HVAC system."

Limit Fragrances

You may think your scented candles and room sprays are freshening your indoor air, but the opposite is true: They're adding pollutants masked by a pleasant aroma. "Choose fragrance-free products or use scents sparingly," says McCoy. “Reducing scented sprays, candles, and plug-ins helps cut down on airborne synthetic chemicals; this is especially important in smaller or less-ventilated rooms."

Vacuum Regularly

Sticking to a consistent cleaning schedule allows you to catch dirt, dust, and allergens before they accumulate. "Vacuuming often removes dust, pet hair, and allergens before they circulate through the air, helping keep indoor spaces cleaner and healthier," says McCoy. "It’s especially effective in high-traffic areas, homes with pets, and carpeted rooms. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter boosts results."

Control Humidity

Managing your home's moisture levels allow you to avoid the drawbacks of air that is too damp or too dry. Humidifiers add moisture to dry air, mitigating dry skin and winter colds, while dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from areas prone to mold or mildew growth, says Dixon.

The ideal humidity range is 30 to 50 percent. "Keeping humidity in the ideal range helps prevent mold growth and reduces dust mites, both of which affect air quality," says McCoy. "Use dehumidifiers in damp areas and humidifiers in dry rooms to maintain balance and improve comfort throughout the home."

Install UV Lights

Upgrade your HVAC system with UV lights. "UV light technology can be installed into your HVAC system to kill bacteria, viruses, and mold that may be circulating through your ducts," says Dixon. "This added layer of protection ensures that the air you breathe is not only clean but also free from harmful microorganisms."