Indoor air quality (IAQ) is all about how clean the air is inside your home and how it affects your health and comfort.

Since we spend a lot of time indoors, it’s important to keep an eye on this — often, the air inside can be more polluted than outside. On average, concentrations of some pollutants are two to five times higher than they are outdoors .

Poor air quality can lead to health problems like colds, asthma flare-ups, or just feeling tired and rundown. It also affects how comfortable you feel in your space.

By improving the air quality in your home, you're making sure your living environment is healthier and more enjoyable for everyone.

Poor indoor air quality can have a range of effects on your health, some immediate and others long-term.

You might notice symptoms like headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and irritation of your eyes, nose, and throat. If you have asthma or allergies, you could see those conditions worsen.

Over a longer period, continuous exposure to polluted indoor air could lead to more serious health issues, including respiratory diseases, heart disease, and even cancer. Taking action to improve your indoor air quality is key to protecting your health right now and down the line.

Common signs of poor indoor air quality in your home include persistent odors, stuffy or stale air, and noticeable dust buildup around vents and on surfaces.

You might also experience frequent health symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, dizziness, coughing, sneezing, or worsening allergy and asthma symptoms.

If you notice these issues or if you see sources of pollutants like mold, it’s a good idea to look into your home’s air quality and take steps to improve it.

In Michigan homes, common sources of indoor air pollution include mold, asbestos, allergens, cigarette smoke, household cleaning products, and emissions from stoves or heating systems.

Mold can grow in damp areas, releasing spores that worsen allergies and respiratory issues.

Asbestos, often found in older homes, can become a hazard if disturbed during renovations, releasing fibers that are harmful when inhaled.

If you suffer from allergies, it's possible that you have too much outdoor air, which is full of allergens, inside your home. To keep allergens out of your home, it's essential to seal up the air leaks that allow the outdoor air to flow freely indoors.

Addressing these sources is the key to improving indoor air quality and ensuring a healthier home environment.

To check the air quality in your home, it’s a good idea to get a home energy audit, which includes indoor air quality testing.

This audit is especially helpful if you're concerned about allergies and dust.

During the audit, we find out exactly how different areas of your home, such as the main living spaces, crawlspaces, and garage, might be interacting and sharing air. This is important because you don't want to be breathing in air from spaces that could be contaminated or have poor air quality.

An Aware IAQ monitor will be used during the audit, moved around to various rooms to provide a snapshot of the air quality in each area. This comprehensive approach helps you identify and address specific air quality issues effectively.

To book a home energy audit, just give us a call at (248) 291-7815, or send us a message anytime.

The highest priority for indoor air quality, according to EPA guidelines, is source control—essentially keeping pollutants out of your home.

If you have mold, you have to stop the moisture that is causing the mold, then remove it so that the pores cannot continue to make your family sick.

When it comes to allergens, many people think of filters first, but that's actually the last step.

The first step is identifying and sealing air leaks. This is done through an energy audit, which includes using a blower door test to find where outside air is infiltrating your home.

By sealing these leaks, you prevent allergens, moisture, and other pollutants from entering. For instance, if we discover a leaky window or door, we add weatherstripping to block the outdoor air. We also apply two-part spray foam to seal gaps around plumbing, ducting, and electrical fixtures.

Our goal in air sealing isn't to make your home airtight to the point of creating new problems like mold or mildew, but to achieve an optimal balance that improves both air quality and energy efficiency.

After you've tackled the source of indoor pollutants, the next step is to filter the air in your home effectively. Ensuring you have the right size and type of air filter is crucial.

Get the Right Size Air Filter: Start by turning off your HVAC system and opening the filter cabinet. Check the three numbers on the side of your current furnace filter—they represent the size.

It's essential that your filter fits snugly in its cabinet for optimal performance. Keep in mind that nominal sizes of filters (like those listed on the packaging) may not exactly match the actual dimensions, so always verify to ensure proper fit and avoid gaps that compromise filtration.

Go for a High MERV Rating: The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) indicates how effectively a filter can trap particles. For general home use, a MERV 11 filter is often recommended, balancing cost and filtration performance.

However, during periods like allergy season or in high-pollution areas, consider upgrading to a MERV 13 to 16 filter, which can capture up to 95% of indoor particulates, significantly improving your home's air quality.