HVAC Basics: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
By Anne Fonda with expert review by Sean Goddard, Product Manager, Coils & Indoor Air Quality
Did you know that your home’s indoor air quality may not be as healthy as you would like? High humidity, poor ventilation, and more frequent allergy and asthma symptoms can affect your health and comfort. The good news is that you can improve your home’s IAQ. Let’s explore.
Indoor air quality facts.
The air you breathe each day inside your home can have a big effect on your health and comfort. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
- We spend 90% of our time indoors.
- Exposure to indoor air pollution ranks among the top 5 environmental dangers.
- Pollutants can be 2-5X higher in indoor air vs. outdoor air.
What are some poor indoor air quality factors?
Many factors can affect the air quality in your home, some of which you can’t see,
making indoor air quality solutions even more important.
Dust & Dirt
Pollen
Mold
Fiber & Lint
Pet Dander
Bacteria
What is the impact of indoor pollutants?
- According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), allergens like dust, dirt, pollen, and pet dander can cause a runny nose, sneezing, congestion, eye irritation, and exacerbate asthma.
- The EPA says high humidity (60% or above) can allow mold and dust mites to thrive to unhealthy levels. High humidity can make it harder to breathe, and mold can cause respiratory symptoms as well as damage to your home.
- Poor ventilation can lead to excessive dust, stale air, condensation, buildup of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and mold and mildew growth. These problems, in turn, can lead to headaches, sneezing, congestion, and more.
So, what's a homeowner to do?
Use an indoor air quality monitor
An indoor air monitoring device like the Awair Element can help you identify the pollutants that can compromise your health and comfort. Contact a Trane dealer to discuss the best solutions for your home.
“Homeowners often overlook how crucial indoor air quality is to their family's health and comfort. With the Awair Element integrated into their Trane HVAC system and Trane smart thermostat, they gain real-time insights into temperature, humidity, and pollutants. This smart device empowers them to maintain a healthier living environment, providing peace of mind and optimal comfort.”
- David Lothe, Communications and Accessories Product Manager
If you already have a whole-house humidifier/dehumidifier, whole-house ventilator, or a whole-house air cleaner, the Awair Element integrates with your HVAC system to automatically adjust the humidity, ventilation, or air cleaning cycle.
Air Factors
Get insight into how your indoor air quality measures up against indoor air factors, like humidity, dust, and carbon dioxide.
Smart home compatibility
Many indoor air monitors are compatible with smart home systems like Amazon Alexa®, Google Home®, and Samsung SmartThings®.
Improve air habits
Use the information from your indoor air monitor to adjust your air habits, like regularly changing the air filter in your HVAC system.
How to improve indoor air quality: Reduce pollutants and control humidity
There are several simple steps you can take each day to keep your air healthier. Implement these steps in each room of your home to address air health. There are whole-house solutions that can help improve your air quality, as well.
- Avoid smoking indoors.
- Install one or more carbon monoxide alarms if you have a gas furnace, gas stove, fireplace, or gas water heater.
- Have a professional inspect your furnace, fireplace, and chimney seasonally for issues.
- Reduce dust and allergens with better HVAC air filters or a whole-house air cleaner to reduce allergy symptoms and asthma flare-ups.
- Control high humidity to inhibit mold growth.
- Open windows and ventilate spaces when using cleaning products or other chemicals. Consider a whole-house ventilator if you have recurring problems with smells that linger or a feeling of stale air.
- Install a smart thermostat that measures indoor humidity and adjusts heating and cooling in real-time.
“Trane offers an array of products that allow homeowners to take a comprehensive approach to pollutant and irritant mitigation. Our suite of indoor air quality products expertly pairs with your Trane HVAC system, helping to ensure optimal comfort all year round.”
- Sean Goddard, Product Manager, Coils & Indoor Air Quality
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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.
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