It is important for all homeowners to understand indoor air quality and mildew elimination. The primary cause of indoor air quality problems for homeowners is indoor pollution sources that release gases and particles into the air. Although it’s an uncommon problem, homeowners may experience inadequate air flow problems in the home due to poor ventilation that can increase pollutants. High humidity and temperatures may also be factors.

The ventilation of outdoor air is important for homes because it can help filter out indoor pollutants that may already be in the home causing adverse health effects to its inhabitants. The two forces must work in tandem to create optimal air quality and mildew reduction.

To improve air quality, homeowners must adopt the following strategies:

  1. Air Cleaners - Air cleaners can be effective solutions to air quality and mildew issues in the home, depending on how well pollutants are collected from indoor air and the amount of air it filters at a time. Maintenance of the air filter will directly impact the effectiveness of the air cleaner. Whatever the pollution source may be, (air conditioning unit, oven or stove, refrigerator, etc.), the air cleaner must be able to absorb its pollutants more effectively than the source's output.
  2. Improved Ventilation - Improved ventilation increases indoor air quality and mildew removal. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, "Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house. Opening windows and doors, operating window or attic fans, when the weather permits, or running a window air conditioner with the vent control open increases the outdoor ventilation rate. Bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors remove contaminants directly from the room where the fan is located and also increase the outdoor air ventilation rate."
  3. Source Control - Air quality and mildew reduction in the home must be managed by controlling the source of indoor pollutants. Although compact and powerful, table-top air cleaners may not completely remove source pollutants because of their size. In some cases, the source of indoor pollutants may have to be removed while using an air cleaner.

Using these strategies, all homeowners will be able to effectively maintain a healthy standard of living, indoor air quality and reduction of harmful indoor toxins.