How can I improve indoor air quality?

Control sources (vent kitchen and baths, limit chemicals, maintain combustion appliances), ventilate with fresh air or an HRV, filter with a good furnace filter or HEPA purifier, and manage humidity.

Do air purifiers work?

A quality HEPA purifier effectively captures dust, pollen, smoke, and fine particles in the room it serves — useful for allergies and during wildfire smoke. It complements, not replaces, source control and ventilation.

Indoor Air Quality Guide | theHomework.ca

We spend most of our time indoors, where air can be more polluted than outside. Improving indoor air quality comes down to a few levers: control the sources, ventilate, filter, and manage humidity.

Control the sources

The most effective step is reducing pollutants at the source: vent the kitchen and bathrooms outside, avoid harsh chemical products and excessive fragrances, keep combustion appliances maintained and vented, and don't smoke indoors. Test for radon in higher-risk areas.

Ventilate

Fresh air dilutes indoor pollutants. Open windows when weather and air quality allow, run exhaust fans, and in tight homes an HRV supplies continuous fresh air. Good ventilation also controls the humidity and CO2 that build up in sealed homes.

Filter and manage humidity

A good furnace filter (and a portable HEPA purifier in key rooms) captures dust, pollen, and fine particles — valuable during wildfire smoke season in BC. Keep humidity in a healthy range to discourage mould and dust mites. Together these make a real difference for allergies and comfort.

Indoor Air Quality Guide

Control the sources

Ventilate

Filter and manage humidity

Frequently asked questions