Three important strategies for improving indoor air quality are use of air cleaners, ventilation improvements, and source control.

Usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. Some sources, like those that contain asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed; others, like gas stoves, can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions.

Although air cleaners can be useful, people with a sensitivity to particular sources of indoor air pollution may find that air cleaners are helpful only in conjunction with concerted efforts to remove the source.

In many cases, source control is a more cost-efficient approach to protecting indoor air quality than increasing ventilation because increasing ventilation can increase energy costs.

To learn more about specific sources of indoor air pollution in your home, click here.