Topic 05

Indoor air quality

Indoor air quality is the part of home performance that never shows up on a utility bill, but it is often the biggest reason people notice a difference after upgrades: fewer allergy flare-ups, less musty smell, air that just feels better to breathe.

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It is not just about the energy bill

Sealing a house tightly without addressing ventilation traps pollutants, moisture, and stale air inside. As homes get tighter through air sealing, mechanical ventilation becomes more important, not less. The goal is control: bring in fresh air on purpose instead of relying on random leaks to do it for you.

Humidity control in a humid climate

An oversized or leaky HVAC system is one of the most common causes of a house that feels humid even while the AC runs constantly. Getting equipment sizing and duct sealing right does more for comfort here than almost anything else on this list.

Filtration

A higher-MERV filter helps, but only if the system was designed to handle the added resistance. Dropping a restrictive filter into a system not built for it can choke airflow and hurt both comfort and efficiency. Match the filter to the equipment, not the other way around.

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