What is improving indoor airflow?

Improving indoor airflow can help prevent the spread of infections. To do it, you can bring fresh air inside, move indoor air outside, or filter indoor air.

Why improve indoor airflow?

Improving indoor airflow can help reduce the amount of viruses in indoor air. This helps prevent the spread of infections such as COVID-19 and the flu (influenza).

You may want to improve your indoor airflow more during cold and flu season or if you have visitors in your home. Improving indoor airflow can help if someone in your home is at risk of serious infections or if someone living in your home is sick.

How can you improve indoor airflow?

Here are some ways to improve airflow in your home. Using more than one approach can help prevent the spread of infections even more. Choose what will work for you.

• Bring fresh air inside.
  • Open windows and doors if you can. Even opening them slightly, for a few minutes every hour can help.
  • Leave windows open after visitors leave.
  • Create a cross breeze by opening windows or doors on opposite sides of a room.
  • Keep weather and safety in mind. For example, you might not open windows if there's a high risk that someone could fall out or if the air quality outside is poor, such as smoky or polluted.
• Move indoor air outside.
  • Turn on the exhaust fan in washrooms and cooking areas.
  • Keep exhaust fans on even when these rooms aren't being used.
  • Leave the fans on after visitors leave.
  • Use exhaust fans as much as possible if someone in your home is sick.
  • Use other fans to improve airflow and remove air by pointing fans out a window.
• Filter indoor air.
  • If you have a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system with a filter, you can:
    • Switch the thermostat fan to "On" instead of "Auto."
    • Use the highest-rated filter the heating and cooling system can take, MERV 13 or higher if possible.
    • Change your filters regularly. Follow the instructions to replace the filter yourself or ask a professional for help.
    • If you rent or don't manage the HVAC system, check your lease to see whether your landlord or property manager is responsible for the filters. Ask for a MERV 13 or higher filter to be used.
    • Use a portable air cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for changing the filter, where to place the device, and the size of room it’s meant to be used in.
    • You can make your own air cleaner at home out of inexpensive items commonly found at hardware stores.
• When you can, try to:
  • Limit the number of people in your home.
  • Gather in larger areas.
  • Spend more time outside.