Improving the Air in Your Home

Updated Sept. 13, 2022

Stay Safe from COVID-19

COVID-19 can spread when a sick person breathes out air.
The COVID-19 virus may be in the air they breathe out.
Someone else can get COVID-19 by breathing in this air.
Clear and filter the air when other people are in your home.
Clear and filter the air in your home to stay safe from COVID-19.

Guests are visiting the home. Everyone is wearing a mask. The door and window of the home are opened wide.

Clearing the Air Helps Stop COVID-19

Let in air from outside to clear the air in your home.
Open doors to let in air from outside.
Open doors as wide as you can do safely.
Open windows to let in air from outside.
Open windows as wide as you can do safely.

A woman is in the kitchen opening the fridge. The ceiling fan is on, the exhaust fan over oven is on, and the air conditioning window unit is on..

Use fans to clear the air in your home.
Turn on the exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen.
Use a fan to blow air out an open window.
Turn on ceiling fans.

Filtering the Air Helps Stop COVID-19

Heating and air conditioning systems help filter the air in your home.

Some heating and air conditioning systems have thermostats.
Turn the thermostat fan to “on” instead of “auto.”

Some heating and air conditioning systems have filters.
Use a pleated filter.
Change the filter every 3 months.
Ask a professional if you need help.

A HEPA filter is filtering the air in the home.

Portable air cleaners also help filter the air in your home.
The best portable air cleaners are called “HEPA” cleaners.
HEPA cleaners can be found online or in hardware stores.