What Is Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality in Missouri?

Common Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

Understanding indoor air pollution sources is the first step toward improving air quality. Many pollutants come from everyday activities and materials inside your Missouri home.

Many household products release gases known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These come from cleaning supplies, air fresheners, paints, adhesives, and even new furniture made from pressed wood that emits formaldehyde. These household chemical pollutants can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat, and some have been linked to serious health concerns.

Choosing low-VOC or natural products can make a noticeable difference. Ventilating well during painting or cleaning also helps reduce exposure.

Combustion appliances produce pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particles. Gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and unvented kerosene space heaters are common sources.

Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous because it is colorless and odorless. Your home should have working carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas. Appliances should be properly vented and inspected regularly. Never use your oven or gas stove to heat your home and avoid running gasoline generators or grills indoors.

Biological pollutants include mold, bacteria, and allergens like dust, pollen, and pet dander. Missouri’s humid summers and pollen-heavy spring and fall seasons create ideal conditions for these to thrive.

Mold and mildew growth often occurs in high-moisture areas like bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces, and around leaks. Dust mites live in carpets, bedding, and upholstery. These pollutants can worsen allergies and trigger asthma symptoms. Regular cleaning, good ventilation, and moisture control can limit their impact.

Polluted outdoor air can enter your home through gaps, cracks, and unsealed openings. In urban areas like Kansas City, vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions are common. Suburban and rural areas deal more with pollen, dust, and agricultural chemicals. Air sealing your home helps keep these external pollutants out.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter your home through the soil and rock beneath your foundation and crawl space. This odorless and colorless gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.

Radon gas is present in every Missouri county, and about one in three Missouri homes tested exceeds the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L. Testing is the only way to know if radon is present in your home’s air.

Tobacco smoke, including secondhand and thirdhand smoke, releases a toxic mix of particles and chemicals that can cause respiratory illness and cancer. Fireplaces or wood-burning stoves without proper ventilation can also release soot and fine particulates. It’s important to prohibit smoking indoors and use properly vented equipment and seasoned, dry wood to help reduce exposure.

If your home was built before 1978, it may contain lead-based paint. As this paint deteriorates or during renovations, it can produce toxic dust that is especially harmful to children.

Asbestos may also be present in insulation, floor tiles, or siding of older homes. If disturbed, fibers can become airborne and cause serious lung disease. These materials should only be handled by trained professionals.

Indoor pollutants come from many sources, including everyday products, outdoor air infiltration, and even the ground beneath your home. The good news is that there are effective steps you can take to reduce them and improve your home’s indoor air quality.

The EPA recommends three main strategies for better IAQ: source control, ventilation, and air cleaning. Let’s look at some practical, homeowner-friendly ways to apply them.

Reducing pollutants at their source is the most effective approach.

• Switch to low-emission and non-toxic products, use natural cleaning solutions like vinegar and baking soda, and avoid smoking or vaping indoors.
• Store gasoline, solvents, and pesticides in tightly sealed containers away from your living areas. Choose GREENGUARD-certified materials, such as low-VOC paints and formaldehyde-free cabinetry and insulation, when remodeling.
• Test for radon and install a mitigation system if levels exceed 4.0 pCi/L. Our state even offers free radon test kits through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
• Don’t forget to install working carbon monoxide alarms near your home’s bedrooms.

Many Missouri homes, especially older ones, have small gaps and cracks that allow outside air and contaminants to freely leak inside. Air sealing is key to improving your home’s energy efficiency and indoor air quality by closing the gaps around your windows, doors, attic, foundation, and utility penetrations. Spray foam insulation is an ideal choice because it seals and insulates in one step, creating a tighter barrier against outdoor air.

It is important to note that air sealing prevents uncontrolled ventilation. Be sure to address pre-existing indoor air issues, moisture problems, and appliance venting issues, and plan proper mechanical insulation, before tightening your home. Remember the adage: “Build tight, ventilate right.”

Once your home is sealed, ventilation becomes essential to cycle fresh air inside and exhaust stale, polluted air outside. Your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, and clothes dryer should vent outdoors. You can also open your windows when conditions allow.

Consider mechanical ventilation for tight homes, such as energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) or heat recovery ventilators (HRVs). ERVs and HRVs are energy-efficient ventilation systems that exchange stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while minimizing energy loss. A combination of sealing and ventilating gives your home the best of both worlds.

Keeping your home’s humidity in check will lessen excess indoor moisture and help prevent mold and dust mites. The ideal humidity control of 30 to 50% is recommended for maximum comfort and health.

Mold is a symptom of a moisture problem. It’s imperative to fix leaks quickly, dry water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours, and use exhaust fans or open windows when cooking or showering. During our humid summer months, use a whole-house dehumidifier or an air conditioner to help address any high indoor humidity problems.

Your HVAC system also plays a key role in your home’s air quality. Use high-quality MERV-rated HVAC filters to trap particles. Don’t forget to replace your filter every one to three months.

Consider a whole-home air purifier with HEPA air filtration for added protection, especially for allergy sufferers. Routine maintenance, such as vacuuming regularly and dusting with a damp cloth, will help prevent issues.

Whether building new or upgrading, think of your home as a system and integrate indoor air quality considerations from the start. Choose low-emission building materials, plan for proper ventilation, and consider radon-resistant construction techniques.

To help maintain a healthy home environment Missouri families can rely on, pair insulation upgrades with moisture management and ventilation. This allows you to enhance efficiency without compromising air quality.

Indoor air quality is a critical part of a healthy home. As a homeowner, you have more control than you might think. Understanding where pollutants come from and taking practical steps makes a real difference.

Simple actions like switching to greener products, sealing air leaks, improving ventilation, and managing humidity provide seasonal allergy relief indoors, improve comfort, and help protect long-term health. In our climate, the right balance of insulation and airflow supports cleaner air and lower energy bills.

If you want expert guidance, a professional home energy and IAQ assessment, or help applying these indoor air quality tips, count on The Hayes Company. Our experienced team helps homeowners improve comfort, reduce pollutants, and boost efficiency with proven insulation and air sealing solutions.

Contact us today to learn how The Hayes Company can help protect your indoor air, your health, and your energy budget for years to come.

References

Adair County Health Department. (n.d.). Indoor air quality. Adair County Local Public Health Agency of Missouri. https://adair.lphamo.org/environmental-services/indoor-air-quality/.

Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Keeping our indoor environment and air healthy. Earthways Center. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/sustainability/sustainability/earthways-center/news-from-the-earthways-center/articleid/1369/keeping-our-indoor-environment-and-air-healthy.

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. (n.d.). Radon. https://health.mo.gov/living/environment/radon/index.php.

Priority Health. (n.d.). Breathe easier: Fight indoor air pollution in your home. Think Health. https://thinkhealth.priorityhealth.com/breathe-easier-fight-indoor-air-pollution-in-your-home/.

Trane Technologies. (Sept. 17, 2025). HVAC air filters: MERV 8 vs MERV 11 vs MERV 13. https://www.trane.com/residential/en/resources/blog/merv-8-vs-merv-11-vs-merv-13/.

UL Solutions. (n.d.). UL GREENGUARD certification. https://www.ul.com/services/ul-greenguard-certification.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Protect your family from lead in your home. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-02/documents/lead_in_your_home_brochure_land_b_w_508_easy_print_0.pdf.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Volatile organic compounds’ impact on indoor air quality.https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Why seal and insulate? Energy Star. https://www.energystar.gov/saveathome/seal_insulate/why-seal-and-insulate.

University of Missouri Extension. (n.d.). Air sealing your home (Publication EM0101). https://extension.missouri.edu/sites/default/files/legacy_media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/Pub/pdf/energymgmt/em0101.pdf.

University of Missouri Extension. (n.d.). Indoor air quality (Publication EM0105). https://extension.missouri.edu/sites/default/files/legacy_media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/Pub/pdf/energymgmt/em0105.pdf.

U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Types of Insulation. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/types-insulation#:~:text=Sprayed%2DFoam%20and%20Foamed%2DIn%2DPlace%20Insulation.

U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Whole-House Ventilation.https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/whole-house-ventilation#:~:text=A%20.gov%20website%20belongs%20to%20an%20official%20government%20organization%20in%20the%20United%20States.&text=There%20are%20two%20types%20of%20energy%2Drecovery%20systems:%20heat%2Drecovery

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.-a). Improving your indoor environment. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/improving-your-indoor-environment.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.-b). Indoor air quality. https://www.epa.gov/air-quality/indoor-air-quality.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.-c). The inside story: A guide to indoor air quality. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/inside-story-guide-indoor-air-quality.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.-d). Interactive tour: Indoor air quality demo house. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/interactive-tour-indoor-air-quality-demo-house.