Improving Indoor Airflow to Help Prevent Infections

Why is improving indoor airflow important?

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 for 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 and for a few minutes every hour can help.
  • Leave windows open for about an hour 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 it's smoky outside.
• Move indoor air outside.
  • Turn on the exhaust fan in bathrooms and cooking areas.
  • Keep exhaust fans on even when these rooms aren't being used.
  • Leave the fans on for about an hour after visitors leave.
  • Use exhaust fans as much as possible if someone in your home is sick.
  • Use the exhaust fans even if they don't vent to the outside.
  • Use other fans to improve airflow, carefully.
    • Point fans out a window if you can.
    • Point fans away from people. Pointing fans at people can blow air with viruses right at them.
    • Use ceiling fans at a low speed.
• 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 pleated filters.
    • Change your filters regularly. Follow the instructions to replace the filter yourself. Or ask a professional for help.
    • If you rent or don't control the HVAC filters, check your lease agreement to see if the filter system is kept up by the landlord or property manager. If it is, ask how often the filter will be changed.
    • Use a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaner if you can. Choose a HEPA filter that's the right size for the room you're using it in.
• When you can, try to:
  • Limit the number of people in your home.
  • Gather in larger areas.
  • Spend more time outside.