Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the health and comfort of the air inside your home. The EPA estimates indoor air is typically 2–5 times more polluted than outdoor air — and for Alaskans who spend 90% of their time inside, that number matters enormously.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a broad term describing the characteristics of air inside and around buildings as they relate to the health and comfort of occupants. Good IAQ means your air is free from harmful concentrations of pollutants, at appropriate temperature and humidity, and properly ventilated with fresh outdoor air.
The EPA has consistently found that indoor air pollutant levels are 2–5 times higher than outdoor levels — and in some cases up to 100 times higher in poorly maintained buildings. Given that Americans spend roughly 90% of their time indoors, the cumulative health impact of poor IAQ is substantial.
For Anchorage residents, who spend even more time indoors due to Alaska's long winters, understanding and measuring IAQ is especially important.
Get Your IAQ Measured FreeEPA research consistently shows indoor air is far more polluted than outdoor air — even in urban environments. Sealed Alaska homes amplify this effect.
The air quality of your home, workplace, and school matters more than outdoor air quality for the vast majority of your daily exposure.
The EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top environmental health risks facing the public — yet most homes have never been tested.
IAQ is not a single measurement — it's a composite of multiple pollutant categories, each with different sources, health effects, and solutions. Here's what matters most in Anchorage homes.
Gases emitted by hundreds of household products: paint, varnishes, cleaning products, adhesives, new furniture, and building materials. Short-term exposure causes headaches and eye irritation; long-term exposure is linked to organ damage and some cancers.
Fine particles 2.5 microns or smaller from cooking, candles, combustion appliances, and wildfire smoke. PM2.5 bypasses your body's defenses and deposits in lung tissue, causing cardiovascular and respiratory disease with cumulative exposure.
A natural byproduct of human respiration. In poorly ventilated spaces, CO₂ builds up rapidly. Levels above 1,000 ppm cause measurable cognitive impairment and fatigue; above 2,500 ppm causes headaches and drowsiness.
Both too-low and too-high humidity create problems. Below 30%, respiratory membranes dry out and viral transmission increases. Above 60%, mold and dust mites flourish. Alaska homes swing between both extremes seasonally.
A naturally occurring radioactive gas from uranium decay in soil and rock. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., behind only smoking. Alaska's geology makes radon a significant and widespread risk in the state.
Mold spores, bacteria, and dust mite allergens thrive in conditions common to Anchorage homes: condensation on cold surfaces, inadequate ventilation, and humidity fluctuations. These are among the most common drivers of indoor allergy symptoms.
Understanding IAQ is the first step. Aurora Air Quality provides every service you need to measure, improve, and maintain healthy air in your Anchorage home.
Professional measurement of all major pollutant categories using calibrated meters and lab-verified analysis.
Learn More →HEPA, UV-C, and activated carbon systems specified and installed for your specific pollutant profile.
Learn More →Filter upgrades, coil cleaning, HRV/ERV installation, and ventilation optimization for Alaska homes.
Learn More →Seasonal protection strategies for Alaska's increasingly active wildfire seasons.
Learn More →Now that you understand what indoor air quality is and why it matters, the next step is knowing the actual numbers in your home. Our IAQ audit gives you real data — not guesses.
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