This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have health concerns, please consult a medical professional.
What indoor air quality means
Indoor air quality describes the air inside buildings. The EPA notes that indoor levels of some pollutants can be higher than outdoor levels, and most people spend the majority of their time indoors.
Key factors include ventilation, humidity, particulates (like PM2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from products and materials, and biological sources such as mold.
Bay Area factors
Wildfire smoke seasons, damp foggy winters in coastal neighborhoods, older homes with limited ventilation, and newer tightly-sealed construction all affect indoor air differently.
Microclimates mean a home in the Sunset District and one in Walnut Creek can face very different conditions.
Aim for 30–50% relative humidity
The U.S. EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60%, ideally 30–50%.
Good indoor air starts with three things: fresh air in, moisture out and fewer sources.
AirCare 365 · Bay Area
Want real numbers for your home?
Inspection, lab-analyzed air samples and a digital report. $520 online, $0 today.
How testing works
Professional testing combines calibrated readings — humidity, temperature, particulates, and optional VOCs — with air sampling analyzed by a laboratory and an inspector's observations.
Repeat testing shows how your home changes across seasons, which a single snapshot cannot.
Five steps from question to answer
- 1
Inspect
Room-by-room visual check
- 2
Measure
Moisture, humidity, thermal
- 3
Sample
Indoor + outdoor air
- 4
Lab
Independent analysis
- 5
Report
Clear next steps
Want measured information about your home?
AirCare 365 provides indoor air quality and mold and indoor air quality testing across the Bay Area.
Sources
Serving San Francisco, San Mateo, Menlo Park, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Oakland, Fremont and the rest of the Bay Area.
Read next
- Indoor Humidity Levels: What Range to Aim For
- Wildfire Smoke and Indoor Air in the Bay Area
- How to Test Air Quality in Your Home
- Mold Spores: What They Are, Where They Hide in Bay Area Homes, and How to Test for Them
Looking for a visit? Explore Bay Area home air quality testing.