The Healthy Home: Water and Air Quality Fundamentals

If you only change two things in a home, change the water you drink and the air you sleep in. Both are daily-exposure systems, and both can be improved without touching a wall.

For water, certified reverse osmosis removes the broadest range of contaminants. Countertop units require no plumbing, which makes them ideal for rentals, condos, and preconstruction units awaiting closing.

For air, look past coverage claims to filtration class and noise at the setting you would actually run overnight. A purifier too loud for a bedroom becomes a purifier that stays off.

Place air units where air moves — near a return, not in a corner behind drapery — and keep bedroom doors closed during use so the machine works a defined volume.

Filters are the running cost of a healthy home. Budget for them at purchase and set a calendar reminder; performance claims assume maintained media.