The Whole-House Air Quality Strategy: Beyond the Bedroom

Most people start with one purifier in the bedroom. That's the right starting point—but it's only one room. If you're serious about protecting your family from landfill air, you need a whole-house strategy that addresses every space where you spend time.

Why the Bedroom-Only Approach Falls Short

Adults spend 7–8 hours in the bedroom. That leaves 16+ hours in other parts of the home—kitchen, living room, home office, basement. If those spaces have elevated PM2.5 or VOC levels, you're still receiving significant exposure despite having a clean bedroom.

Kids are often awake and active in play areas, living rooms, and kitchens for much of the day. A bedroom purifier doesn't protect them while they're playing in the living room.

Mapping Your Time and Space

Before buying more equipment, map where you actually spend time. For one week, log your primary location each hour. Most people find they spend time in 3–5 distinct zones: master bedroom, living/family room, kitchen, home office, kids' rooms.

Each zone that is a closed room or semi-closed space (separated by a door) needs its own air purifier. Open-plan spaces can be handled with a single larger unit.

The Kitchen: Your Biggest Indoor Pollutant Source

Here's a fact that surprises most people: cooking is a massive source of PM2.5 and VOCs—often larger than outdoor infiltration on a typical day. Gas cooking adds nitrogen dioxide and combustion particles. Even electric cooking generates significant PM2.5 from oil aerosolization.

Your range hood is your first line of defense. If it vents outside (not recirculating), use it every time you cook on high heat. If it recirculates, consider upgrading to a vented model, or add a standalone purifier in the kitchen positioned to capture cooking smoke before it spreads.

The Living Room Strategy

In an open-plan home, the living room purifier does double duty: handling both infiltrated outdoor pollutants and indoor pollution from the kitchen. Size it generously—for a 400–600 sq ft open plan, aim for a purifier with 300+ CADR.

Basement and Crawlspace

Basements and crawlspaces are often the first point of entry for soil gases (including landfill-related VOCs that migrate through soil). If you have a basement, consider it a high-priority space—especially if it connects to living areas through unsealed penetrations.

A standalone purifier with heavy carbon filtration in the basement can significantly reduce the VOC load that migrates upstairs. Also ensure your basement is properly sealed at the foundation sill, utility penetrations, and sump pit cover.

Building Your Multi-Room System

Start with the bedroom. Add a living room unit. Then add office/additional bedrooms. Sequence your investment based on where you spend the most cumulative hours—not just nights. Track results with a monitor you move between rooms.