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Santa Barbara Real Estate Blog

How To Improve the Indoor Air Quality of Your Home

March 31, 2025

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With springtime pollen triggering allergies and concerns about viruses lingering, indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a top priority for homeowners. The air we breathe inside our homes has never been more critical, and today’s luxury homeowners are increasingly investing in high-end air filtration systems to protect their health. But clean air systems are just the beginning. Whether you’re in Santa Barbara, Montecito, or anywhere else, improving your indoor air quality requires a multifaceted approach.

The large sleek, white living room of a luxury home with a vauklted ceiling and large sliding glass panes that allow clean air to circulate.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters

Many homeowners are unaware that the air inside your home can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside, often leading to discomforts such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, and sneezing. Even more concerning, prolonged exposure to these hidden pollutants can increase the risk of serious long-term health issues, including chronic respiratory conditions and cardiovascular disease. That’s why protecting your indoor air quality is not just about enhancing comfort—it’s essential for safeguarding your family’s health.

Maintaining healthier air indoors starts with improving ventilation. Many everyday household items, such as cleaning products, air fresheners, adhesives, permanent markers, cosmetics, and paints, release high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can significantly degrade indoor air quality. While indoor air is continually refreshed through natural infiltration, Santa Barbara homeowners should take extra steps to control this pollution.

Know Your AQI

To better understand the air quality inside and outside your home, it’s helpful to know about the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is a numerical scale from 0 to 500 that reflects how clean or polluted the air is. The higher the number, the worse the air quality. The AQI takes into account five major pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act:

  • Ground-level ozone
  • Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Nitrogen dioxide

In Santa Barbara County, two primary pollutants raise concern: ozone (a major component of smog) and particulate matter, which can be generated by vehicle emissions, industrial pollutants, and even everyday household activities like cooking and burning wood. To monitor real-time AQI in our area, check AirNow. But knowing your home’s AQI is just the start. Here are some simple yet effective ways to create a healthier home environment.

A family in their luxury living room with an AI representation of an air purfier.
Image courtesy of Dyson

Enter Air Purifiers

To improve the air inside your home, think air purifiers. They’re no longer just trendy gadgets—they’re essential tools for maintaining a healthy home. However, not all air purifiers are created equal. Avoid ozone-generating air purifiers, which can introduce harmful ozone levels into your home. Instead, choose a mechanical or electronic air purifier that emits less than 0.050 parts per million of ozone. Check out a recent article from Architectural Digest”: 12 Best Air Purifiers for Clean Breathing.

Look for these features:

  • HEPA filters: High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters capture 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.
  • Activated carbon filters: These are effective at removing odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
  • UV-C technology: Ultraviolet-C light helps neutralize airborne pathogens.

Even the best HVAC systems can become ineffective if the air filter is dirty or too thin. A clogged filter reduces airflow and allows pollutants to circulate throughout your home.

Pro Tip: Opt for a filter with a MERV rating of 10 or higher if you want to trap smaller particles, including pet dander and fine dust. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value—the higher the rating, the better the filtration. If you have pets, allergies, or live in a wildfire-prone area, consider changing your filter every 30-60 days for optimal performance.

A graphic interpretation of air flow in a home's ventilation system.
Kobraklb, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Home Ventilation System

For homeowners who want a more advanced solution, a whole-home ventilation system can provide consistent, clean air. These systems bring in filtered fresh air while exhausting stale air.

Types of whole-home systems include:

  • Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs): These systems exchange indoor and outdoor air while minimizing energy loss.
  • Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs): Similar to HRVs, but they also control humidity, making them ideal for regions with varying climates.

A whole-home system offers year-round comfort and consistently clean air, making it a worthwhile investment for luxury homeowners.

Vacuum Regularly

Vacuuming regularly helps reduce dust, pet dander, and other allergens—but only if you’re using the right vacuum. Some bagless vacuums tend to recirculate dust into the air, negating their effectiveness.

What to look for:

  • A vacuum with a HEPA filter that traps fine particles.
  • Additional filters, such as activated carbon or charcoal, for odor control.
  • Models like Miele or Dyson that offer superior filtration technology.
A kitchen and adjacent keeping room with high ceilings and French doors open to the backyard.

Let the Fresh Air In

One of the easiest and most effective ways to enhance the air quality inside your home is by allowing fresh air to circulate. In Santa Barbara, our Mediterranean climate offers a unique advantage, making it possible to open windows and doors comfortably throughout the year.

Fresh airflow helps to lower the concentration of airborne viruses, bacteria, and harmful toxins that might linger indoors, especially in areas with high foot traffic or frequent cleaning. Proper ventilation reduces the chances of mold and mildew buildup by allowing moisture to escape.

Make it a habit to open doors and windows for 10-15 minutes daily to allow fresh air to circulate and dilute any built-up pollutants. Also, open your windows after cooking, cleaning, or using household chemicals. If there’s smoke from wildfires or high pollution outside, keep windows closed and rely on your air purifier.

In today’s real estate market, a healthy home isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have. That’s why clean air systems have become the new status symbol in luxury homes, offering peace of mind, health benefits, and a higher quality of life. For those buying or selling in Santa Barbara and Montecito, homes equipped with advanced air filtration systems command premium prices.


Wouldn’t it be great to enjoy clean indoor air in a home that’s just minutes from the beach, with fresh ocean breezes and breathtaking views? If you’re thinking about buying or selling in Santa Barbara, give me a call at (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. Your dream home—with clean, fresh air—is waiting!


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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch