Indoor Air Quality in Crystal Lake, IL

Your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) May Be Worse Than You Think

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. With most people spending the majority of their time indoors, especially during long Midwest winters, indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a major role in overall health and comfort. At Althoff Home Services, we help residents in Crystal Lake and the surrounding Chicago suburbs identify and resolve IAQ issues to create cleaner, healthier living environments.

Common sources of indoor air pollution include dust, pet dander, mold spores, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), smoke, and even bacteria or viruses. Without proper ventilation and filtration, these pollutants accumulate in your home’s air and can aggravate allergies, trigger asthma, and contribute to headaches, fatigue, or respiratory discomfort.

Poor IAQ doesn’t just affect your health, it can also compromise HVAC efficiency and lead to problems like dry air in winter or excess humidity in summer. That’s why Althoff Home Services offers comprehensive solutions to address the full range of air quality concerns. Our services include:

• Air purifiers and filtration systems to trap airborne contaminants
• Whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers to balance moisture levels
• Duct testing and sealing to eliminate dust and improve airflow
• HRVs and ERVs for improved fresh air ventilation without energy waste
• Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to keep your home safe

We take a whole-home approach to indoor air quality, starting with a detailed assessment of your current conditions. Whether your home suffers from stale air, persistent odors, or visible dust buildup, our team can recommend targeted improvements and install the right systems for lasting results.

As a family-owned company trusted since 1961, Althoff Home Services is committed to helping you breathe easier with honest advice, top-tier products, and expert workmanship.

Contact Althoff Home Services today to schedule an IAQ consultation and take the first step toward cleaner, healthier air in your home.

Common Problems From Poor Indoor Air Quality

Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can lead to a range of issues that impact your health, comfort, and home efficiency. At Althoff Home Services, we help homeowners in Crystal Lake and the surrounding Chicago suburbs recognize these problems and take corrective action with proven IAQ solutions. Here are some of the most common problems caused by poor indoor air:

• Increased Allergy and Asthma Symptoms: Airborne pollutants like dust, pollen, mold spores, and pet dander can trigger sneezing, coughing, sinus congestion, and asthma flare-ups, especially without effective filtration or ventilation.
• Unbalanced Humidity Levels: Excess humidity can lead to mold growth, wood damage, and musty odors. Dry air, particularly in winter, can cause dry skin, irritated sinuses, static shocks, and damage to wood furnishings.
• Disrupted Sleep and Reduced Focus: High levels of carbon dioxide or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can affect sleep quality, concentration, and overall mental clarity.
• Carbon Monoxide and Safety Hazards: Poor IAQ can increase the risk of exposure to harmful gases like carbon monoxide. Installing reliable detectors is critical for home safety.
• Stale Air and Unpleasant Odors: Without fresh air exchange through systems like HRVs or ERVs, indoor air becomes stale and may develop lingering odors.
• Strain on HVAC Systems: Poor airflow from leaky ducts or dirty filters makes your system work harder, reducing efficiency, increasing energy bills, and shortening equipment lifespan.

Althoff Home Services offers a full range of indoor air quality services including air purifiers, air filtration systems, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, HRVs/ERVs, duct testing and sealing, and safety detectors to help you breathe healthier air and enjoy a more comfortable home.

Contact Althoff Home Services today to schedule your IAQ consultation and start improving your home’s air quality.

Best Options for Improving Your IAQ

Improving your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of the most impactful steps you can take to enhance comfort, protect your health, and support energy efficiency. At Althoff Home Services, we offer a wide range of advanced IAQ solutions designed to meet the specific needs of homeowners in Crystal Lake and the surrounding Chicago suburbs. Whether you’re dealing with dry air, stale odors, allergens, or poor ventilation, we can help you breathe easier.

Here are some of the most effective options for improving your IAQ:

Air Purifiers and Filtration Systems

These systems capture airborne pollutants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and bacteria. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and whole-home purification units work alongside your HVAC system to clean the air throughout your entire home.

Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers

Maintaining the right humidity level (ideally between 30–50%) is key to comfort and respiratory health. Whole-home humidifiers add moisture during dry winter months, while dehumidifiers remove excess humidity in the summer to prevent mold and mildew.

Energy Recovery and Heat Recovery Ventilators (ERVs & HRVs)

Proper ventilation is essential for flushing out stale air and bringing in fresh, filtered air. ERVs and HRVs exchange indoor air with outdoor air while preserving energy, making them ideal for tightly sealed, energy-efficient homes.

Duct Testing and Sealing

Leaky or poorly connected ducts can circulate pollutants and waste energy. Our duct testing and sealing services ensure clean, efficient airflow, reducing contaminants and improving system performance.

Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors

Safety is a critical part of indoor air quality. We install and maintain advanced detectors to alert you to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide or smoke, offering peace of mind for you and your family.

At Althoff Home Services, we take a whole-home approach to IAQ, offering expert guidance, top-tier products, and professional installation tailored to your needs.

Contact Althoff Home Services today to find the right indoor air quality solutions for a healthier, more comfortable home.

We Offer Duct Services as Well

When it comes to indoor air quality and HVAC system performance, your ductwork plays a critical role. Even the most efficient heating or cooling system can’t perform at its best if your ductwork is leaking or poorly sealed. That’s why Althoff Home Services offers professional duct services, including duct testing and duct sealing, for homeowners in Crystal Lake and the surrounding Chicago suburbs.

Over time, small leaks, gaps, or disconnected sections in your ductwork can develop, allowing conditioned air to escape into unconditioned spaces like attics, basements, or crawlspaces. This results in energy waste, uneven temperatures throughout the home, and higher utility bills. It also makes your system work harder, potentially shortening its lifespan.

With our duct testing services, we use specialized equipment to measure airflow and identify problem areas in your ductwork. This diagnostic step is essential in determining whether your ducts are operating efficiently or contributing to poor indoor air quality and performance issues.

If problems are found, our duct sealing services are the next step. We use proven sealing techniques and materials to close up leaks and secure connections, ensuring air flows where it’s supposed to. Properly sealed ducts reduce energy waste, improve indoor comfort, and help keep pollutants like dust, allergens, and mold spores from entering your living spaces.

Sealed ducts also support better performance from your air purifiers, filtration systems, humidifiers, and ventilators. When your ductwork is airtight and properly balanced, the rest of your IAQ equipment can function more effectively, leading to cleaner, healthier air throughout your home.

We take a whole-home approach to comfort and indoor air quality. Our duct services are just one of many ways we help you maintain a healthier, more energy-efficient home environment.

Contact Althoff Home Services today to schedule professional duct testing and sealing for improved comfort, efficiency, and air quality.

Trust Professionals When It Comes to IAQ Services

Improving and maintaining your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) isn’t something you should leave to chance. It requires expert insight, high-performance equipment, and a strategic understanding of how air moves through your home. At Althoff Home Services, we provide professional IAQ services for homeowners in Crystal Lake and the surrounding Chicago suburbs, helping create healthier, safer, and more comfortable living environments year-round.

Our experienced technicians know how to assess and address a wide range of air quality challenges, from allergens and pollutants to excess moisture or stale air. We take a comprehensive approach, recommending integrated solutions that may include whole-home air purifiers and filtration systems to remove airborne contaminants, humidifiers and dehumidifiers to balance moisture levels, and energy or heat recovery ventilators (ERVs and HRVs) to improve air exchange without sacrificing energy efficiency. We also install and maintain carbon monoxide and smoke detectors for safety and provide duct testing and sealing to ensure that clean air circulates efficiently through your home.

Beyond installation, ongoing IAQ system maintenance is essential. Filters must be replaced, mechanical parts checked, and sensors tested to keep your equipment running efficiently and reliably. A well-maintained IAQ system not only performs better, it also helps extend the life of your HVAC equipment and ensures year-round comfort.

When you choose Althoff Home Services, you’re working with a family-owned company that’s been trusted by homeowners since 1961. We pride ourselves on our honest service, expert workmanship, and commitment to your comfort and health. Our team takes the time to explain your options and deliver tailored solutions that truly make a difference in your indoor air quality.

Contact Althoff Home Services today and trust our IAQ professionals to help you breathe easier, safer, and more comfortably.