How to Test Your Indoor Air Quality 4 Things to Look For

Table of Content

• They Use Inherently Less Accurate Technology
• How to Test Your Indoor Air Quality (4 Things to Look For)
• Can a Dehumidifier Kill Mold?
• At Home Tests for Indoor Air Quality
• Invest In An Indoor Air Quality Monitor
• Can I Use My Air Quality Meter to Save Money on Filter Changes?
• Keep Rugs And Carpets Clean And Cleaning Easier
• Radon Tests

After all, it can be challenging to know which pollutants are traveling through your air ducts. Fortunately, there are a few ways to better understand which contaminants you’re dealing with. If you’re ready to start, let’s go over how to test the indoor air quality in your home. Although you can’t see it, the air inside your home has the potential to be polluted with any number of contaminants. From dust mites to particulate matter, airborne pollutants can wreak havoc on your family’s health if you’re not careful. Chemicals like VOCs can cause adverse health effects, so it’s important to reduce their levels as much as possible.

You can place carbon monoxide detectors with batteries at least five feet above the ground without worrying about cords. Even though you can get a professional generalizing on broad IAQ tests, it’d be best to find a specialist in the type of indoor air pollutant you want help with. Use home mold mitigation solutions such as diluted bleach or cleaning products made to remove mold. Allergen detectors can be purchased at most hardware stores or online. They can test for the presence of allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, and cockroach allergens.

They Use Inherently Less Accurate Technology

Typically, anywhere between 30% and 50% is an acceptable humidity range. If your humidity level is consistently above 50%, this can be a prime breeding ground for mold spores and mildew. From wood burning stove, heavy traffic, vacuuming, cooking in your kitchen and many more, can have a huge impact on the air quality in your home and overall health. Carbon monoxide detectors don’t require elaborate installation methods. You just need to make sure you purchase a good unit and place it above the ground. Carbon gas rises with air, which is why positioning is essential.

A doctor can help identify health issues related to exposure to mold, radon, or carbon monoxide, for example. This may be the most expensive product on our list, but it seems to be the ultimate winner in quality as well. This is a very advanced technology sensor that offers a comprehensive analysis of the air quality in your home. It monitors humidity, temperature, nitrogen dioxide, toxins, carbon dioxide, ozone, PM2.5, PM.25, and air pressure levels. Learn how to measure air quality using an indoor air quality monitor and other useful tools.

How to Test Your Indoor Air Quality (4 Things to Look For)

The truth is that mold spores will always exist in your indoor air. The purpose of the test is to confirm that you don’t have problematic levels of mold spores. Your choice should come down to the type of pollutants you want to check and ease of use. For example, you don’t want an air quality monitor that you can’t operate or read properly. Paying attention to the quality of the air you breathe indoors is vital to staying healthy. In fact, scientific evidence suggests that indoor air can be five times deadlier than outdoor air.

You want or need air testing after mold removal has been done by you or a professional to check whether mold levels have normalized. While some home air quality testers retail for a little over $50, the average starting price is more like $100. The top end price is north of $300, and many sell at the middle ground of around $200. It’s not a cheap device, but it’s not too bad for a one-time investment in home wellness. Or if you live next to a factory or power plant, you’ll want to find a different solution for tackling indoor air quality. Be sure to check your outdoor air quality before you open all your windows.

Can a Dehumidifier Kill Mold?

Calibration gives the air quality monitor a baseline measurement of fresh air. This way it can accurately tell you if you are in the yellow, orange, red, or purple levels. As its name suggests, an air quality monitor is a device that keeps tabs on the quality of your indoor air.

Mold spores are everywhere, but if you smell a musty odor in your home, spores could be settling on damp organic surfaces and growing colonies that irritate your asthma and allergies. Fortunately, with the right indoor air quality testing equipment, you can discover whether your home is a breeding ground for harmful mold. If you or anyone in your family has allergies, it’s more important than ever to maintain clean indoor air. Before you take action to improve air quality, you must know what problems currently exist. While you might need professional testing eventually, start with at-home air quality test kits to generate some initial findings. This device measures PM2.5 to within 0.3ug/m3 and is accurate enough to stake your health on it.

At Home Tests for Indoor Air Quality

An air quality monitor is essential to gauge the quality of air in your home. If you are using an air purifier you are very unlikely to use it optimally without an air quality monitor showing if you are effectively improving air quality. So you may save a few dollars not buying one but end up with worse health outcomes. He brings expert knowledge of a myriad of home air filtration topics including HVAC filters, filtration efficiency, and indoor air quality.

His main goal is to create a positive collaborative culture, one in which his employees are excited to come in and are motivated to work hard. Or, you can jump over to our best home air purifier page to see what’s available for your home. This process of exchanging dirty air with clean air can happen anywhere between 4-6 times per hour. As the unit continues to run, the cleaner the air becomes inside the room.

Invest In An Indoor Air Quality Monitor

For short-term symptoms, the immediate effects can be varied depending on what the pollutant is. Differences in age, sensitivity, exposure amount, and pre-existing medical conditions can also have an effect when interacting with a pollutant. Fortunately, tobacco smoke can usually be sniffed out with your nose.

Some models use electrochemical sensors to capture toxins, while others require particulate matter to pass through a laser to record their presence. For starters, a dehumidifier will help control the amount of humidity in the air, thus preventing mold and mildew growth. If the dehumidifier comes with air filters, it can help trap air pollutants such as dust, allergens, and more. When choosing a professional indoor air quality tester, it’s important to do your research.