Air is so fundamental to our existence we rarely think about it—until it turns against us. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) affects your quality of life and the enjoyment of your home More importantly, it can affect your health and the health of your family, producing symptoms including:
❌Coughing and congestion
❌Fatigue and dizziness
❌Frequent respiratory illnesses
❌Chronic headaches
❌Allergic reactions (itching, watering eyes, runny nose, sore throat)
❌Nausea
❌Skin irritation
❌Chest pains and increased heart attack risk
These risks make regular monitoring and testing of the air quality in your home a necessity. The good news is that there are a lot of technological solutions that can help you do this—and the signs are often clear enough to be detected without any assistance at all.
How to test air quality in your home using technology
If you suspect that the air quality inside your home isn’t ideal, or if you’re moving into a new property and want to conduct air quality testing as part of your due diligence, there is a lot of technology at your disposal:
1. Air quality monitors
There are a wide variety of air quality monitors available for purchase, ranging from portable units you can bring with you to different locations to more permanent solutions. The key is to ensure that the monitor you choose tests for any specific pollutant you suspect may be in your air, including:
- Particulate matter
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), e.g. formaldehyde
- Carbon dioxide (CO2); Carbon dioxide can cause many health problems, including headaches and drowsiness, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and arrhythmias.
2. Mold tests
Mold is a constant threat in any indoor area. High humidity levels or standing water from leaks or minor flooding can encourage the growth of a wide variety of molds that can cause severe health issues. A reliable mold testing kit can be purchased at most home improvement stores or online, and regular use can keep you informed about the safety of your indoor air.
3. Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors
Carbon monoxide can lead to death by suffocation–in fact, every year more than 400 people die from CO poisoning.
4. Radon detectors
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, causing more than 20,000 deaths each year. While most home inspections include a radon test, regular monitoring is advisable.
5. Asbestos tests
Asbestos, a group of fibrous minerals that were once heavily used in insulation applications due to their fire-resistant properties, has been strongly linked to a type of cancer called mesothelioma. If your home was built prior to 1989, when asbestos was banned from use, you can use a home testing kit to determine if there is any asbestos risk.
If you’re not sure what pollutants you should be concerned about in your home, or if you prefer to have a professional conduct a comprehensive check of the home’s indoor air quality, you can identify reputable air quality professionals by contacting the American Industrial Hygiene Association or the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.
A professional air quality assessment can be very expensive, however, and in most cases consumer air quality monitors and test kits are sufficient to assess your home’s air quality.
How to test air quality in your home without technology
While monitoring devices and testing kits can confirm poor indoor air quality, the signs are actually easy to spot without the aid of any technology at all.
If you’re experiencing symptoms that make you suspect poor IAQ, you can undertake a two-pronged investigation to determine whether you need to worry about the air in your home.
Step 1: Visual inspection
Pollutants in the air always have a source. While some pollutants, such as gases or particulates from wildfire smoke, can enter from outside the home and be difficult to see, many causes of poor air quality can be identified simply by conducting an inspection of the home, including
- Mold. Mold is often very easy to see, appearing as a discolored, textured growth on walls and in cracks and crevices.
- Pet dander. If you own a pet, shed hair, fecal matter, and other particulates will typically be visible in the air or collected on floors and in corners. If you see pet dander, it’s a sign you need to upgrade your vacuum and perhaps increase your cleaning schedule.
- High humidity or standing water. If you see condensation on the inside of windows or have chronic issues with water leaks or puddling, there could be hidden mold growth you’re unaware of.
- HVAC filters and vents. Inspect your heating and air-conditioning filters and vents for any buildup of dirt, dust, or other contaminants.
- Stored compounds. Old paint or solvents can off-gas, polluting your indoor air.
- New carpet or upholstery. Many treated fabrics can off-gas VOCs which can degrade your indoor air quality.
If you see any of these signs, consider investing in an air quality monitor or conducting some specific air quality testing.
Step 2: Personal health assessment
Your body is also a very good gauge of the air quality in your home. If you routinely experience symptoms that could be linked to poor indoor air quality, track your experiences by keeping a journal for a few weeks.
Look for patterns:
- Do you experience symptoms in a certain room, such as a home office?
- Do your symptoms improve or vanish when you leave the home?
If so, you have a strong clue that there is an issue with the air quality in your home.
The top 3 air quality monitors we have tested
A reliable air quality monitor is a powerful tool you can use to ensure the air that you and your family breathe is clean and free of dangerous pollutants.
At HouseFresh, we take air quality very seriously; when we published our guide to the best air quality monitors on the market, we did so based on our own testing. We purchased each air quality monitor with our own money and tested them in our own home, covering their ability to detect particulate matter, smart technology that makes exporting and reviewing data easy, and accuracy.
Based on these hands-on tests, we have narrowed down our choices for the top 3 air quality monitors available today:
Final thoughts
The air we breathe has a profound impact on our health and our quality of life. Your home is where you sleep, where you share moments with your loved ones, where you build your future. Any compromise to indoor air quality is dangerous—but you need to be aware of a problem before you can rectify it. Installing an air quality monitor and conducting specific testing to ensure your home’s air is clean and healthy to breathe isn’t just about property values or even your day-to-day comfort. It’s about your future—and your family’s future.
SOURCES
- Ashton, D. (2023). 6 Best Air Quality Monitors Available Right Now. housefresh.com
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Prevention. cdc.gov
- Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. epa.gov
- Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Health Risk of Radon. epa.gov
- Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Improving Indoor Air Quality. epa.gov
- Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Low–Cost Air Pollution Monitors and Indoor Air Quality. epa.gov
- Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality. epa.gov
- Indoor Science. (2018). What Can Mold Look Like Inside a House? indoorscience.com
- Law, T. (2023). You Are What You Breathe. How to Test Your Home’s Air and Make It Safer. time.com
- Lovelace Jr., B. (2023). Wrinkles and sleep troubles are among the odd symptoms linked to poor air quality. nbcnews.comSanders, K. (2023). How to Test for Asbestos With a DIY Testing Kit. thespruce.com
- Food Safety and Inspection Service. (2020). Carbon Dioxide Health Hazard Information Sheet. fsis.usda.gov
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022). Mesothelioma. mayoclinic.org
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (2023). Indoor Air Quality. niehs.nih.gov
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
