Install an Indoor Air Monitor Choose a smart air monitor based on your specific needs, such as detecting particulate matter in polluted areas or identifying carbon monoxide and radon in older homes. Advanced monitors can detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs), temperature, and humidity changes.
At-home test kits are readily available, offering a preliminary assessment of IAQ within your home. These kits provide the necessary equipment and instructions for collecting samples to analyze pollutants such as radon, mold, dust mites, and VOCs.
There are many indoor air monitors available on the market, including the Airthings Wave Plus and the uHoo Smart Air Monitor. Alternatively, you can buy another type of smart device that has air quality monitoring functionality, such as a tech-enabled air purifier, smart thermostat or indoor home security camera.
Occupants of homes with poor indoor air quality may complain of symptoms such as headache, eye irritation, fatigue, dry throat, sinus congestion, dizziness, and nausea. Because many illnesses can cause these symptoms, diagnosing sick building syndrome is difficult.
Use an air quality monitor: Air quality monitors can detect and display levels of pollutants in the air. They can measure particulate matter (tiny particles that penetrate deep into the lungs and are commonly found in dust and smoke), as well as VOCs, CO2 levels, plus humidity and temperature.
The two most common methods used to identify a mold problem are mold test kits or air testing sensors. These kits include the necessary air test devices, chemical strips, or Petri dishes and are available at department stores or online. They'll also come with an instruction manual for any brand-specific guidelines.
STEP 2: The volume of air in the room.
Measure the dimensions of the room, including the length (L), width (W), and height (H), in feet. Calculating the volume in cubic feet is a simple matter of multiplying L x W x H.
Allergies, Irritations, or Respiratory Problems
One of the first (and most alarming) signs that your home has poor air quality is if you or your family experience an increase in allergies, irritations, or respiratory problems. These sudden changes can be caused by a variety of air contaminants, such as: Mold spores.
Change your furnace filter regularly. Avoid burning in your home, including fireplaces, wood stoves, gas appliances, and candles. Avoid chemicals such as air fresheners, sprays and cleaning products or use a healthier option. Vacuum your rugs and carpets regularly.
If you want to monitor your indoor air quality proactively, you can invest in an air quality monitor. This will help you test if your house is making you sick. These devices constantly check the indoor air quality and provide feedback about the levels of different pollutants.
Average indoor air quality testing costs around $400, but can range from $250 to $550+. Testing specific pollutants can cost you $100 to $1,000+.
Simple things you can do to improve your indoor air quality include: Reduce dust by vacuuming regularly and using a microfiber or damp cloth for dusting. Reduce humidity to avoid mold and mildew buildup and change appliance filters regularly. And make sure to test your home for dangerous gases like radon.
You can use a 3M LeadCheck Swab (found at most hardware stores) to do this; be sure you swab any children's products and imported goods. Conduct a lead risk assessment by a certified inspector before any home remodel.
For questions or comments regarding indoor air quality such as mold, radon, asthma, second-hand smoke and air cleaning devices, please contact the U.S. EPA Office of Indoor Air Quality.
Sources of air pollution are multiple and context specific. The major outdoor pollution sources include residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry.
In summary, while air purifiers can be effective in improving indoor air quality, their true effectiveness can be difficult to assess without proper monitoring tools. The integration of sensors to monitor indoor air quality is essential to ensure that the air purifier is operating effectively and energy efficiently.
Get a “True HEPA” air purifier.
HEPA filters capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns and they are an effective instrument in filtering out mold, dust, pollen, and other air pollutants. This type of filter should be replaced every month or two to work efficiently.
Even if you are healthy, you may experience temporary symptoms from exposure to elevated levels of particles. Symptoms may include: irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; coughing; phlegm; chest tightness; and shortness of breath.
There are several low-to-no-cost steps you can take to improve the indoor air quality in your home based on three best practice strategies of: controlling the sources of pollution; insuring there is adequate ventilation; and, using supplemental air cleaning and filtration.
What is ACH or ACPH? How do you calculate ACH or Air Changes per Hour? To calculate Air Changes Per Hour (ACH), find the CFM of your device and multiply that by 60 then divide that total by the total cubic feet of the room to get your total ACH.