How to Test and Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality

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Indoor air quality testing is endlessly important when it comes to managing your indoor environment. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can lead to respiratory issues, allergies, and other health problems. Investing in an indoor air quality monitor helps homeowners better understand and monitor changes in air quality in their homes, and helps raise awareness for the factors that influence poor air quality. Once you start paying attention to the potential pollutants in your home, you can take steps to consult an air quality professional or replace your HVAC system.

Factors That Affect Indoor Air Quality

• Particulate Matter: This includes dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores. These tiny particles can be inhaled and cause respiratory issues, especially for individuals with allergies or asthma.

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Common sources of VOCs include paints, cleaning products, aerosol sprays, and building materials. VOCs can off-gas into the air and contribute to indoor pollution, potentially causing headaches, dizziness, and other health problems.

• Gases: Harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) can accumulate indoors. Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous as it is colorless and odorless, leading to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and even death in high concentrations. Radon, another hazardous gas, can seep into homes from the ground and increase the risk of lung cancer.

• Biological Contaminants: Bacteria, viruses, and dust mites are biological contaminants that can thrive indoors, especially in humid environments. These contaminants can exacerbate allergies and lead to infections or other health issues.

• Temperature and Humidity Levels: “Temperature not only affects your comfort at home, but it can also influence your performance, sleep quality, and how well your immune system functions to fight off pathogens," notes Jennie Bergman, Senior Product Manager of Indoor Environmental Air Quality at Trane Residential. Both high and low humidity can affect air quality. High humidity promotes mold growth and dust mites, while low humidity can cause dry skin, irritated respiratory passages, and static electricity.

• Household Activities: Everyday activities such as cooking, smoking, burning candles, and using fireplaces or wood-burning stoves can release pollutants into the air. These activities can produce smoke, soot, and other particles that degrade indoor air quality.

• Outdoor Pollutants: Pollutants from outside can infiltrate indoor spaces. Pollen, industrial emissions, and vehicle exhaust are common outdoor pollutants that can enter homes through windows, doors, and ventilation systems, affecting indoor air quality.
  HVAC Systems: Poorly maintained HVAC systems can contribute to indoor air pollution. Dirty filters, contaminated ducts, and inadequate ventilation can circulate chemical pollutants and different types of mold throughout the home, leading to poor air quality. Potential health risks include throat irritation and other allergy symptoms to lung cancer and death due to long-term exposure.
  

Indoor air quality devices measure various pollutant levels, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide (CO2), levels of carbon monoxide (CO), humidity, and temperature. Advanced models may also detect formaldehyde and radon.

Setting Up an IAQ Monitor

1. Choose a central location where your family spends most of their time, such as the living room or bedroom. Consider this a long-term test, and choose a place where the monitor can live for a long time. (Need a product? Consider AirThings which tests for all kinds of indoor air anomalies, including high radon levels). Make sure to place the monitor away from windows, doors, and vents to get accurate readings.

2. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to set up and calibrate your IAQ monitor. This ensures the device provides reliable data on the air quality in your home.

3. Monitor the real-time data on various pollutants. Compare these readings to the recommended levels from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the World Health Organization (WHO). High levels of pollutants indicate poor air quality, which can pose serious health risks. Some manufacturers will recommend that you continuously test for several weeks to get a consistent read and rule out fluctuations (such as hazardously poor air caused by burned toast, ask me how I know). Many products will push alerts to you if it senses dangerous levels of radon and indoor air pollutants, just like a smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm would sound off.

Taking Action Based on the Results

If your IAQ monitor indicates poor air quality, there are several steps you can take:

• Improve natural ventilation by opening windows and using exhaust fans. This helps to bring in fresh air and remove indoor pollutants.

• Investing in air purifiers. These devices are effective at removing airborne contaminants and can significantly improve indoor air quality. Portable air purifiers, like Rabbit Air, Lasko’s GermGuardian, and Moss Air are good if you need to focus on a specific space for treatment, but whole-home purification is a bigger matter. “If your household is asthma or allergy-prone, it might be worth investing in a more premium air filter, like Trane’s CleanEffects? Whole Home Air Cleaner, as it effectively reduces the presence of dust particles, pollen, pet hair and dander, lint, and more," shares Bergman. "Trane’s CleanEffects is certified asthma & allergy friendly? by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, which is a major plus for parents looking for added peace of mind over their home’s indoor air quality. The certification is awarded only to those products that are scientifically proven to reduce exposure to asthma and allergy triggers.”

• Identify and eliminate the sources of pollution in your home. Common pollutants include secondhand smoke, certain cleaning products, and unvented appliances. Reducing these sources can lead to better air quality.

• Monitor regularly. Keep an eye on your IAQ monitor regularly to track improvements and spot any new issues as they arise.

Related: Protect Yourself Against These Air Duct Cleaning Scams

Consulting an Air Quality Professional

If you continue to experience poor air quality despite your efforts, it may be time to consult an air quality professional. They can perform a thorough assessment of your home, identify hidden problems, and recommend solutions like upgrading your HVAC system or installing advanced filtration systems.

Ensuring that your HVAC systems are well-maintained and replacing filters on a regular cadence is important to effectively managing your indoor air quality.