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Have you ever tested your home’s air quality? Many people haven’t, but doing so can significantly improve your quality of life. Here’s why:
While you can’t control outdoor air quality, improving your indoor air is crucial. Indoor air quality testing is simple and can protect your household from harmful pollutants. In fact, it's your best defense against the impact of outdoor pollution.
Clean air at home starts with knowing what is in your air. A quick test shows what you are breathing and which fixes will help most. Pair testing with a fresh HVAC filter so your system can capture more particles from day one.
Poor indoor air quality can lead to various health issues, especially for those with respiratory conditions or allergies. Symptoms of poor air quality may include:
You’ll take between 17,280 and 23,040 breaths every day. That’s 17,280-23,040 reasons to test indoor air quality and purify the air you breathe. And while you're at it, make sure to change your HVAC filters to get the best air possible for your home.
Pollutants inside your home can come from a variety of sources, including:
Testing your air helps you identify which pollutants are affecting your health.
Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Indoor Air Pollution
Testing can be done either through DIY kits or by hiring a professional. Here's a breakdown:
Every home is different. Your location, building materials, habits, and even pets change what’s in the air. Use this simple plan.
1. Check your local AQI
Open the Air Quality Index for your city. Note which outdoor pollutants are common. This helps you decide what to watch indoors.
2. List your concerns
Smoke, odors, moisture, recent renovations, or health symptoms will tell you what to test first.
3. Match the test to the pollutant
4. Choose the right test length
Short-term kits give a quick snapshot. Long-term kits smooth out day-to-day swings and are better for decisions about fixes.
5. Place and use kits correctly
Follow the instructions. Avoid kitchens, bathrooms, and open windows unless the kit says otherwise. Log the date, time, and where you tested.
6. Fix, then retest
Remove sources, improve ventilation, and replace filters. Test again to confirm that levels dropped.
7. Call a licensed consultant when needed
Do this if symptoms persist, if you need documentation for a sale or rental, or if the source is hard to find or hard to reach.
These are the simplest methods endorsed or documented by the cited authorities; more advanced instruments are also available for professional use.
DIY testing is a good starting point. Kits and smart monitors are affordable and easy to use, and many sync with apps so you can track trends over time. They work well for quick checks of common issues like carbon monoxide, PM2.5, humidity, and basic VOCs. Treat the results as a screen, not a diagnosis. At-home mold kits are notoriously inaccurate, and short radon tests can swing with weather, so repeat or follow up with a longer test if something looks off.
Professional testing gives you accuracy and detail. A licensed consultant brings calibrated instruments, lab analysis, and a written report that explains sources and fixes. Go pro if symptoms continue after simple steps, if you need documentation for a sale or rental, or if the issue is hard to measure or higher risk. Examples include confirming radon, tracing hidden moisture and mold, checking for asbestos or lead dust, or verifying combustion backdrafting. Pros can also design a remediation plan and confirm the work with a clearance test.
Start with these practical steps to lower indoor pollutants:
These measures, combined with the targeted tests listed in the table, help maintain a healthier home year‑round.
Regular testing, whether with a low‑cost home kit or a certified professional, turns invisible pollutants into clear numbers you can act on. Pair those results with the “simple steps” list, track outdoor conditions on AirNow before you open the windows, and make sure your HVAC system is fitted with a high‑efficiency filter you can trust.
You can place an indoor air‑quality monitor—such as the Airthings Wave Plus, uHoo Smart Air Monitor, or another smart device with built‑in sensors—in your main living area to see real‑time levels of common pollutants.
DIY kits start at about $10, while professional whole‑home testing typically runs $300–$1,000 depending on pollutants and square footage.
Persistent allergies, headaches, dizziness, frequent colds, visible mold, or a musty or smoky smell often signal a problem.
Yes, testing pinpoints pollutant sources so you can target fixes and reduce health risks, especially if you have respiratory issues or live where outdoor pollution is high.
If you experience worsening asthma, congestion, headaches, eye or throat irritation, shortness of breath, fatigue, or repeated illness, a test can confirm whether indoor air is the culprit.
Low‑risk sources include dust, pet hair, and pollen, while high‑risk sources include mold, asbestos, smoke, VOCs from products, and carbon‑monoxide leaks.
You can use affordable DIY kits or smart monitors for basics like VOCs and CO, or hire professionals for detailed sampling of mold, radon, or other hard‑to‑detect pollutants.
Yes, tape‑lift or spore‑trap kits give a quick DIY check, and certified inspectors can perform more precise air sampling if you need definitive results.
It is a simple 0 to 500 score for outdoor air. Higher numbers mean worse air. The score combines five pollutants: ozone, particle pollution (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
Green 0–50 good. Yellow 51–100 moderate. Orange 101–150 unhealthy for sensitive groups. Red 151–200 unhealthy. Purple 201–300 very unhealthy. Maroon 301+ hazardous.
Green is fine for most homes. Yellow is usually okay. Orange means people with asthma, heart, or lung disease should keep windows closed. Red and above means keep windows closed for everyone.
Use recirculate, run the highest MERV your system allows (ideally MERV 13 if compatible), and add a HEPA air purifier in a main room or bedroom.
Use the AirNow app or website, or your local air-quality agency. Check at least daily, and before opening windows or planning outdoor activities.
