Indoor Air Quality Testing: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

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:

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 90% of people worldwide breathe polluted air.
• 93% of children under 18 are exposed to air pollution levels above what the WHO deems safe.

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.

Key Takeaways

• Indoor air quality impacts health. Testing is essential to understanding and improving your home’s air.
• Pollutants vary. Common indoor pollutants range from allergens and dust to harmful gases like carbon monoxide.
• The Air Quality Index (AQI) helps you understand outdoor air quality. A higher AQI means poorer air quality and increased health risks, especially for sensitive groups.
• Both DIY and professional tests can be helpful. DIY kits are easy to use but professional tests provide more accuracy for issues like mold or radon.

Do You Need an Air Quality Test?

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.

What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?

Pollutants inside your home can come from a variety of sources, including:

• Low-risk pollutants: Dust, pet fur, and allergens
• High-risk pollutants: Mold, asbestos, smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide

Testing your air helps you identify which pollutants are affecting your health.

Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Indoor Air Pollution

How to Test Indoor Air Quality

Testing can be done either through DIY kits or by hiring a professional. Here's a breakdown:

• DIY Kits: These are affordable and straightforward to use. You can monitor pollutants like carbon monoxide, VOCs, and allergens.
• Professional Testing: For more detailed results, particularly for mold and radon, professional testing provides accurate insights and identifies the source of pollutants.

Deciding Which Indoor Air Quality Testing Kits to Buy

Air quality is different from one home to the next. It’s a combination of location and lifestyle factors. A good place to start is checking the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your city. It will give you an idea of which outdoor pollutants are most common in the area.

Understanding the Air Quality Index (AQI)

The AQI measures air quality on a scale of 0 to 500. It’s used to communicate how clean or polluted the air is, with higher numbers indicating worse air quality. The AQI focuses on five major pollutants:

• Ground-level ozone
• Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)
• Carbon monoxide
• Sulfur dioxide
• Nitrogen dioxide

The AQI is divided into six color-coded categories, from "Good" (green, 0-50) to "Hazardous" (maroon, 301+), allowing you to understand the health risks at a glance. For instance, an AQI value between 101-150 (orange) indicates air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as people with asthma. Checking your AQI can help you determine when it’s safest to open windows or go outside. More information on AirNow.

Testing for Allergens Inside With an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Monitor

An indoor air quality (IAQ) monitor is kind of a jack-of-all-trades. IAQ monitors are designed to detect a variety of particulate matter (dust, pollens, dirt, etc.) that can irritate allergies. You may even be able to find one that also monitors carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and chemical pollutants.

An IAQ monitor looks like a programmable thermostat. It has a display screen that provides a readout of different pollutant levels. The readings are real-time and some can give you an overall air quality assessment.

DIY vs Professional Air Quality Testing – Which Do You Need?

DIY in home air quality test kits can be relatively inexpensive and easy to use to get you started. DIY air testing kits are easy to use. This is especially true in the era of the smart home, where these testing sensors can be compatible with other smart home technology.

On the other hand, the accuracy of these tests varies. In particular, at-home mold tests are notorious inaccurate. When you get a professional service to do a test, you get the benefits of accuracy and greater detail in the test results.

If you know you have health issues that are heavily reactive to indoor air pollution, the professional test is worth the extra expense, particularly if you are sensitive to mold.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Once you know the pollutants in your home, you can take steps to improve air quality:

• Change air filters regularly
• Use air purifiers
• Ventilate kitchens and bathrooms
• Keep indoor plants that purify air
• Reduce carpeting and fabrics that trap allergens
• Use low-VOC products for cleaning and renovation
• Install carbon monoxide and radon detectors

Simple things can make a huge difference in the air quality inside. In addition to these steps, it’s best to keep the temperature between 68.5 and 80 degrees depending on the season. Humidity levels should be kept between 30-60% to prevent mold growth.

Read More: Your Complete Guide to Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Know If You Have Poor Indoor Air Quality?

You may have poor indoor air quality if you notice symptoms like worsening allergies, headaches, dizziness, or frequent illnesses. Visible signs like mold growth, excessive dust, or a musty smell can also indicate poor air quality.

Is Indoor Air Quality Testing Worth It?

Yes, testing is worth it, especially if you have health issues or live in areas with high outdoor pollution. It helps you identify the sources of indoor pollution, allowing you to take action to improve air quality and reduce health risks.

Do You Need an Air Quality Test?

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:

• Worsening allergies or asthma
• Congestion
• Headaches
• Eye, nose, and throat irritation
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Frequent illness

What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?

Pollutants inside your home can come from a variety of sources, including:

Low-risk pollutants: Dust, pet fur, and allergens
High-risk pollutants: Mold, asbestos, smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide
Testing your air helps you identify which pollutants are affecting your health.

How to Test Your Indoor Air Quality?

You can test indoor air quality with various DIY kits or by hiring a professional. Here are common methods:

DIY Kits: Affordable and easy to use, these kits test for pollutants like VOCs, carbon monoxide, and allergens. Some are compatible with smart home systems for real-time monitoring.
Professional Testing: For a more thorough analysis, professionals can test for mold, radon, and other harmful pollutants that DIY kits may miss.