Is There an Inexpensive Way to Test Indoor Air Quality?

Many people are worried about the indoor air quality in their house and wish to get it tested. However, hiring professional services to perform the tests might be costly, especially if you want to examine many kinds of pollutants. Fortunately, there are some inexpensive ways to test indoor air quality.

Home Air Quality Monitor

Home air quality monitors are devices that allow people to review the indoor air quality in their home without any help from professional services. Some devices can only focus on one type of contaminant. However, you can also find a few models that can monitor up to five types of pollutants.

Most home air quality monitors can detect fine dust, also known as particulate matter, as small as 2.5 microns. Other types of pollutants that can be detected using such devices are formaldehyde, radon, chemicals, and carbon monoxide. The devices are also usually able to monitor the humidity and temperature level of your indoor air, which are also crucial in maintaining air quality.

Although these devices are not able to determine the exact amount of those pollutants, they generally are able to notify you if there is something concerning about your indoor air. Using the device is easy because you only need to install it and keep it on. Some advanced models come with a WiFi feature, allowing you to monitor your indoor air quality through an app on your phone or gadget.

Indoor Air Quality Testing Kits

Sometimes, monitoring devices aren’t enough to pinpoint the air quality problems in your house. If that is the case, it is time to consider buying an air quality testing kit. An air quality testing kit is a package consisting of a few things you can use to test the air pollutants in your home. Although these kits are more expensive than monitoring devices, they are still more economical than professional testing services.

To use the kits, you need to collect samples from multiple sources and then send all those samples to the manufacturers for further lab testing. You will receive the results in a few days. When performing the sampling, you need to follow the instructions carefully. Otherwise, the results will not be accurate.

The types of contaminants that can be detected using such kits are formaldehyde, radon, chemicals, carbon monoxide, allergens, mold, lead, and many types of biological pollutants. Similar to air quality monitors, air quality testing kits also vary. Some kits can measure the levels of multiple pollutants, while some others focus on only one particular type. The ones focusing on specific types usually deliver more accurate results than the multi-testing models.

Checking the number of pollutants in your indoor air might be helpful. But the most important thing is the effort you put in to keeping them at a low level. Cleaning your house regularly and providing proper ventilation can be very helpful in keeping your indoor air quality at a healthy level. If you notice concerning amounts of pollutants, either through the use of a monitoring device or a test kit, it’s bests to ask a professional to walk you through this problem.