Ways to Check for Air Quality at Home

The air we breathe inside our homes should be fresh, clean, and free of pollutants. Unfortunately, household pollutants are everywhere, even in the air we breathe. From the materials used in home construction to mould and mildew growth from poor ventilation, our indoor air quality is often in jeopardy without us even realizing it. Cleaning up your indoor air can do wonders for guarding against allergens, carcinogens, and other harmful air-bourn particulates.

Even if you’re not sure if the air in your home includes such pollutants, it’s important for the health of you and your family to monitor indoor air quality routinely. Some of the most dangerous threats like radon and carbon monoxide are odourless, colourless, and tasteless – you may have no idea there’s trouble until you’re already suffering harmful effects. Learning how to check air quality at home can be a worthwhile, lifesaving process.

Why Check Your Indoor Air Quality?

Whether you struggle with asthma, allergies, or a general unease about the air quality in your home, testing can be a real game changer. Improving your indoor air quality can make you feel and sleep better and improve your overall quality of life. Whether you check air quality at home yourself or opt to hire a professional to do so, the results can be incredibly revealing. A single air quality test can provide both unexpected results and some serious peace of mind.

Given the wide range of pollutants and allergens that can impact indoor air, it can be difficult to create a master list of poor air quality indicators. However, there are some red flags that point to potential air quality issues. If you or your family have suffered mysterious health issues with no obvious cause, it may be time to check air quality at home.

Excess condensation is another potential red flag – it often signifies ventilation issues, which can lead to mould growth. Unusual odours is another sign you may have some indoor air quality issues. Even without these obvious warning signs, it’s always a good practice to periodically check the air quality in your home.

What Impacts the Air Quality in Your Home

A wide range of factors can impact the air quality inside your home. For example , pets frequently shed hair and dander – even the cleanest animals can add dust particles to the air. Cooking fumes may also be a contributing factor to poor air quality , as natural gas and propane stoves can release carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and other harmful pollutants into the air. Smoking and vaping also impact the quality of air in your space.

Even if you live in a smoke and pet-free environment, it’s still important to learn how to check air quality. Building materials can be a major source of indoor air pollution. Whether your home was built last century or last year, an air quality test from an expert can reveal if flooring, composite wood products, and/or adhesives are contributing to poor air quality. With a clear understanding of what’s in the air around you, you can take the steps necessary to correct any issues, which will help you breathe a little easier – literally and figuratively.

How to Gauge Air Quality

If you’re looking for ways to improve air quality inside your home, it’s important to understanding what type of pollutants you’re dealing with, how to check air quality, and the best ways to address any issues. Here are a few ways to gauge indoor air quality:

1. Install an Indoor Air Quality Monitor

Electrochemical sensors on indoor air quality monitors detect toxins and estimate particulate matter. While monitor models will vary in design, these devices can detect harmful gasses like carbon monoxide and radon. They may even detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants. Some models can even monitor temperature and humidity.

2. Invest in a Carbon Monoxide Detector

Even if carbon monoxide doesn’t show up on initial indoor air quality monitor readings, it’s a good idea to invest in a carbon monoxide detector . They are among the very best ways to test air quality in home and will alert you if CO levels inside your home become dangerously high.

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of fuel combustion, so appliances like gas dryers, gas-burning stoves, and gas furnaces can create potential risks. Since carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, a detector can alert you and your family if a leak occurs.

3. Monitor Your Symptoms

The human body has its own way of alerting us to indoor air pollutants. If you suspect the air quality in your space is not up to par, consider the symptoms you’re experiencing. Maybe you sneeze a lot, but only while indoors. Perhaps you only experience headaches while working in your home. Don’t dismiss these symptoms as coincidence – they could be a sign that the air quality in your home needs to be improved.

4. Call an Air Quality Professional

Whether you experience or suspect indoor air quality issues, a few common sense tasks like duct cleaning can go a long way to improve the air you breathe. Some air quality problems, like the presence of radon or mould spores, may require professional intervention. If you recently remodeled your home, opened up walls to repair plumbing, or discovered mould growth indoors, your air quality is likely suffering. Calling in local experts like Aire Serv is one of the best ways to improve air quality. After all, we can spot issues you may have overlooked – a well-trained, experienced set of eyes is worth the money every time.

Contact Us

Learning how to check air quality at home is important to the health and safety of you and your family. If the methods mentioned above reveal air quality issues, you may want to invest in an whole-home air purifier. These devices can be highly efficient at removing pollutants and particulate matter from the air you breathe. Making them ideal for those suffering from asthma or allergies. It’s one of the best ways to improve air quality.

If you’re concerned about the air quality in your home or would like to learn more about how to improve it, call the local air quality professionals at Aire Serv. We have the equipment and experience to assess your space thoroughly and make recommendations to improve the quality of your air. With the health of you and your family on the line, it’s important not to leave the air quality in your home to chance. Request your appointment online or give Aire Serv a call today.

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