Don’t take the quality of the air within your house for granted. According to research, there are issues with indoor air quality in 96% of households. By reporting on the concentrations of typical pollutants and other air conditions within your home in real time, an indoor air quality (IAQ) monitor can assist you in keeping an eye on that.
Anything from excessive dust to high humidity to emissions from household cleaners or building supplies could be the problem. These items may go unnoticed without an IAQ monitor, even in the presence of allergy-like symptoms or more severe health consequences that may be brought on by indoor pollutants. Check out our best recommendations if you’re looking for a device that can improve the quality of the air inside your home.
What to search for when buying an intelligent air quality monitor
Most IAQ monitors will notify you when levels are unhealthy by turning on an indicator light and/or sending push notifications to your tablet or smartphone. To put your indoor readings into context, some indoor air quality sensors also track outdoor air quality. Measurements are often shown in a companion app on your mobile device and on a screen on the IAQ device itself.
You can lessen indoor pollutants after being notified; for example, by opening some windows. To help enhance interior air quality, some monitors will even activate other smart appliances like an air purifier, a fan, or a dehumidifier. In the end, a competent IAQ monitor ought to offer sufficient hints for you to look into and get rid of the cause of your air quality problems. Like GZAIR PT02 Air Quality Monitor.
top indoor contaminants
This article will assist you comprehend the most prevalent air contaminants so you can select one that satisfies your wants if our top picks don’t. Pick the ones that are most important to you because the majority of IAQ monitors now on the market can’t monitor for all of these.
Particulate matter, or PM, is a combination of airborne particles and droplets. PM come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but those with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less can have a negative impact on your health since they can be inhaled. PM2.5 stands for fine particulate matter, which has a diameter of 2.5 microns. PM1 refers to particles that are 1 micron in size.
If people are otherwise healthy, enough exposure to PM2.5 might irritate their eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, causing allergy-like symptoms and shortness of breath. Additionally, it may worsen pre-existing medical conditions like asthma and heart disease. The single greatest environmental health concern in the world, according to the World Health Organization, is PM2.5.
Outdoor sources like car exhaust, wildfires, and power plant emissions can have an impact on indoor PM2.5 levels. However, a lot of indoor activities also release PM2.5: Only a few typical causes are smoking, lighting fireplaces, and cooking.
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are gases released from a number of materials that can have both immediate and long-term consequences on health. The Environmental Protection Agency claims that indoor VOC concentrations can be up to 10 times greater than outdoor concentrations in several cases.
Numerous everyday household items, such as hairspray, cosmetics, cleaning solutions, disinfectants, paints, and varnishes, are sources of VOCs. VOCs are also created when fuels like wood and natural gas are burned.
One of the most prevalent VOCs, formaldehyde is included in numerous building supplies, such as plywood, glues, and insulation. Some fabrics used to make curtains and furniture also contain formaldehyde. The American Consumer Product Safety Commission’s article on formaldehyde and its origins can be read for further information.
Short-term exposure to low levels of VOCs can result in minor complaints like weariness, nausea, and throat discomfort. Long-term exposure to high VOC concentrations has been associated with liver and kidney damage as well as more severe respiratory irritation. Although less so than when they are in use, products can nevertheless release VOCs while they are in storage.
Most people are now aware of the lethal consequences of high amounts of this tasteless, colorless gas, carbon monoxide. However, exposure to lesser concentrations, which are occasionally released by fuel-burning appliances, can also result in negative effects, such as confusion and memory loss.
Several air quality sensors assert that they are capable of detecting these lower values. But a typical carbon monoxide detector is the only reliable technique to detect this infamously difficult to spot killer.
Carbon dioxide: Despite long-held beliefs that the effects of high levels of CO2 were benign, research has revealed that even concentrations as low as 1,000 ppm can have an impact on a person’s ability to think clearly and make decisions.
People themselves are the main producer of indoor CO2, as it is a consequence of our respiratory process. High amounts of CO2 are frequently caused by this in many homes when combined with inadequate ventilation. Fortunately, most air quality monitors have CO2 sensors.
Temperature and humidity: These variables have an impact beyond your degree of comfort. High temperatures and high humidity encourage the growth of mold and mildew. These can harm the structural integrity of your house and make sensitive people experience symptoms similar to allergies. Monitoring these levels can alert you to probable sources, such as leaks or fractures in the foundation and inadequate insulation, and can help you avoid problems with your house and health.
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