4 Steps How to Perform an Air Quality Test at Home

Did you know that indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor, open-space air quality? We can’t always control it, but we can improve it. Indoor air quality plays a significant role in our health. Most of us spend our time indoors, like at home, school, or the office, unknowingly breathing in unhealthy air. 

So, if you are health conscious and want to improve indoor air quality to ensure your family breathes in pollutant-free air, you must know how to check indoor air quality.

We have compiled a step-by-step guide to help you in this regard through expansive testing at home.

If you want a professional service for indoor air quality testing, different companies in Florida could assist you. Peace Of Mind Home Inspections is a reliable and affordable home inspection company certified by InterNACHI, providing you with a thorough indoor air quality testing service.

We will discuss how a professional checks air quality later. But this time, our concern is exploring the simple steps to perform an air quality test at home. In this blog, we will go through these steps so you can easily check your home’s air quality.

Step-1 Examine the Common Pollutants

When you breathe in polluted air, you inhale dust particles that cause various health issues, including shortness of breath, asthma, and allergies. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the pollutants in your indoor environment.

Here’s a look at the most common indoor pollutants that make air quality dangerous:

Dust Particles

Dust is the combination of tiny particles of dead skin, fabric fibers, pollen, and other microscopic particles. These particles are airborne, and we inhale them daily, such as during cleaning, moving furniture, and walking. These particles trigger different health issues, including respiratory and allergic.

Mold

Mold thrives in a damp environment. When you have a flawed ventilation system, the humidity provides a sufficient environment for its growth. Its tiny spores float with air and reproduce after landing on different surfaces like: 

• Ceilings
• Carpets
• Drywalls

Usually, it can be seen in dark green or black color inside your kitchen, washroom, basement, and crawl spaces. Due to mold, you will have continuous headaches, laziness, eye and throat rashes, and respiratory issues.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

It is an odorless and colorless gas that has a lasting effect on your health. Carbon monoxide is produced by the burning of gas stoves, heaters, and water heaters. So, if your home does not have a proper ventilation system, this gas will concentrate in the air and cause different health issues.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Chemicals such as paint, varnishes, cleaning products, and even off-gassing from new furniture can disturb indoor air quality. This can also create short-term health issues like headaches, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes and throat.

Step-2 Choose the Right Tools and Kit for Air Quality Testing

To breathe in the clear air, it’s important to choose the right tools and kit. These help in ensuring accurate indoor air quality tests for your house and results that you can rely on. 

Here’s an overview of the kits you can use to address your concerns:

General Air Quality Monitor

This is a versatile tool that can check for different pollutants in your home. It can detect dust particles, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, humidity, and temperature. General air quality monitor is a user-friendly tool that delivers real-time data so that you can quickly assess pollutant levels and take necessary actions. 

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide detectors are placed near gas appliances, fireplaces, and garages, where there is a high chance of its presence. Many detectors sound an alarm when the CO reach a dangerous level, helping you take a suitable action.

Radon Test Kit

Radon is a dangerous gas that seeps into the home from the ground. Higher levels of radon can cause lung problems. This is why it is better to test for radon, especially in areas known for high radon levels. You can find radon test kits at any nearby hardware store. There are two types of kits, short-term (takes a few days to test for radon) and long-term (takes over a couple of months to complete the test). 

Step-3 Perform Air Quality Test

After choosing the tools or kit, it’s time to perform the air quality test. For better results, you need to focus on preparation, which is important in getting accurate test results.

Below are some essential tips for getting a better result:

Close Windows and Doors

Close the windows and doors because you want to test the indoor air, not the outdoor air. During the test, you will quantify the dust particles concentrated in the air.

Turn on the HVAC System

It will circulate the indoor air, and you will get accurate results of dust particles present in your home.

Put Kits in a Frequently Visited Area

Set up the tool kit in the most frequently used area, such as the bedroom and living space, where you spend most of your time. Taking an air sample from these spaces will provide accurate data about its condition.

After the preparation, follow the instructions on the kit. Calibrate the instrument according to the manuals and get the result after the said duration.

Step-4 Improve Indoor Air Quality

After analyzing the results it can become easier to conclude the indoor air quality, and take suitable actions to improve it. Here are some useful tips that will help you achieve a healthy environment for safer breathing.

Proper Ventilation

Ventilation allows fresh air to enter your home and exhausts dusty air particles. The exhaust fan in the kitchen and washroom removes dust particles and humidity from the house.

Use Low VOCs Products

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a key role in disturbing air quality. Therefore, use lower VOC products to ensure that your air remains healthy and that you can breathe pure air.

Use the Right Filer in the HVAC System

The filter plays an important role in improving air quality. It allows clean air to circulate in the home. Therefore, you should make sure that you use the right filter in your HVAC system.

Final Words

Indoor air quality plays a significant role in your health. Therefore, it is necessary to get a healthy environment. In this blog, we discussed how you can perform air quality testing at home. But if you want a professional service, you must hire a certified home inspection company like Peace Of Mind. They have an experienced team that provides an authentic report about the air quality of your home. This technical report will help you take suitable action to improve air quality. 

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