Indoor air quality (IAQ) is an often overlooked concern in many homes. However, as modern humans, we spend the majority of our time indoors. Therefore, the quality of our indoor air environment has a profound impact on our health. Maintaining good IAQ is especially important for those with chronic illness, respiratory sensitivities, or those who are immunocompromised. We will highlight what an indoor air quality monitor is and help you consider whether or not you should invest in one if you live in Florida or South Georgia.
What Is an Indoor Air Quality Monitor?
An indoor air quality monitor is a special device that is used to measure various aspects of air quality inside of a home or business. Most monitors measure the following variables:
- Particulate matter – Dust, pollen, smoke, etc.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – Toxic gasses emitted from building materials, cleaning products, etc.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) – Can be caused by poor ventilation.
- Carbon monoxide (CO) – A dangerous, odorless gas that can result from incomplete combustion in heating systems or appliances.
- Temperature & humidity
- Formaldehyde – Known irritant and potential carcinogen found in furniture and building materials.
- Radon – A radioactive gas that accumulates in enclosed spaces, posing a health risk with prolonged exposure.
How Does an IAQ Monitor Work?
IAQ monitors use specialized sensors to detect the presence of various indoor air contaminants. The quality and number of sensors impact the accuracy of the readings. Most air quality monitors are helpful because they provide:
- Real-time monitoring which can be connected to an app and viewed on a smart phone.
- Alerts – They can alert you when pollutant levels exceed safe thresholds, helping you take immediate action like opening windows, using air purifiers, or addressing a specific source of pollution.
How Should I Choose the Right Type of IAQ Monitor?
Your particular budget is a factor. However, you especially want to pay attention to what metrics a particular model is tracking. The importance of metrics is dependent upon your specific sensitivities. For example, dust, mold, pollen, and dander affect people differently than VOCs and formaldehyde.
Choose your indoor air quality monitor based on your budget and your specific needs/sensitivities.
When You Know You Need an Indoor Air Quality Monitor
If you’re someone who struggles with chronic health or respiratory issues, it’s probably a good idea to invest in an IAQ monitor. Reasonable quality monitors start as low as $190.00. However, before you purchase a monitor, if you’re experiencing chronic allergy or respiratory symptoms, it’s a good idea to have a professional mold assessor come out to your property first to do expert indoor air quality testing.
Your IAQ assessor will utilize specialized equipment and industry best practices to identify what specific IAQ issues you have and the source. Identifying the source and type of indoor pollutant is crucial. Once the source and problem is identified through sampling and lab testing, a protocol can be developed to remediate the issue.
Once the issue is addressed, indoor air quality maintenance is crucial. Having an indoor air quality monitor may serve as an integral component of your long-term IAQ maintenance strategy.
Choose a Local Indoor Air Quality Specialist in Florida & South Georgia
Again, before you consider purchasing an indoor air quality monitor, it’s important for you to call an IAQ professional to provide assessment, sampling, and testing of your home’s indoor air quality. Once the health of your indoor air has been determined, a plan to maintain a healthy indoor environment can be established. An IAQ monitor may then serve as a crucial part of your ongoing IAQ maintenance strategy!