5 Easy Ways to Test Indoor Air Pollution (Plus IAQ Monitors)

Air pollution is a common issue across the world. High levels of indoor pollution is dangerous to health and safety. However, not all indoor pollution comes from outdoors.

Indoor air pollutants come from mold, various chemicals from building materials, carbon monoxide, and other harmful pollutants. Most of the pollutants come from areas with inadequate ventilation and are invisible to the naked eye.

Testing the internal air quality is very important to do in the space. This determines which air pollutant is in the residential or commercial area. Knowing how to check air quality in your home or warehouse is very important. This blog goes over major ways to test your indoor air pollution.

Residential or commercial spaces need to have good indoor air quality (IAQ). However, most people don't understand the importance of air quality. Poor air quality can lead to many health issues and other potentially death.

The potential risks of poor indoor air quality include:

• Short-Term Effects
• Long-Term Effects
• Decrease in Mental Health

Poor indoor air quality can lead to various short-term effects. One of the most common short-term effects is having difficulty breathing. Over time, the buildup of air pollutants like mold spores and dust mites can cause respiratory issues.

These pollutants can make occupants sick without the knowledge of what is making them sick. Use an air quality test to check for potential pollutants in the air. If you find any pollutants, you can take the proper precautions to avoid future pollutants.

Another common early effect is constant allergy flare ups. Frequent allergic reactions can occur if there is a high quantity of indoor pollutants in the air. Air pollutants like dust and chemicals from cleaning products can cause allergic reactions for the occupant. Symptoms of these reactions vary from nasal congestion to skin rashes.

Unfortunately, continuous exposure to poor indoor air quality can cause long-term damage as well. Lung cancer is a common health issue that can arise over time from these pollutants. Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases like COPD, stroke, and arrhythmias can also arise as well from the poor particulate matter. In the worst-case scenario, high air pollutions can lead to death from health complications.

These unfortunate long-term effects are why it is important to regularly test the particulate matter in the air.

Lifelong Complications in Children and at-risk Occupants

Children and at-risk adults can have triggers to air pollutants. Children have smaller lungs meaning they cannot filter out the pollutants as easily as adults can. This makes them more vulnerable to these pollutants that can lead them to become sick.

At-risk adults are also susceptible to health problems as well. By being exposed to the contaminants, the at-risk adults can also become ill and have a more challenging recovery.

Whether in homes or commercial areas, mental health is always important. With an increase in harmful pollutants, occupant’s mental health can decrease leading to anxiety and depression.

Poor ventilation areas can greatly affect the mood of occupants. Higher carbon dioxide levels can lead to the feeling of exhaustion and low energy.

If you believe there are areas with low ventilation, upgrade your ventilation systems or find an air purifier. These systems will work to improve the ventilation and air quality.

As mentioned above, testing the air quality in your home or commercial setting is very important. Before hiring a professional, there are a couple of DIY tests that you can complete. One of the tests you can choose is the visual check. A visual check is inspecting around indoor areas for signs of air pollution.

During the visual check, it is best to look for potential smoke damage like soot or discoloration indoors. You can also look for mold growth or any dust buildup near vents, light fixtures, or furniture. Other signs to look for include inconsistent temperatures indoors.

The odor check is another test that is commonly used as a DIY test method. This method is like the visual check. Both require you to inspect the area. The difference is that the odor check requires you to check for odors or other potential damage that is from poor indoor air quality.

Smells that should set you off include:

• Rotten Egg smell
• Burning Plastic smell
• Swampy, Earth smell
• Chemical Odors

If the smells are persistent, hire a professional to fully inspect the area to find the issue.

Tape-lift dust tests, also known as tape sampling, tests the mold or other specimen on a surface. The tape presses against the surface and collects the sample. After collecting the sample, send it to a lab to analyze the results.

Tape-lift dust tests are beneficial because they are inexpensive and provide quick results. However, this kind of test does not work on certain materials like paper or wood. Another disadvantage of this method is it not comprehensive, especially if the sample taken is small.

When determining the different indoor quality tools to use, it is important to tell the difference between handheld monitors and professional kits.

Handheld monitors, or indoor air quality monitors, are devices that use sensors to detect, monitor and report air pollutants. Professional kits are devices that consultants and air quality experts use to monitor air quality.

One of the biggest differences between these two tools is the cost. Handheld monitors tend to be lower in cost when coming with many different samples. People spend more for professional kits but they come with warranties and better technology to analyze the results.

Another difference is the accuracy of the tools. Professional monitors are more accurate than handheld monitors. This results from professional monitors detecting a wider range of pollutants and particulates in the air. Industrial air quality tests use advanced sensors and data analyzing to provide timely results.

Since the professional kit is more advanced, they are better for critical applications. Handheld monitors differ in that they are more likely to be beneficial during non-critical applications.

Another difference is that professional kits can perform in a variety of locations in residences and commercial areas. On the other hand, handheld systems cannot perform the best when they are in specific locations. It is best to use handheld systems when they are in less demanding spaces.

Below are indoor air quality products that HomElectrical offers.

• CO2 Detector (RLY-7300)
• CO2 Detector(USI-MCN108)
• VOC Monitor (KLT-ET120

When purchasing the CO2 detectors and VOC monitors, it is important to know what the results mean. CO2 detectors measure the concentration levels of carbon dioxide in the air. This means the detector provides you with the parts per million (ppm) level in the space. Indoor levels over 1000 ppm are dangerous.

Unlike CO2 detectors, VOC monitors measure the amount of volatile organic compounds in the air. These devices measure the levels of gases in ppm or milligrams per cubic meter. This is important because there are specific levels the VOC will need to be at to be safe to stay in. Consider VOC levels higher than 0.5 ppm or 1000 micrograms per cubic meters dangerous.

There are many different ways to test the indoor air quality in residential or commercial settings. However, using the tools and methods in this blog simplify finding harmful pollutants. Shop Indoor Air Quality Pollutants today at HomElectrical!