What Are Indoor Air Quality Monitors?

Indoor Air Quality

When you hear the words “air quality,” you probably think of smog, smoke from wildfires, and pollutants from factories and cars. You might not consider indoor air quality. Because most Americans spend at least 90% of their time indoors, indoor air quality makes a big impact on health, comfort, and well-being. A typical Anaheim, CA, home’s air is two to five times more polluted than the outdoor air. Here’s what you need to know about indoor air quality monitors.

What an Indoor Air Quality Monitor Is

An indoor air quality monitor is a device that constantly analyzes the levels of different types of indoor air pollutants in a building. There are air quality monitors for single-family homes, multi-unit residential buildings and offices. We install home indoor air quality monitors so that you know what’s in your home’s air.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters

The majority of your time is spent in your home. If your home’s air is polluted, you’re getting exposed to a lot of particles and vapors that could affect your respiratory system and overall health.

Some people are particularly susceptible to the effects of poor indoor air quality. Babies breathe faster than older children or adults, so they breathe in more of the pollutants in a home’s air. The elderly are at risk of complications from breathing polluted air. Pregnant women and people who have an acute or chronic respiratory disorder can also have serious complications if they’re exposed to a short-term, high-dose of polluted air or chronic, lower levels of indoor air pollution.

Even if you’re a young, healthy person, breathing polluted air increases your risk of cancer, heart disease and chronic lung disorders. Poor indoor air quality affects your comfort, and it can even shorten the lifespan of your home’s heating and cooling system.

How an Indoor Air Quality Monitor Works

An indoor air quality monitor works by monitoring the level of particles, gases and vapors in the air of your home. Some do this constantly, and others take measurements at specific intervals of time. The monitors typically have a touch-screen interface. There are also smart indoor air quality monitors that include an app. You can use the app on your phone to check the levels of different pollutants and to track their levels over time.

Pollutants Detected By Indoor Air Quality Monitors

Indoor air quality monitors detect gases, vapors, and particles. Some of the gases they can detect include radon, oxygen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Types of vapors detected by air quality monitors include water vapor, volatile organic compounds, and tobacco smoke. Particles detected by the monitors include pollen, pet dander, oil droplets, soot, dust, and mold spores. Some indoor air quality monitors only track one type of pollutant, such as radon. Others track dozens of pollutants in the air.

Reasons to Monitor Your Home’s Air Quality

Breathing polluted air can cause short-term and long-term illnesses. Knowing the level of pollutants in your home could allow you to take action, such as installing an air purifier or better filter. If your household includes a vulnerable person, such as a newborn baby or a person with asthma, monitoring the quality of the air could help you keep your family healthier.

Where Indoor Air Pollution Comes From

Indoor air pollutants come from many products and activities. Cleaning your home can release volatile organic compounds into the air. Most disinfectants, including simple ones like bleach, release these compounds. Common household products, including pressed wood furniture, adhesives, carpeting, and sealed upholstery release air pollutants. Cooking with oil, burning a candle, or using your gas or wood-burning fireplace creates indoor air pollution.

How to Take Action If the Monitor Shows Consistently Poor Air Quality in Your Home

If your air quality monitor shows high levels of particulates, you’ll benefit from a better air filter. You may want to have a whole-house fan for better ventilation of gases and vapors. A whole-home air purifier is also a good option for improving air quality.

Alps Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. is the trusted provider of indoor air quality solutions in Anaheim. Homeowners also turn to us for affordable heating and air conditioning repair, replacement, and maintenance services. Our zoning and ductless systems, water heater services, thermostats, attic insulation, duct design, and energy efficiency upgrades are designed with your budget, comfort, and well-being in mind. To learn more about indoor air quality monitors, get in touch with our team at Alps Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. today.