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We spend a lot of time at home, cooking, relaxing, sleeping, entertaining, and performing many other activities. It makes sense that we want to fill our lungs with the best air possible, especially when we’re in our homes. For those suffering from indoor allergy symptoms, your home’s air quality might be to blame. However, don’t immediately jump to industrial-grade testing methods. Certain chemicals used during testing cause more damage to your indoor air quality in the long run. Read on to learn 3 ways you can check the air quality in your home.
1. Use Your Five Senses
The first step in determining air quality is to take a sensory audit of your home. Go room-by-room and take detailed notes of any odd odors or built-up residue. If you smell something musty, take note of the room and location. If you see a lot of dust flying through the air, this also affects your indoor air quality. Check behind appliances, too, take note of any possible leaks. Review your cleaning supplies, air fresheners, and candles and see if they contain any of the chemicals on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of toxic air pollutants. Once you complete your audit, analyze your notes and address the problem areas. For instance, if you see that your AC is leaking, you will want to have a technician come out to inspect it.
2. Use a Charcoal Canister Kit to Check for Radon
Self-audits can help address any potential indoor air quality issues in your home, but if you’re still concerned, you might want to consider purchasing a consumer-grade testing kit. One of the common home tests is a charcoal canister kit, which is used to check for radon levels. Just remember that most of the do-it-yourself testing kits will still require a professional to verify the results and are best used to alert you to a potential problem, not for self-diagnosis. If you are concerned about radon, it’s recommended to perform a home test annually to screen for it.
3. Invest in a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Depending on the amount present and length of exposure, carbon monoxide can be extremely dangerous. Carbon Monoxide, or CO, is often called a “silent killer” because of its colorless, odorless qualities. An easy way to keep indoor air quality in check is to invest in a home CO detector. Typically, CO detectors plug into a power outlet and gradually monitor CO levels over time. However, CO detectors cannot replace a smoke detector, and smoke detectors do not measure carbon monoxide levels in the same way as a CO detector.
Energy Air Offers Indoor Air Quality Solutions
These are just a few of the steps you can take to check for common indoor air quality issues, but some cases require the help of a professional.
At Energy Air, we want you and your family to experience the highest home indoor air quality possible. After all, your health and well-being depend on it! We’ll discuss all of your options and provide additional solutions to improve your home’s indoor air quality. Simply give us a call or schedule an appointment online.