How to Test, Measure & Improve IAQ in the Home and Workplace

Improved indoor air quality is an important goal. For one thing, it lowers energy costs. Businesses large and small know this, but the same is true for the family home. Even more important, however, is how better IAQ improves the health of building occupants. The problem is most people don’t know how to go about indoor air quality testing. And if they test and find a problem, how do they deal with it? 

Testing, measuring, and improving IAQ are not difficult if you know what’s involved.

Benefits of Better IAQ

We spend the vast majority of our time inside. For this reason, indoor air pollution is a major health risk. The benefits of cleaner air are obvious. Improving IAQ for a small business keeps employees healthy. Healthy employees miss fewer workdays. In the home, cleaner air means fewer allergens. This is a great relief for those who suffer from allergies and asthma.

Testing Indoor Air Quality

Different factors affect the inside air. Ventilation provided by the home’s HVAC system is one. The presence of harmful contaminants is another. Temperature and humidity levels also must be maintained to prevent mold growth and the release of chemicals from building materials.

Common Indoor Contaminants

According to the EPA, some common indoor contaminants include:

• Carbon Monoxide
• Formaldehyde
• Radon
• Indoor Particulate Matter (dust, soot, pollen)
• Smoke
• Lead

Fungi, bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens also pose a threat to our health as do volatile organic compounds. VOCs are chemicals released as a gas from products such as household cleaners, air fresheners, and disinfectants.

The first step to improving indoor air is to order an indoor air screening kit. For example, kits are available to test for fungi, bacteria, smoke, mold, formaldehyde, radon, and more.

Measuring Indoor Air Quality

For commercial businesses, IAQ monitoring is an effective way to ensure good indoor air quality. Sensors placed within the HVAC system relay information to a remote team. These technicians then use the data to measure temperature, humidity, and VOC levels. The resulting report gives building managers the information they need to deal with the issue. In the home, DIY test kits give homeowners what they need to make improvements. After collected samples are returned to the environmental lab, quick results follow along with recommendations for improvements.

Improving IAQ

Once a problem has been detected, improving IAQ is the next step. Opening windows to improve ventilation is a great idea, but that’s not always an option. In this case, using air purifiers is an effective way to improve IAQ. Commercial grade air purifiers can be used in businesses and in homes to create cleaner indoor environments. Air purifiers use HEPA filtration to remove even the tiniest of particles and keep them from circulating throughout the building.

Products like PURE Plasma Air use bipolar ionization to clean the air. Indeed, this method is effective in the reduction of pet dander, bacteria, and airborne viruses in buildings. It also controls VOCs and eliminates odors.

Start Your Indoor Air Quality Testing Today

Above all, indoor air quality affects the health of all building occupants. Further improve the IAQ of your home or business today, order a test kit or air purifier today. Call us for more information at 727-572-4550.