It’s no secret that Australia has some of the best air quality in the world. But that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from indoor air quality testing. After all, old gas appliances, bushfire smoke, and poor ventilation can all reduce the quality of the air inside your home.
Since COVID-19, customers increasingly come to us wanting to know ‘how can I test the air quality in my home’. This short guide covers everything you need to know to choose the right air quality test to enhance your health.
Put simply, indoor air quality refers to how clean the air inside your home is. More specifically, the Australian Government defines air quality as ‘the totality of attributes of indoor air that affect a person’s health and well-being.’ As a general rule of thumb, the more particles or pollutants there are in the air, the lower the quality and the greater the risk of health effects.
Some common causes of poor air quality in our homes include:
As our homes have become better insulated from the outdoors, indoor sources of pollutants are becoming an even larger source of indoor air pollution than previously. Your air conditioner can also influence your air quality—for example, air conditioning can affect asthma.
In Australia we often take air quality for granted. It can also be easy to overlook potential air quality issues, especially when you can’t see pollutants with the naked eye. But maintaining good air quality inside your home is essential—after all, we spend as much as 90% or more of our time indoors!
Some of the most common potential health impacts of poor air quality include:
However, some sources of indoor air pollution can have more serious consequences. For example, in severe cases, carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to loss of consciousness, brain injury and even death.
If you’re on the fence about whether to get an air quality test, here are some tell-tale signs it might be a good idea:
When it comes to indoor air quality testing, there are multiple options to choose from to suit your particular needs. Whether you just want to get a reading in one room, or you want to hire a professional to do a comprehensive test throughout your house, there’s an option for everyone. Below we discuss your main air quality test options available.
The easiest way to test the air quality in your home is to purchase an indoor air quality monitor. These small devices are specifically designed to measure key factors that influence air quality. This includes:
Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas that is both flammable and poisonous. Carbon monoxide is produced from burning fuels including gas, charcoal, wood and oil. That’s why most poisonings occur when people use outdoor equipment such as barbeques, generators, outdoor heaters and gas lanterns, inside where there is insufficient ventilation.
In some circumstances, older appliances that aren’t well-maintained, like ducted gas heating and space heaters, can also emit small amounts of carbon monoxide.
If you’re particularly concerned about carbon monoxide levels in your home, it’s a great idea to purchase a carbon monoxide monitor. They’re small, battery-operated devices available from hardware stores that you can place near the potential source of carbon monoxide to keep an eye on the levels. Some also come with built-in settings to trigger an alarm if the carbon monoxide levels move above a certain threshold.
Many people use air purifiers to filter pollutants out of the air. They’re particularly good if you suffer from allergies as they can remove particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander and even mould spores. Many of these have built-in monitors that measure PM10 and PM2.5 levels, so they’re a good option to consider if you’re looking for a device that can perform both a basic air quality test and remove harmful particles at the same time.
If you’re after a baseline reading but don’t feel a need to continually monitor your air quality, or you’re after a highly precise reading, it’s a good idea to hire a professional to undertake an air quality test for you. It’s also a good idea to hire a professional if you’re concerned about exposure to more toxic pollutants, such as silica dust or asbestos, as they have the specialised equipment required. They’ll also be able to interpret the results accurately.
If you’re after more of a ‘finger in the air’ approach (yes—pun intended!) the final option is to keep track of air quality based on how you feel. While we prefer a data-backed approach, flare ups in your allergies or asthma can give you a good indication that there’s a higher level of irritants and pollutants in your house than usual.
The answer to ‘how much does indoor air quality testing cost’ really depends on which method you choose to use. Generally speaking:
For more tips on how to keep air clean at home, how to test the air quality in my home, and for all your air conditioner maintenance needs, contact us today.
References:
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