How Can I Test The Air Quality In My Home?

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.

What is indoor air quality?

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:

• Pollutants from gas stoves and gas heaters
• Smoke from wood heaters
• Dust mites
• Pet dander
• Carbon monoxide
• Mould and fungi aren’t always easy to spot, especially if it’s mould in air conditioning ducts.

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.

Why you should consider an air quality test

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:

• Sinus irritation of the nose, and throat
• Eye irritation
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Respiratory illnesses like asthma

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.

Signs you might need an air quality test

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:

• You have an older style gas heater or a wood burning stove—both of these heaters can emit a surprising amount of pollution.
• You have a gas cooktop and a small kitchen.
• Your home feels damp or certain rooms smell musty—this can be a tell-tale sign of high moisture levels in your home, which may create the ideal environment for mould to flourish.
• You’ve just moved into a new house and you want to get a baseline reading.
• You’re undertaking renovations and you want to keep track of dust and chemical levels.
• You’ve been feeling unwell or rundown, or have had an increase in your asthma or hay fever symptoms.

How can I test the air quality in my home?

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.

1. Install an indoor air quality monitor

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:

• Particulate matter (or PM) levels – airborne particulate matter is one of the most commonly measured air pollutants. It’s not one specific pollutant, but refers to airborne particles in either liquid or solid form, that are made up of multiple pollutants such as organic compounds, dust, pollen, different chemicals, bacteria and other allergens. PM is typically defined according to its size. Particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less are labelled PM10, and can be inhaled into the lungs. Generally, indoor air quality monitors will also detect how much fine particulate matter is present in the air. This is defined as particles equal to or less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5).
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – these are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids that can pose a threat to health, either in the short term or with longer term exposure. They have a significant impact on indoor air quality and are typically found in higher concentrations indoors than outdoors. Examples include fumes from household chemicals like paint strippers, paints, cleaning supplies and pesticides.
• Temperature and humidity levels – while these aren’t dangerous in and of themselves, they can influence air quality by creating the right conditions for mould to grow.

2. Install a carbon monoxide monitor

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.

3. Measure air quality on your air purifier

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.

4. Hire a professional to undertake an air quality test

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.

5. Monitor your symptoms

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.

How much does indoor air quality testing cost?

The answer to ‘how much does indoor air quality testing cost’ really depends on which method you choose to use. Generally speaking:

• A high-quality standalone indoor air quality metre will set you back anywhere from $200 to $1000 depending on the specific model you choose. The more sensitive the device, the higher quality the readings, but the more expensive it will tend to be. You’ll also generally pay more for more specialised devices. That said, if you’re after a measurement on a budget, it is possible to pick up a bottom-of-the-range air quality monitor for $150 or less.
• You can expect to pay as little as $30 for a basic carbon monoxide monitor at your local hardware store, and there are many models available for less than $100. If you’re after a top-of-the-range carbon monoxide monitor, you’ll need to spend something in the range of $200.
• A good quality air purifier with a built-in air quality sensor will cost around $250-500. There are many models that are cheaper than this, including some for under $100, and there are lots of models—like those built by Dyson for example—that can cost over $1000. The most important thing is to choose an air purifier designed to meet your needs. While some are great at extracting pollen and dust from the air, others are better at extracting harmful gases.
• Hiring a professional to perform an air quality test is guaranteed to give you the best results, but it will also come with the highest price tag. The starting price is generally a couple of hundred dollars, but a professional can easily charge into the $1000s. Often, they’ll quote by room and they’ll include tests for a range of pollutants. The advantage of paying for a professional inspection, however, is that they can provide advice on the best steps to take to improve your air quality.

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:

• NSW Health (14 June 2023) ‘Carbon monoxide poisoning fact sheet’, NSW Health website,
• Alice Richard (24 June 2024) ‘The best air purifiers for dust and pollen allergies’, Choice Reviews
• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (10 October 2021) ‘Indoor air’, Department of Climate Change