Every day, the average person takes approximately 20,000 breaths. With all of that air going in and out of your body, it’s important that the air is clean and healthy. Unfortunately, the quality of the air inside many Murrieta homes leaves a lot to be desired. This low-quality air can cause a host of health problems. While there are many methods that you can use to solve the problem of poor air quality, you must first understand which pollutants are in your home so that you know how to combat them. At We Care Plumbing, Heating and Air, we want to introduce you to some indoor air quality monitors that can help you take charge of your home’s air.

Types of Indoor Pollutants

There are a surprising variety of indoor pollutants that can be harmful. Volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, radon, mold, asbestos, lead, nitrogen dioxide and simple household dust can cause harm to either the people or the things in your home. At first glance, the number of different pollutants seems overwhelming. The good news is that the techniques used for monitoring and mitigating many of these pollutants will help lessen the concentration of other pollutants as well.

What Is an Indoor Air Quality Monitor?

An indoor air quality monitor is a device used to detect indoor pollutants. At We Care Plumbing, Heating and Air, we recommend that you install air quality monitors even before you suspect that there’s a problem so that you can be alerted as soon as your air becomes unhealthy. Plus, since many indoor pollutants are undetectable by any of your five senses, an indoor air quality monitor may be your only way of knowing that you have unhealthy indoor air.

Types of Air Quality Monitors

Since the air quality in many cities has declined in recent years, more and more people have begun to focus on their home’s air quality. Therefore, there are now more air quality monitors on the marke. Many types of monitors only look for a single contaminant, such as radon or carbon monoxide, while other monitors try to detect as many different contaminants as possible.

Basic monitors will have a digital screen to provide a real-time measurement of your home’s air quality. They may also include some type of alarm to get your attention if your air quality takes a turn for the worse. More advanced monitors are likely to have “smart” capabilities that allow you to see your home’s air quality on an app on your phone. This makes it easier to track long-term trends and take action if there’s a problem.

Radon Monitor

If there’s one indoor pollutant that you need to be aware of more than any other, it’s radon. Radon is completely colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Yet it is radioactive and can penetrate your body’s cells as you breathe it in. Over time, this can lead to lung cancer, meaning you need to make sure you stay aware of your home’s indoor radon levels.

Ideally, your home’s radon levels will be zero. However, if you notice levels higher than 2.7 pCi/L for more than three months, you need to take action. The most effective type of radon monitoring is an electronic monitor that you can mount on a wall in your home. This will give you the best insights into long-term radon concentrations so that you can monitor changes.

Carbon Monoxide Detector

While radon can have serious long-term health consequences, carbon monoxide’s dangerous effects tend to be more immediate. Within just a few minutes of exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide, you could experience unconsciousness that could prove fatal. That’s why We Care Plumbing, Heating and Air recommends that you have a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home and within earshot of every bedroom. Carbon monoxide detectors should be mounted around eye level so that you can quickly and easily check to make sure no carbon monoxide is present in your home.

Particulate Matter Monitors

If it’s particulate matter and volatile organic compounds that you’re most concerned about, there are a variety of monitors that can help you take control of your home’s air quality. Given the wide variety of health effects that can accompany these indoor pollutants, the number of particulate air monitors available is quite substantial. These monitors are also the most likely to have “smart” capabilities to provide real-time air-quality insights on your phone.

Except for a few specific substances, most problems with particulate matter and volatile organic compounds don’t need to be addressed immediately. However, taking care of them at your earliest convenience will prevent a lot of unpleasant symptoms and avoid any risk of long-term complications.

Hygrometer

Mold is another potentially harmful indoor air pollutant. The mold that’s growing on a wall isn’t particularly harmful until it is disturbed in some way. That’s when mold spores are released into the air, causing respiratory irritation, coughing, and other symptoms. Depending on the type of mold that you have in your home, the symptoms may be more serious and could include neurological problems and long-term lung issues.

While there are some monitors that can check for mold, your best option is to detect and correct favorable mold conditions before any mold has a chance to grow. To do that, you’ll need a hygrometer. A hygrometer detects relative humidity levels in your home’s indoor air. If the level of humidity gets too high, you might need to invest in a dehumidifier to remove the excess moisture before it can collect on porous surfaces and potentially cause mold growth.

How to Improve Your Home’s Air Quality

Once you detect that there’s a problem with your home’s indoor air, it’s time to remove the contaminants that are causing the problem. While certain contaminants, such as carbon monoxide or radon, will require the assistance of companies like We Care Plumbing, Heating, and Air, you can tackle some of the other contaminants on your own.

For example, you can purchase a portable air purifier to remove a whole host of contaminants from your home’s air using the built-in HEPA filter. Adding some plants to your home decor is a great way to remove certain volatile organic compounds from the air and release pure oxygen in the place of these harmful substances. For a whole-home clean-air solution, We Care Plumbing, Heating, and Air can install a whole-home air purifier alongside your other HVAC equipment.

Helping You Take Control of Your Home’s Air Quality

At We Care Plumbing, Heating, and Air, we want our customers to be able to be in control of their home’s air quality. That’s why we provide services, such as air conditioner repair, furnace installation, and indoor air quality monitoring. Plus, we offer a complete line of plumbing services, including water heater installation, plumbing repair, sewer cleaning, and much more, to ensure that you always have access to a reliable water supply. Our customers in Murrieta, CA, and the surrounding areas love our unending commitment to perfection. To learn more about monitoring your home’s air quality, contact us at We Care Plumbing, Heating, and Air today.

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Author Bio: Rusty Cochran

Rusty Cochran - President of We Care Plumbing, Heating and Air ConditioningRusty Cochran is the President of We Care Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning. We Care began humbly, operating in his family’s living room. Under Rusty’s strong leadership, We Care has grown from 2 employees to over 200 employees. We Care Plumbing, Heating and Air has gained recognition across the HVAC industry, receiving numerous awards and certifications, including being named the ACCA Contractor of the Year, The Map Presidential Award several times, Angie’s List Super Service Award, NATE certification, and multiple Dave Lennox Awards. LinkedIn Profile

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