The 5 Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors To Help You Breathe Easy At Home

Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors for Sustainable Living

Introduction

Just like the food you eat and water you drink, the air you breathe affects both your short-term and long-term health. The best indoor air quality monitors like our top pick, the Airthings View Plus, assess the air quality by tracking various pollutants, including particulate matter like dust and soot and airborne chemicals like radon.

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How We Chose The Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors

To select the best indoor air quality monitors, we researched the top-rated options, compared their specifications, and spoke with industry experts to learn about airborne pollutants.

What To Look For In The Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors

Purchasing an indoor air quality monitor may initially seem daunting. They are sophisticated, often expensive devices that track a wide range of seemingly invisible data. However, once you know what to look for, finding an option that fits your needs is easy.

Environmental Parameters Detected

Every air quality monitor detects a different combination of pollutants and environmental conditions. The best pollutants to detect depend on personal health preferences and the home itself. “Everyone’s indoor air environment is different,” says Airthings CEO Emma Tryti. For example, people living in large cities or areas prone to wildfires may deal with increased particulate matter. Furthermore, a person living in the mountains or an older home may want to keep a closer eye on radon levels. “The ‘most important’ pollutant is the one your home may be most prone to seeing elevated levels of over time,” she says.

Ease Of Use

Even the most accurate and advanced air quality monitor is useless if you can’t figure out how it works. Here are a few questions to consider before buying. Is the data displayed in an organized and accessible way? How easily can users adjust between viewing different pollutants? Is any customization available regarding alerts, ranges, or graphs?

Bluetooth And WiFi Connectivity

Many indoor air quality monitors connect to Bluetooth or WiFi, making it easier to access alerts and measurements and integrate with smart devices. It’s also common for air quality monitor manufacturers to have a mobile app. In fact, some air quality monitors exclusively convey data through an app. The convenience of checking the air quality index from your phone, even when you’re out of the house, is often worth paying extra.

Stationary Vs. Portable

Some air quality monitors are designed to stay in a single room, while others are portable and can measure air quality in various areas. Stationary monitors are usually larger and have big, bright display screens that can be read from across the room; they can be wall-mounted or left freestanding on a shelf or side table. They are a great option if you prioritize simplicity and don’t mind reading the air levels in only one room. On the other hand, portable air quality monitors are more compact and have small screens. They provide more versatility but often require slightly more time and effort. There are cheap and expensive options available in both categories.

Source: forbes.com