If you’ve been noticing musty smells, excessive dust, or stuffy bedrooms, the first thing you might want to do is test your indoor air quality.
After all, these are obvious signs of poor air quality. And if you keep ignoring them, these can start affecting your health.
But how do you test the air quality in your home?
Well, there isn’t a standalone test that can tell you whether your home’s air is good or bad. You need to run different tests using a range of air quality monitors and look for things like particulate matter, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, VOCs, humidity, radon, and other contaminants.
To begin with, you can use a home air-quality monitor to get a basic idea about your indoor air quality.
But if you suspect mold, radon, unusual odors, or chemical exposure, you might need targeted testing using specialized tools. This is where you might need professional indoor air quality inspection.
In this blog, I have explained how you can test the air quality in your Houston home and what different tests can tell you. Plus, when you should hire a professional indoor air quality testing expert.
So, let’s get into it.
Key takeaways
- There is no universal test that measures every aspect of indoor air quality.
- Home air-quality monitors can help you track PM2.5, CO₂, VOCs, temperature, and humidity, depending on the testing device.
- Carbon monoxide and radon require different testing and should not be confused with general air-quality monitoring.
- If you have a mold problem, simply measuring the amount of mold in the air won’t help, you’ll have to control the source of it.
- If you have persistent air-quality problems, unusual odors, or moisture problems, get a professional indoor air quality assessment done.
What is indoor air quality testing?
Indoor air quality testing is the process of checking the air inside your home for pollutants that could be affecting the indoor environment.
Here, depending on the pollutants you are concerned about, indoor air quality testing can look at things like particulate matter, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, VOCs, radon, humidity, or other contaminants.
But here’s the catch: There isn’t one air quality test that checks for everything.
For instance, a test that measures carbon dioxide can give you information about ventilation. But it won’t tell you whether radon or carbon monoxide is present in your home.
Similarly, a monitor that measures particulate matter in the air cannot tell you whether chemicals like formaldehyde are present.
This is why I suggest you first decide what pollutant/contaminant you are trying to find before an indoor air quality assessment.
Note: If you are trying to detect common indoor pollutants, a DIY home air quality monitor can be enough. But if you need targeted sampling or lab testing, you might need to hire a professional.
What pollutants should you test for in your Houston home?
There are many different things that you might want to test depending on your air quality concerns. This includes the following:
| Your air quality concern | What you should test for |
| Dust, smoke or fine particles | PM2.5 |
| Stuffy rooms or poor ventilation | CO₂ |
| New furniture, paint or renovation odors | VOCs or specific chemicals |
| Fuel-burning appliances | Carbon monoxide |
| Possible radon exposure | Radon test |
| Damp or musty conditions | Humidity and moisture |
| Possible mold problem | Moisture/building assessment and, when appropriate, targeted sampling |
Note: These tests are not interchangeable. And while a home air-quality monitor can be useful for tracking some of these pollutants, it does not provide a full picture of everything that could be affecting your indoor air quality.
How do you test the air quality in your home? Things Houston homeowners can DIY
If you live in Houston and want to test the air quality in your home, there are two basic things you can do:
- Use a home air-quality monitor to check for basic pollutants
- Do targeted testing for a specific concern like VOCs or mold
Overall, here’s what you can do:
1. Start with a home air-quality monitor
A DIY home air-quality monitor can be a useful first step if you want to understand what is happening inside your home. Depending on the device, it can measure things like:
- PM2.5 or other particulate matter
- CO₂
- VOCs
- Temperature
- Relative humidity
Also, some air-quality monitors can measure additional pollutants, but I suggest you check exactly what that device is designed to detect.
The main benefit of an air-quality monitor is that you can see how readings change. For instance, you can see particulate levels increase while cooking, or carbon dioxide levels rise in a bedroom overnight. These things can give you useful clues about what is happening inside your home.
Where should you put an air-quality monitor?
For starters, don’t place the monitor directly beside your stove, air purifier, HVAC vent, open window or another source. That’s because the reading here will not represent the actual air quality in the room.
As per EPA’s general rule of thumb, place the monitor around the occupant’s breathing zone, 3 to 6 feet above the floor, allowing air to move freely around the device.
Here’s where you can place a home air-quality monitor and why:
| Where to place the monitor | Why |
| Main living area | Gives you a good idea of air quality in the common space |
| Bedroom | Helps you understand overnight air quality |
| Around breathing height | Better shows the air people are actually breathing |
| Away from windows and vents | Helps avoid localized readings |
| Away from stoves and direct sources | Prevents one small activity from distorting the reading |
2. Do targeted testing for specific concerns
There are citations when a general idea about your home’s air is not enough, and you need to detect specific pollutants or contaminants.
For instance, if you are concerned about the presence of radon, you will need radon testing. And if you are concerned about carbon monoxide, you need a proper CO alarm or appropriate testing for the same.
This also applies to VOCs and formaldehyde. An air-quality monitor can tell you that VOC levels have changed, but it will not tell you exactly which chemical is responsible for the change.
Pro tip: Before you do targeted testing, get a general idea about your home’s air quality using a DIY monitor. Then, depending on what pollutant is concerning you the most, choose a targeted testing method.
Bonus: Do look around your home to figure out what is causing the indoor pollution
You can have an air sample showing an elevated reading. But that doesn’t tell you where the problem is coming from.
So, also look at your and check for things like:
- Water leaks or water stains
- Condensation
- High indoor humidity
- Musty odors
- Visible mold
- HVAC problems
- Poor ventilation
- Recent remodeling or construction
- Fuel-burning appliances
- Areas where outdoor air or pollutants may be entering the home
For instance, if a room consistently has high humidity, musty odor. and the air-quality monitor is also flagging foul air, there’s a high chance of mold growth somewhere. In this case, the best thing you can do is get a separate mold inspection done and do mold remediation if mold is actually present.
Can a home air-quality monitor detect mold, radon and carbon monoxide?
No, it can-not. And this is something you should know before buying an indoor air-quality monitor.
A home air-quality monitor can measure PM2.5 and VOCs. But it doesn’t test for radon or carbon monoxide.
So, for carbon monoxide detection, the best thing you can do according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission is install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home.
Talking about radon, you will similarly need a proper radon test rather than assuming that a general-purpose air-quality monitor has covered it.
And if you are concerned about mold, a detailed mold testing from a licensed expert is the best starting point.
Pro tip: If you see moisture, condensation, water staining or a musty smell, pay attention to the moisture source and work to control it. As per the EPA your indoor moisture levels should be below 60%, ideally between 30% and 50%.
When should you get a professional indoor air quality testing done?
A home air-quality monitor is a helpful first step, but there are situations where you need more than that.
For instance, if you keep smelling musty odors, have long-term moisture problems, visible mold, or your home was recently renovated, you should get a detailed professional indoor air quality assessment. This is also true if you want to detect some suspected contaminants.
A professional inspector uses well established indoor air quality testing procedures to examine your property, identify sources of indoor pollution, assess ventilation and HVAC conditions, and collect samples if needed. This is something your home air-quality monitor can-not do.
Moreover, a professional will also suggest the next steps to help restore clean indoor air after their inspection.
Overall, here’s when you should go for a professional indoor air quality assessment:
| Situation | What a professional does |
| Persistent unusual odors | Source investigation and targeted testing |
| Recurring moisture or water damage | Moisture/building assessment |
| Suspected mold | Moisture investigation and targeted assessment |
| Recent renovation | VOC or specific contaminant testing, if appropriate |
| Concern about radon | Dedicated radon testing |
| Suspected combustion problem | Carbon monoxide testing and appliance/venting evaluation |
| Repeated abnormal monitor readings | Professional assessment to identify the source |
Bonus: Here’s what you should do after testing your home’s air
| If you find | What you should do |
| Indoor pollution | Find and control the source |
| Poor ventilation | Improve ventilation |
| High particle levels | Reduce the source and use proper filtration |
| Moisture problem | Fix the leak or moisture source |
| Specific contaminant | Use targeted testing for that contaminant |
You might also want to read: A Complete Texas Rental Property Inspection Checklist.
Wrapping it up
I am sure that you now have a good understanding of how to test the air quality in your Houston home.
As you can see, indoor air quality testing is not a standalone test. There are different tests that measure different pollutants, and the right test depends on what you are actually trying to find.
A home air-quality monitor is a good starting point for detecting things like particles, CO₂, VOCs and humidity. But you will need to do targeted testing for concerns like radon, mold, carbon monoxide, etc.
Speaking about homes in Houston, I suggest you pay particular attention to moisture, humidity, ventilation and HVAC conditions.
Got more questions or want to get a detailed professional indoor air quality assessment for your Houston home?
We’ve got you covered!
At Bullseye Engineering Inspection, our indoor air quality services are designed to help property owners understand potential indoor air quality concerns through appropriate inspection, sampling and analysis.
Whether you’re dealing with unusual odors, moisture concerns, or suspected contaminants, we will help you determine the exact source and suggest the next steps.
FAQs about indoor air quality testing
How do you test the air quality in your home?
You can start with a home air-quality monitor to measure specific conditions such as PM2.5, CO₂, VOCs and humidity. For concerns such as radon, carbon monoxide, specific chemicals or suspected contamination, you might need targeted testing or a professional indoor air quality assessment.
What should I test for in my home?
It depends on the concern. Common things to measure or test include particulate matter, carbon dioxide, VOCs, humidity, carbon monoxide and radon. If you suspect mold, the moisture source and affected areas should also be investigated.
Can an air-quality monitor detect mold?
Not necessarily. A typical air-quality monitor does not tell you whether mold is growing in your home.
If visible mold or moisture damage is present, the more important step is generally to identify and correct the moisture problem.
How do you measure air quality at home?
You measure different aspects of indoor air quality using different instruments or tests. For instance, a particle monitor can measure PM2.5, while a humidity meter measures relative humidity and a dedicated radon test measures radon. There is no single device that measures every indoor pollutant.
When should you get professional indoor air quality testing?
Professional testing makes sense when you have persistent odors, unexplained air-quality readings, suspected contamination, moisture problems, recent renovation, or another concern that you cannot identify with basic home monitoring.
