Measuring Room Air Quality: Where Is the Best Place to Start?
According to a study by the German Federal Environment Agency, German adults spend 20 hours a day indoors. It's therefore important to know what's in the room air we breathe. But where should you start when you want to measure a room's air quality?
Where should you measure air components in the room?
The answer isn't always straightforward, since air quality depends on various factors and can differ greatly by room and use. On one hand, the pollutant affects where it makes sense to place the air monitor; on the other, what you want to find out also affects placement. Ultimately, a pollutant's properties determine its characteristic behavior — for example, at what height air components accumulate. If you're looking for a specific pollutant in your home and want to determine its source, this also calls for a different approach to air analysis.
As initial guidance, we show you some important places where you should measure room air quality:
1. Measure air quality near sources of air pollution
Do you already suspect where the air pollution in the room is coming from? Then you should measure air quality near these potential sources. This includes air components like cigarette smoke, cooking fumes, chemicals from cleaning products, or even VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from furniture and carpets. These substances can significantly impair air quality and should therefore be monitored regularly. To do this, place an air monitor, such as the air-Q, near the suspected source — ideally at head height.
You can get the air-Q either as an air monitor to buy for permanent use, or as a rental device for 14 days, to run a one-off air analysis.
2. Place an air monitor at different heights in the room
Air quality can differ depending on height in a room. For example, gases like carbon monoxide tend to accumulate near the floor, while lighter gases like formaldehyde tend to stay in higher areas. Heavy particles like dust or soot also tend to stay near the floor and can therefore, like carbon monoxide or other gases, become dangerous while lying down asleep. Other pollutants, on the other hand, reach mid-height areas of the room through vertical air movement and due to their mass distribution. If pollutants are lighter than air, they even float upward and accumulate in the upper half of the room. The distribution of pollutants also depends on other factors, such as ambient temperature, humidity, ventilation behavior, ventilation systems, and room size.
It therefore makes sense to measure air quality both near the floor and at head height, to get a comprehensive picture. So place the air monitor at different room heights across different test phases: sometimes near the floor, sometimes on a shelf at head height, or higher up on a shelf. This gives you a comprehensive picture of room air composition.
In the bedroom, you should place the air monitor at head height, e.g. on the nightstand. This lets you monitor the air you breathe while lying down.
3. Analyze air quality near ventilation and air conditioning systems
Ventilation and air conditioning systems play an important role in regulating indoor air quality. Monitor air quality near these systems. That's because the devices might not be functioning properly, or could even contribute to air pollution themselves if not properly maintained. By placing the air monitor near the ventilation or air conditioning system, you find out whether the system is working properly or whether it's the source of air pollution.
4. Check areas with high humidity
High humidity can not only promote mold growth but also accelerate the spread of pollutants like formaldehyde. It's therefore advisable to monitor air quality in areas with high humidity, such as bathrooms or kitchens. If you want to track down mold that isn't yet visible, you should place the air-Q where you suspect the spores. Locations with high humidity exposure are well suited here: such as the windowsill, next to the shower or bathtub, or near the stovetop.
5. Detect room air quality in areas with little air circulation
Stagnant air can cause pollutants to accumulate and worsen air quality. It's therefore important to also monitor air quality in areas with little air circulation, such as corners or behind furniture. This lets you ensure adequate air circulation there too, and helps prevent mold growth, for example. If the air monitor shows poor air quality here, you can counteract it with targeted ventilation.
How should room air generally be monitored?
In general, we recommend placing air monitors well away from the window. This lets you see how air quality is distributed across the room. Often, ventilation periods that are too short mean not all the stale room air gets exchanged — only the air near the window does. If you placed the measuring device near the window, this would skew the data collection.
If you want to track down the source of pollutants in your home, you should use a process of elimination. Monitor individual rooms with the air monitor. Close the door for each room to minimize air exchange with other rooms as much as possible. Once you've identified the affected room, check its air quality at different heights. To do this, place the air monitor in various positions. If there aren't outlets at different heights in the room, you can also run the air-Q via a power bank.
Conclusion
By measuring air quality in your rooms, you find out whether your indoor spaces are healthy and safe. Should air quality be inadequate, the air-Q will warn you, and you can respond accordingly. By measuring air quality at various locations in the room, you get a comprehensive picture of the state of the air you breathe. Ultimately, regularly monitoring air quality helps you make healthy decisions and take measures to improve the air in your indoor spaces.