WHY INSTALL A CONNECTED AIR QUALITY SENSOR?
Let’s be clear: in your home or office, the air is polluted. It can contain up to 8 times more pollutants than outdoor air, and we spend 80 to 90% of our time indoors! The purpose of installing an air quality sensor is to help you identify suspended pollutant particles in the air and measure their quantity.
Having information about the quality of the air you breathe daily helps improve your comfort and prevents health issues. The more information you have about the air inside your home, the faster you can act and enhance your well-being.
A connected air quality sensor can even inform you in real-time and alert you when certain thresholds are exceeded. If your sensor is not connected, you should be able to check the data directly on the device.
Investing in an air quality sensor allows you to protect your health and that of your loved ones, especially if they have respiratory problems.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY?
Indoor air pollution is a serious issue that is gaining more media attention. In fact, according to the French Ministry of Solidarity and Health, air pollution in general causes up to 48,000 premature deaths per year in France. Treating illnesses related to air pollution costs around 100 billion euros per year!
In the long or short term, the effects of indoor air pollution can be extremely harmful to health. For newborns and children, it can:
- Affect fetal growth,
- Cause premature birth,
- Lead to intellectual development delays.
In adults and the elderly, it can cause:
- Respiratory difficulties, lung problems, allergies, asthma attacks...
- Migraines, headaches, neurodegenerative and/or brain diseases…
- Heart problems
- Fertility issues and miscarriages
These problems depend on factors such as:
- The type of pollutants: gases or particles,
- Particle size: smaller particles penetrate deeper into the lungs,
- Your lifestyle: smoking habits, exposure to pollutants…
- Your health, age, and weight,
- The length of exposure to pollutants: short-term exposure to high levels (like during a pollution peak) is less dangerous than continuous, daily exposure to lower levels.
HOW TO MEASURE AIR QUALITY AND CO2 LEVELS IN A ROOM?
To measure air quality and CO2 levels in a room, there are specific sensors. Be aware that some sensors measure only certain aspects of air quality but not CO2, while others measure only CO2. A third type of device combines all these measurements to give you precise information about your indoor air quality. Typically, air quality sensors provide data such as:
TEMPERATURE
Expressed in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVEL
Expressed as a percentage.
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
Expressed in Pa.
CO2
Also called carbon dioxide, expressed in ppm.
VOC
Also called Volatile Organic Compounds, expressed in µg/m³.
PM10
These are pollutants with a diameter equal to or less than 10 µm. Expressed in µg/m³.
PM2.5
These are micro-pollutant particles with a diameter equal to or less than 2.5 µm. Expressed in µg/m³.
RADON
This is a radioactive gas naturally present in the air, dangerous in high concentrations (lung cancer). Expressed in Bq/m3.
HOW DOES AN AIR QUALITY SENSOR WORK?
While there are organizations and associations monitoring and assessing outdoor air quality, indoor air quality sensors provide localized data. These devices are designed for use in homes, offices, medical offices, or public spaces like nurseries, schools, museums, etc.
Once installed, the sensor gives you access to various data 24/7. It continuously analyzes air quality and alerts you when thresholds are exceeded. Currently, most air quality sensors are connected and have dedicated apps. This way, you receive alerts and notifications on your smartphone or tablet. On a computer, you can also access an overview on your dashboard.
One of the advantages of these devices is access to a data history. You can identify pollutant sources and take action to combat air pollution. The precision and variety of data show you ways to improve air quality, such as adjusting your habits.
Most of the time, indoor air pollution comes from everyday routines like cooking, cleaning products, smoking, scented candles, or using a fireplace for heating.
HOW TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY IN A ROOM?
To combat indoor air pollution, the first reflex is simply to air out the rooms for at least 15 minutes a day, even in winter. This helps evacuate excess pollutants produced by human activity. Be sure to ventilate rooms in the morning after waking up (human breathing releases CO2), after showering, cooking, cleaning, or doing DIY projects. Here are some other tips to avoid pollutant accumulation at home:
- Avoid smoking indoors.
- Dry your laundry outside.
- Maintain your ventilation systems and VMCs.
- Avoid using incense and scented candles.
- Use healthy, low-toxicity cleaning products.
- Opt for eco-friendly materials and paints.
- Avoid carpets.
- Have your gas boiler serviced annually by a professional.
Based on the data provided by your air quality sensor, you may want to install specific devices:
- An air purifier to purify & sanitize the air: if your air has a high level of VOCs. Its HEPA filter stops microparticles, viruses, and bacteria in the air, and if it has an activated carbon filter, it will also eliminate bad odors and formaldehyde.
- An air humidifier if the humidity level is too low and the air in your home is too dry. It also helps precipitate larger dust particles to the ground.
- A dehumidifier if your home's air is too humid and the humidity level is too high. It helps prevent mold and allergens like dust mites.
- A fan to cool the air: if the temperature is too high.
WHERE TO PLACE MY CONNECTED AIR QUALITY SENSOR?
You can place your air quality sensor in various locations, depending on its mounting system:
- On the wall, in your living room, bedroom, or office, where it is important to know the air's pollutant levels.
- On a table or piece of furniture.
Leave at least 20 to 30 cm around your device. Do not place it too close to an open window, as this would distort the results. It would measure both outdoor and indoor air quality.
