The Best Air Quality Monitors to Help Keep Tabs On Your Home and Office

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Do you always get light headed after spending too much time at home? Or do you suddenly run out of energy when you get to work? Maybe it’s time to test the air with an air quality monitor.

The EPA has identified indoor air pollution as a serious health risk, and there’s a good chance that your home or office is filled to the gills with nasty air. It turns out that many homes are plagued by toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which can come from a ton of different sources, like mold, air fresheners, paint, and the flame retardants in your carpet. Additionally, most buildings are poorly ventilated, which can create a buildup of carbon dioxide (and, obviously, a lack of oxygen).

You might even be making changes to improve your home or office air quality like cutting down on high VOC products, airing the place out more often, or introducing lots of plants. But how do you know if your efforts are making a difference? That’s where a good air quality monitor comes into play.

Air quality monitors come in all shapes and sizes, but they all do the same basic job. They let you know how polluted your air is, and they nag you to make changes if your environment is unhealthy. Most air quality monitors can connect to your smartphone, and some can even connect and interact with your smarthome products for automated air-quality action.

That being said, it can be hard to find the air quality monitor that’s right for you. That’s why we’ve rounded up a variety of high quality air monitors suited for a different situations and needs.

Keep in mind that these are just air monitors, not air purifiers or filters and, more importantly, an off-the-shelf product is a good tool to monitor general air quality but is not the same as calling in a professional. If you suspect there is a serious issue with the air quality in your home, consult a professional air quality specialist.

Awair 2nd Edition Air Quality Monitor ($175)

If you want a stylish, air quality monitor that can easily integrate into your smart home, then you should check out the Awair. It tests your air for toxins, chemicals, fine dust, carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity. The Awair’s display shows an air quality “score,” but you can check the details behind that score through the Awair app. The Awair app also keeps a timeline of your air quality history, so you can see how changes in season, cleaning habits, and furniture affect the air you breathe.

Since the Awair air quality monitor can connect to Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, and Nest, you could potentially use it for a variety of smart home applications. For example, if your air quality score goes too low, your smarthome setup could automatically turn on an air purifier, turn on a whole-house fan, or send a notification to your phone.

This is a great air quality monitor for people that care about style, convenience, and smart home integration. If you like the Awair monitor, but you want to save a bit of money, you could always buy an Awair Glow, a plug-form-factor air monitor from the same company.