If you’re wondering if those sniffles and low-grade headaches you or your family are experiencing could be due to air-borne allergens, you may be surprised to learn that there could be another cause. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 90% of our time is spent indoors, so breathing problems could be caused by poor air quality in your home. If you test the air quality in your home, you may get some surprising answers.

Purchase air quality sensors that test for the following:

• Humidity: can increase the potential for mold and mildew growth.
• Temperature: high temps can cause insufficient humidity and health risks.
• Volatile organic compounds: chemical pollutants can come from building materials, carpet, and other installations.
• Particulate matter: dust mites and other allergens are airborne.
• Air quality index: this measurement is provided by the EPA for both indoor and outdoor air quality.

Air quality sensors test for toxins, harmful gases, and pollutants as well as specific problems such as carbon monoxide, a toxic gas. The sensors take in air, run algorithms to capture the number of particulates, store the data and prepare it for analysis and read out.

The EPA recommends that you monitor your health symptoms for a few weeks to identify improving or worsening symptoms. If you’re nauseous and confused, carbon monoxide may be present, while allergies tend to present with a scratchy throat or watery eyes. Lastly, buy a good air purifier to help remove particulate matter from the air.