Experiencing restless sleep, fatigue, or allergy-like symptoms such as watery eyes? Indoor air quality (IAQ) issues in your home could be the cause, potentially leading to serious health risks including respiratory problems and even lung disease or cancer.
Indoor air can be up to eight times worse than outdoor air—and far worse during activities like painting walls. Our desire for secure, sealed homes contributes to this problem, trapping pollutants inside.
Common culprits include cooking smoke and particles, cleaning products and DIY projects releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), off-gassing from building materials and furniture, exhaled carbon dioxide from closed windows and doors, carbon monoxide from furnaces or wood heaters, and mold in humid areas.
These six smart IAQ monitors track key pollutants like smoke, CO, VOCs, PM2.5, CO2, humidity, temperature, and radon. Many offer app integration and smart home compatibility for proactive monitoring.
The Nest Protect elevates traditional smoke detectors with smart technology. It detects both smoke and carbon monoxide, issuing voice alerts before sounding the alarm and notifying your iOS or Android app.
Easily silence false alarms (like burnt toast) via the app. A nightly green flash confirms self-tests and battery status, preventing disruptive chirps. Multiple units interconnect over Wi-Fi, and they test automatically without monthly checks.
Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm protects your home from fires and gas leaks, even when you're away, battery powered (2nd generation). Buy Now On Amazon $122.00
It integrates with Nest Cam and Thermostat—e.g., 13 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With a Nest Thermostat. During fires, Cam records automatically, and the thermostat shuts off HVAC to limit smoke spread.
Choose battery-powered or wired models (with backup battery).
Awair tracks dust, VOCs, CO2, humidity, and temperature, crafted from natural North American hickory wood. Partnering with Mayo Clinic, it delivers actionable insights.
Awair - Know What's In The Air You Breathe - Air Quality Monitor. Buy Now On Amazon $214.00
View color-coded scores (0-100) on the device or app, track trends, and integrate with Amazon Echo (7 Creative Uses for Amazon Echo and Alexa), Nest, IFTTT, and more.
This station monitors indoor and outdoor conditions. The outdoor module tracks humidity, temperature, pressure, and air quality; the indoor base measures temperature, humidity, CO2, and noise.
Netatmo Indoor Outdoor Weather Station with Wireless Outdoor Sensor, Compatible with Amazon Alexa. Buy Now On Amazon $174.99
Access historical charts and real-time data via app. Alexa integration enables voice queries.
Radon, an invisible, odorless gas, poses lung cancer risks at high levels. Airthings Wave detects it alongside temperature and humidity.
View data on the iOS/Android app. Battery-powered (up to 18 months on 2 AA batteries), it uses Bluetooth and mounts easily. Color-coded LEDs provide at-a-glance status.
Airthings Wave Smart Radon Detector with Free App - Easy to Use - Temperature and Humidity - Accurate - No Lab Fees - Airthings Wave Smart Radon Detector with Battery - Easy to Use - Temperature and Humidity - Accurate - No Lab Fees - Works with batteries. Buy Now On Amazon $139.98
Combining IAQ monitoring with an HD camera (135° view), Withings Home detects motion, supports two-way audio, and doubles as a baby monitor with lullabies. Cloud-stored video diary via app; magnetic base for flexible placement.
Withings / Nokia Home - Wi-Fi Security Camera with Air Quality Sensors. Buy Now On Amazon $68.90
Tracks humidity, temperature, and VOCs; red light signals poor air.
Quick-setup Foobot monitors VOCs, PM2.5, humidity, and temperature, delivering a comprehensive IAQ score via app (real-time details, event tagging, improvement tips).
LEDs show status without a phone. Integrates with 120+ IoT devices via IFTTT/Stringify.
Foobot Indoor Air Quality Monitor for HVAC Tenants and Owners - Measures VOC PM2.5 Humidity Temperature - Works with 120+ IoT Devices via Wifi - Best Protection Against Mold Pollution and Indoor Air Temperature Moisture VOC PM2.5 - Works with 120+ IoT Devices via Wifi - Best Protection Against Mold &Indoor Air Pollution. Buy Now On Amazon $199.00
These smart IAQ monitors offer reliable ways to safeguard your home. Which features matter most to you—perhaps built-in IAQ sensors in smartphones? Share in the comments.
Own an AC unit? See 11 Air Conditioning Mistakes to Avoid on Hot Summer Days for efficiency tips.
Originally written by Phoon on September 30, 2014.
