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As colder temperatures arrive, we close up our homes and run the heat to stay warm. However, a heating systems circulating the same stale air for months at a time can affect indoor air quality. Indoor pollutants like dust, pet dander, smoke, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from household products can accumulate to levels higher than outdoor air. This seasonal air quality decline is uncomfortable and can trigger allergies and exacerbate respiratory conditions. Fortunately, there are a number of helpful products designed specifically to address indoor air quality problems during wintertime. Here are a few of our favorites.
Air Quality Monitor
Photo: Amazon.com
The Airthings 292 Wave Mini Indoor Air Quality Monitor detects total VOCs, humidity, and temperature in one room at a time. This monitor provides visual indication of air quality, which is accessible when you wave a hand in front of the monitor. A light flashes green for “healthy,” yellow for “caution,” and red for “poor” air quality. You can purchase a hub separately to integrate the monitor with smart-home products such as Google Assistant and Alexa. The Wave Mini also tracks outdoor pollen levels via its app that syncs with a local weather service.
What our tester says: “After spending a few hours exposed to a dish of oil-based stain in a closed box, the monitor’s TVOC levels spiked. When we compared its temperature and humidity readings to other monitors being tested, the readings were comparable. We believe it accurately portrayed all three readings.” —Glenda Taylor, Staff Writer & Product Tester
Air Purifier
Photo: Amazon.com
The Coway Airmega has a four-stage filtration system, which includes a prefilter, deodorization filter, true HEPA filter, and bipolar ionizer. Together, these layers effectively capture smoke (including secondhand smoke), pet odors and dander, and everyday dust. An air quality light indicates whether the air is good (blue), moderate (purple), or unhealthy (red). It doesn’t have a fancy touchscreen or Wi-Fi-connected smart features, but when it comes to ample coverage, reliable performance, and a reasonable price, it’s hard to beat.
What our tester says: “We’ve had this Coway in our bedroom for several years, and it still reliably kicks on whenever outdoor pollutants drift in or cooking odors come down the hall. I love that I can wash pet air out of the prefilter and only need to replace the HEPA once a year.” —Michelle Larson, Contributing Writer & Product Tester
Humidifier
Photo: Amazon.com
The Aircare mini-console evaporative humidifier with filter might not look flashy, but its thoughtful design offers an outstanding combination of effectiveness and ease of use. With three fan settings plus a humidistat and auto function, you can choose between continuous operation at a certain speed or a set-it-and-forget-it system. The 2.5-gallon water reservoir, evaporative wick, and demineralization cartridge add to its convenience, allowing it to run up to 36 hours without refilling. Despite the Aircare’s compact 16½-by-18-by-12-inch footprint, it can cover up to 2,600 square feet of space.
What our tester says: “This is my favorite humidifier for two big reasons: It doesn’t need to be filled every day, and the demineralization cartridge basically turns it into a self-cleaning humidifier. Since constant refilling and mineral buildup have historically been enough to prevent me from using humidifiers, this is a welcome change.” —Michelle Larson, Contributing Writer & Product Tester
HVAC Air Filter
Simply Filters 14x25x1 MERV 11 Air Filters
Buy at AmazonImprove indoor air quality and HVAC system efficiency by replacing old air filters regularly. Available in a range of sizes, air filters by Simply filters come in a pack of six disposable air filters, each lasting up to 3 months. Each air filter has a pleated and electrostatic design that attracts and traps dust and debris as small as 1 micron. The MERV 11 rating indicates that the air filter is effective against pollen, dust mites, mold, dust, pet dander, auto exhaust, and small allergens, though it does not filter ultrafine particles such as tobacco smoke, bacteria, or viruses.
HEPA Filter Vacuum
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The Shark Navigator upright vacuum cleaner has two settings: one for bare floors and another that activates the brush roll for carpet. It includes a lift-away pod that converts it to a hand vacuum for use on stairs, furniture, and curtains, as well as a wide upholstery tool, a crevice tool, and swivel steering for reaching every nook and cranny. Its completely sealed HEPA system traps 99.99 percent of dust and allergens.
What our tester says: “During testing, it easily picked up flour, rice, dirt, and small candies in both modes. Removing the lift-off pod for stair cleaning was simple—just press a button, step on the vacuum head, and lift. The upholstery and crevice tools worked well for sweeping up every bit of dirt on our steps and proved equally convenient for cleaning our car. In fact, it did such a great job of cleaning and provided so much versatility that we think it’s a true standout among cheap vacuum cleaners.” —Katie Barton, Contributing Writer & Product Tester
Carbon Monoxide Detector
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The First Alert CO600 is a simple carbon monoxide detection device that plugs into a standard wall outlet. There is no need for batteries or hardwired connections, and its compact design and prong placement won’t block both spots in a double outlet. This model features a loud 85-decibel alarm to alert residents to the presence of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. It has one button for testing and resetting and no digital display or extra settings.
What our tester says: “Since this First Alert alarm has a test port in front of the sensor, we were able to use our can of faux CO to trigger it. The resulting beeps were loud enough to alert folks in any part of the house.” —Tom Scalisi, Contributing Writer & Product Tester
Radon Test Kit
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The Corentium Home radon detector kit by Airthings is one of the first continuous radon test kits to use batteries, allowing you to take it into any space that needs testing. The clear digital display provides both long- and short-term radon levels, revealing daily fluctuations as well as overall averages. Once you’ve tested your home for at least 30 days, you can generate a free self-inspection report through the Airthings website.
What our tester says: “This radon detector makes it so easy to measure radon levels that it’s hard to imagine going with another option—unless you need a one-time test or other air quality measurements. For long-term radon levels, though, this is my pick, hands-down.” —Michelle Larson, Contributing Writer & Product Tester
Hygrometer
Photo: Amazon.com
Keep your home healthier and more comfortable by tracking the indoor humidity. Govee’s H5051 is sleek, compact, and comes with a small stand as well as a mounting plate and adhesive for attaching to the wall. In addition to showing current temperature and humidity readings on its small round face, it also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality, so you can monitor conditions remotely via the Govee Home app. The unit runs on three AAA batteries for long-lasting operation and features a four-bar battery meter on its display. You can view stored information by hour, day, week, month, or year, export the data as a CSV file for analysis, and set alarms for low battery, temperature, and relative humidity.
What our tester says: “This thermo hygrometer is compact, modern, and accurate. It’s one of the few we tested that both looks good and works well. I can’t say we use the smart features all that often, but I like being able to check the app for past data as well as the face of the device for current conditions.” —Michelle Larson, Contributing Writer & Product Tester
