Indoor Air Quality in India: What to Measure and Improve
Indoor air quality covers more than an AQI number. Outdoor pollution can enter a home, while cooking, materials, occupants and moisture create different indoor concerns. A room that looks clean can still need attention, but neither smell nor a city average tells you its complete condition.
Which measurements answer which questions?
| Measurement | Useful question | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 concentration | How are fine-particle levels changing? | Does not measure all gases or identify the source by itself |
| CO₂ concentration | How is occupied-room ventilation behaving? | Not a complete indoor-air-quality or health assessment |
| Relative humidity | Is moisture control worth investigating? | Cannot diagnose mould from one reading |
| Pollutant-specific testing | Is a suspected gas or material source present? | Requires the right method for that pollutant |
A consumer “TVOC” score does not identify individual chemicals. A device that estimates CO₂ from other sensors is also different from an instrument measuring CO₂ directly.
Why readings vary between homes
Air exchange, building gaps, windows, occupancy, exhaust use and indoor sources differ. There is no reliable universal rule that an Indian home reaches a fixed percentage of outdoor pollution within one hour.
Measure the rooms that matter. In a bedroom, log an occupied overnight period. In a living area, include cooking and normal door use. Note settings and outdoor conditions so a later comparison is meaningful.
Start with the source, then assess air treatment
Removing an avoidable source can be more direct than trying to clean its emissions after release. Ventilation and filtration can then address different parts of the remaining problem. EPA’s home indoor-air overview explains how sources and ventilation affect indoor conditions.
A room purifier can reduce particles in the air it processes. A filtered fresh-air system supplies outdoor air; its intake, air paths and maintenance need planning. Neither replaces moisture repair, kitchen capture or appropriate safety measures for combustion equipment.
What aqi0 measures and supplies
aqi0 offers a standalone whole-home air purifier with H13 HEPA filtration. We measure indoor PM2.5 before operation and at commissioning. The optional ₹4,000 aqi0 monitor reports AQI and PM2.5; it does not measure CO₂. Ask for a separate measurement method when assessing ventilation.
The system’s technical note describes its operating conditions and performance commitment. We confirm carpet area, floor count, room connections, intake position and service access with you.
Build a useful home record
Keep the date, room, measurement period, outdoor conditions, activities, equipment settings and filter-service date together. Review repeated patterns rather than diagnosing a health problem from a brief spike. Seek appropriate medical advice for symptoms; an air-quality monitor cannot establish their cause.
Continue with PM2.5 interpretation, bedroom ventilation or the ten-step home guide.