You've bought the monitor. It's showing numbers. Now what? Understanding what those readings actually mean—and what action they call for—turns a gadget into a decision-making tool.
PM2.5: The Particle Reading
PM2.5 is measured in micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³). Here's a practical interpretation scale for indoor air:
| Reading | Indoor Assessment | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5 μg/m³ | Excellent | Your purification is working well |
| 5–12 μg/m³ | Good | Acceptable; EPA considers this "good" for 24hr average |
| 12–35 μg/m³ | Moderate | Run purifier on higher setting; check for infiltration |
| 35–55 μg/m³ | Poor | High setting immediately; find and address source |
| 55+ μg/m³ | Unhealthy | All purifiers on max; check for infiltration event |
TVOC: The Gas Reading
Total VOC readings are harder to interpret because they're sensor-relative (not calibrated to specific compounds) and different monitors use different scales. Use TVOC for trend monitoring, not absolute benchmarking.
What matters: baseline your home (readings after fresh air ventilation), then watch what causes readings to rise. Cooking? Cleaning products? Wind from the landfill direction? Pattern recognition tells you where to focus.
Temtop M10 Air Quality Monitor
Track PM2.5 and TVOC simultaneously. Watch trends across different wind conditions. The data you collect guides every decision.
Check Price on AmazonCO₂: The Ventilation Indicator
CO₂ is exhaled by occupants. Outdoor air is ~420 ppm. Your home's CO₂ rises above this baseline by an amount that reflects how many people are in the space relative to ventilation rate.
- 420–700 ppm: Excellent ventilation
- 700–1,000 ppm: Good; normal for occupied homes
- 1,000–1,500 ppm: Ventilation is marginal; consider opening a window
- 1,500+ ppm: Poor ventilation; take action
CO₂ rising rapidly in a sealed room is your signal to ventilate—but check outdoor conditions first. If the landfill odor is present, wait.
Temtop M10+ — CO₂ + PM2.5 + VOC
Adds CO₂ monitoring so you can balance fresh air needs against outdoor air quality. The complete picture in one device.
Check Price on AmazonHumidity: The Context Reading
Relative humidity affects both your health and your pollutant exposure. High humidity (above 60%) accelerates mold growth and makes some VOCs more irritating. Target 40–50% RH indoors year-round.
GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor
Tracks PM2.5, temperature, and humidity simultaneously. Wi-Fi data logging lets you correlate outdoor conditions with indoor readings.
Check Price on AmazonReading Patterns Over Time
A single reading tells you little. Patterns tell you everything. Watch for: PM2.5 spikes when wind shifts to the landfill direction (infiltration event), TVOC rises in early morning (temperature inversions concentrate landfill gas at ground level), CO₂ rise in closed rooms at night (ventilation deficit).