October 2007
How do you know you have a problem?
It's next to impossible to detect most air pollutants with the naked eye or nose; carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and radioactive radon gas, for example, are colorless and odorless. Installing smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms is a no-brainer--and often the law. CO alarms with a digital display can even show the extent of the problem. Thermometers and relative-humidity gauges are simple, inexpensive safeguards, and radon tests can offer peace of mind for as little as $25. But some other tools for detecting common contaminants haven't proven as useful or reliable. For example, several mold-testing kits we reviewed all received a Not Recommended rating.
