Breathe Easier with the Awair Element Air Quality Monitor

Discover how to monitor indoor air quality (IAQ) to protect your family’s health and increase your home comfort.

Published:
August 28, 2025

Comfort isn’t just about temperature—it starts with the air you breathe. Your indoor air quality can positively or adversely affect your health and your comfort. That’s why your Trane HVAC system works even smarter with the Awair Element, an indoor air quality monitoring device.

It integrates directly with the Trane Home App and Trane Diagnostics. Trane has partnered with Awair to help you breathe easier and get peace of mind with accurate indoor air quality monitoring. Contact your local Trane dealer to learn more.

What are some signs of poor indoor air quality at home?

You may not even know that you have a high level of indoor air pollution. Some people are more sensitive to indoor air pollutants than others. Some key indicators of poor air quality include:

Persistent odors
Musty smell
Increased dust
High humidity or low humidity
Mold growth
Headache only at home
Respiratory issues only at home

We mention health issues at home for a reason. If you or a family member feels better when you’re at work or school, it’s time to do some investigating.

What is air quality monitoring?

Monitoring air quality involves installing an IAQ monitor in your home. Although air quality monitors aren’t perfect, they can help identify levels of pollutants, troublesome humidity levels, as well as problematic temperatures.

How does the Awair air quality monitor work?

This smart indoor air monitor helps you maintain a healthy home, using cutting-edge technology. The signature design using a fan and laser sensor has undergone testing and modification since 2013, making it a leader in air quality monitoring.

Source: Awair

This smart home air quality monitor tracks 5 key environmental factors that affect your health. As shown in the graphic above, it displays status indicators with colored lights representing levels from Good to Hazardous and displays an Awair Score from 0 to 100. The higher the score, the better your indoor air quality.

Let’s take a look at what factors the Awair Element monitors and how your smart HVAC system responds to levels less than Good.

Temperature

The device monitors your air temperature and gives a score for each level. For example, Good = 68-77°F. This is the indoor temperature range that is best for your comfort and health. The Acceptable, Moderate, Poor, and Hazardous temperature levels differ based on whether you are heating or cooling.

When the Awair Element is linked to your smart HVAC system, temperatures outside the Good range can trigger the heat or air conditioning to come on.

Humidity

The Awair Element also measures humidity. Maintaining the recommended indoor humidity level is essential to your comfort, health, and protection of your home. For humidity, Good = 40-50%.

Low humidity can cause static electricity, nosebleeds, respiratory symptoms, dry skin, chapped lips, and drying and cracking of wood. High humidity can result in mold growth, mildew growth, a musty smell, respiratory issues, and more.

When the Awair device is linked to your HVAC system, humidity levels above or below the Good range can trigger the heat or air conditioning, whole-house humidifier, or whole-house dehumidifier to come on.

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) in ppm

The unit monitors CO₂levels as well. Outdoor levels of carbon dioxide hover around 400 ppm (parts per million). So Good = <500-600 ppm. When levels of CO₂rise, it can trigger your whole-house ventilator to increase the air exchange.

VOCs

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals found in the air, which commonly originate from things like cleaning products, paints, sealants, new carpeting, sealed wood, and more. Moderate to elevated levels of VOCs can cause headaches, allergic reactions, nausea, dizziness, and more.

The Awair Element measures total VOCs, or TVOCs. Good = 0-300. When VOC levels rise, it can trigger your whole-house ventilation system to increase the air exchange rate. It can also cause your whole-house air cleaner to enter Quick Clean or Allergy mode to operate the air cleaner and fan at full speed even if the HVAC system isn’t running.

PM2.5

PM2.5 represents fine particulate matter. These tiny particles can be inhaled, which can lead to irritation and even severe conditions such as COPD and lung cancer. Good = 0-12 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). Higher levels of particulate matter can trigger your air purification system or ventilation system to help clear the air.

Understanding the Awair Score

Source: Awair

For your convenience, you can also see all of this on your smartphone through the Trane Home App once you have integrated the Awair Element with your system. This allows you to monitor your air quality from anywhere.

Read this article on Understanding Your Awair Score for more detailed information.

“Homeowners often overlook how crucial indoor air quality is to their family's health and comfort. With the Awair Element integrated into their Trane HVAC system and Trane smart thermostat, they gain real-time insights into temperature, humidity and pollutants. This smart device empowers them to maintain a healthier living environment, providing peace of mind and optimal comfort. They can breathe easier knowing their indoor air quality is continuously monitored and managed."

-David Lothe, Communications and Accessories Product Manager

How can I improve my indoor air quality?

The first step is identifying the issues in your home, and the Awair Element can help you do that. The next step is identifying smart solutions to help you regulate the common causes of unhealthy indoor air. Your Trane dealer can help you with many of these issues.

Possible solutions include:

Installing a whole-house humidifier
Installing a whole-house dehumidifier
Installing a whole-house ventilator
Installing a whole-house air purification system
Upgrading your existing HVAC system
Practicing good HVAC maintenance
Reducing VOCs by watching what you purchase
Prohibiting smoking or vaping indoors
Embracing houseplants

Is an air quality monitor worth the money?

At a price point +/- $200 before discounts, air quality monitors like the Awair Element can be a worthwhile investment, especially if anyone in your family has respiratory issues or you live in an area with known air quality issues.

From detecting pollutants like VOCs and particulate matter to triggering a system response to activate the fan or blower to circulate and clean the air, the Awair Element partners with your HVAC system to provide cleaner, healthier living. Backed by Trane’s innovation and dealer network, you gain peace of mind knowing your home’s air quality is monitored, managed, and optimized 24/7.

Work with the home comfort experts

From energy-efficient home heating and cooling solutions to improving your indoor air quality, your local Trane dealer can help you optimize your home comfort. Tie everything together in a smart HVAC system.

Discover how clean your air really is

Anne Fonda, Content Writer

A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.

She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.

When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.

Expert review by Lori Alexander, Digital Solutions Marketing Manager