Devices & Air Quality

Home devices can help you keep an eye on your breathing and the air you breathe, but none of them can diagnose a lung condition. These guides explain what each device does, how accurate it is, and when a reading means you should call a doctor.

Best pulse oximeters for home use

How fingertip oximeters work, their accuracy limits (including skin tone, cold hands and nail polish) and which models to consider.

Best peak flow meters

How to use a peak flow meter, how to record readings and why a doctor should interpret them.

Best HEPA air purifiers

How to size a purifier for your room, what CADR means, filter costs and noise.

Do breathing trainers work?

What the research says about inspiratory muscle trainers, who might benefit and who should be cautious.

How we review devices

  • We compare published specs, accuracy information and price.
  • We say clearly when we haven’t tested a device ourselves.
  • We explain the limits of every reading. A number from a home device is a clue, not a diagnosis.
  • Some links are affiliate links. Commissions don’t change our verdicts. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

Cleaner air at home

Simple steps can make a real difference to indoor air: avoid smoking or burning candles, wood or incense indoors, vent cooking fumes outside, fix damp and mold, and use a HEPA purifier in the rooms you use most. On high-pollution or wildfire smoke days, keep windows closed and check your local Air Quality Index at AirNow.gov. The American Lung Association has more tips on keeping indoor air clean.

When to get help now

Call 911 (US) or 999 (UK) for severe breathlessness, chest pain, coughing up blood, or blue or gray lips. See a doctor soon for a cough lasting more than 3 weeks, breathlessness doing normal things, or wheezing.

Not sure where to start? Take the lung-friendly habits quiz or browse our lung health guides.