How to Monitor Indoor PM2.5 During Haze with Temtop M10i Malaysia
Meta Description: Learn how to use the Temtop M10i to monitor indoor PM2.5, compare rooms and check air-purifier performance during haze in Malaysia.
During a haze episode, many people check Malaysia’s official outdoor IPU/API but remain uncertain about the actual air quality inside their homes and offices.
Outdoor pollution can enter buildings through:
Open windows and doors
Ventilation systems
Gaps around doors or windows
Frequent movement of occupants
Loading and entrance areas
Air leakage from outside
The Temtop M10i allows users to measure local indoor PM2.5 and observe how conditions change throughout the day.
It measures:
PM2.5
HCHO (formaldehyde)
TVOC
AQI
Its WiFi connectivity also supports mobile viewing and historical trend monitoring through the Temtop application.
Official IPU vs Indoor PM2.5
Malaysia’s Department of Environment publishes official regional air-quality information through APIMS.
These readings are important for understanding outdoor conditions across a wider area. However, they cannot show the PM2.5 level inside every individual house, classroom, office or hotel.
Indoor conditions depend on factors such as:
Building design
Window and door usage
Ventilation
Air-conditioning configuration
Filter condition
Air-purifier operation
Indoor pollution sources
Distance from busy roads or industrial activities
The Temtop M10i does not replace APIMS. It provides additional local information for the room where it is installed.
Step 1: Select a Representative Location
Place the M10i in an occupied area where people normally spend time.
Suitable locations include:
Living rooms
Bedrooms
Home offices
Meeting rooms
Reception areas
Small offices
Position it at normal breathing height on a stable surface.
Avoid placing it:
Directly beside an open window
Under an air-conditioning outlet
Next to a cooking area
Beside cigarette smoke
Near an aerosol spray
In an enclosed cabinet
Against a wall with obstructed air inlets
Correct positioning helps produce a more representative room reading.
Step 2: Establish an Initial Reading
Before changing the room conditions, allow the M10i sufficient time to respond and stabilise.
Record:
The PM2.5 reading
The time
Whether windows are open
Whether air conditioning is operating
Whether an air purifier is operating
The number of occupants
Any nearby activities
This initial reading becomes the baseline for later comparisons.
Step 3: Close External Doors and Windows
When outdoor haze is affecting indoor PM2.5, closing external doors and windows may reduce the entry of polluted outdoor air.
After closing them:
Keep the monitor in the same location.
Avoid cooking, smoking or spraying aerosols.
Observe the PM2.5 trend over a consistent period.
Compare it with the initial reading.
A slow reduction may indicate that existing indoor particles are being removed only gradually.
A continued increase may suggest ongoing air entry or an indoor particle source.
Step 4: Operate the Air Purifier
To assess an air purifier:
Record the initial PM2.5 level.
Close external doors and windows.
Switch on the purifier.
Keep the M10i and purifier in fixed positions.
Avoid introducing new particle sources.
Monitor the PM2.5 trend.
Repeat the comparison at another purifier setting if necessary.
The speed of improvement may depend on:
Room size
Purifier airflow capacity
Filter condition
Filter type
Purifier placement
Air leakage
Starting PM2.5 concentration
The objective is to determine whether PM2.5 decreases consistently—not merely whether the purifier is switched on.
Step 5: Compare Different Rooms
PM2.5 may not be evenly distributed throughout a building.
Compare areas such as:
Bedroom vs living room
Ground floor vs upper floor
Room beside a road vs internal room
Room with purifier vs room without purifier
Office entrance vs interior workspace
When moving the monitor, allow it sufficient time to respond to the new location.
Use the same monitoring height and duration so that the readings are more comparable.
Step 6: Review Historical Trends
One of the main advantages of the M10i is its connected historical monitoring.
Trend records can help answer questions such as:
Does indoor PM2.5 increase every afternoon?
Does it rise when windows are opened?
How long does the purifier take to reduce particles?
Does PM2.5 rise overnight?
Does air quality worsen during busy office hours?
Did filter replacement improve the result?
Trends are generally more useful than one isolated reading because haze and indoor conditions can change over time.
Why Can Indoor PM2.5 Remain High?
Indoor PM2.5 may remain elevated because of:
Outdoor air entering continuously
Frequent opening of doors
Cooking
Smoking
Incense or candles
Poor purifier capacity
Dirty or unsuitable filters
Air-conditioning system contamination
Nearby construction
Particles settling and becoming airborne again
A high reading does not automatically identify the source. Use controlled comparisons to investigate one possible cause at a time.
PM2.5 and TVOC May Respond Differently
Closing windows during haze may help reduce the entry of outdoor PM2.5, but it can also reduce fresh-air ventilation.
As a result:
PM2.5 may decrease
TVOC or formaldehyde may remain stable
TVOC or formaldehyde may increase in a tightly closed room
Because the M10i monitors PM2.5, HCHO and TVOC, users can observe these different trends.
An action that improves one parameter may not improve every aspect of indoor air quality.
Can the M10i Reading Be Compared Directly With IPU?
No. Malaysia’s official IPU/API and the M10i’s displayed AQI are not interchangeable.
They may differ because of:
Monitoring location
Measurement method
Pollutants included
Calculation standard
Averaging period
Update time
Use APIMS for official regional information and the Temtop M10i for local indoor screening and comparison.
Practical Haze Monitoring Checklist
During haze:
Check official APIMS information
Monitor PM2.5 in occupied rooms
Keep external openings closed when outdoor pollution is high
Operate suitable air filtration
Observe trends rather than one reading
Compare rooms consistently
Avoid indoor smoke and aerosol sources
Inspect or replace filters when necessary
Record changes made to the room
Seek professional advice when required
Portable indoor monitoring supports better decisions, but it should be interpreted together with room conditions and official public information.
Who Can Use the Temtop M10i During Haze?
The Temtop M10i may be suitable for:
Families
Small offices
Home offices
Hotels and serviced apartments
Property managers
Meeting rooms
Bedrooms
Homes using air purifiers
Newly renovated properties
Users who want connected trend monitoring
Larger facilities may require multiple monitoring points or a more comprehensive monitoring plan.
Contact MTM Precision
Contact MTM Precision for assistance choosing a suitable Temtop PM2.5 monitor for indoor haze monitoring in Malaysia.
MTM Precision Sdn. Bhd.
Showroom & Service Centre
No. 29-1 & 29-2, Jalan Bandar 18,
Pusat Bandar Puchong,
47160 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia
🌐 Website: www.mtmpre.com.my
📧 Email: mtmpre@yahoo.com
📱 WhatsApp: +6016-660 7346
29 Aug 2026
