5 Reasons Your Home May Need Indoor Air Quality Testing
Frightening (yet invisible) objects may contaminate the air in your home. You're probably concerned if there are persistent odors, comfort problems, or health complaints in your house. The issue might be bad enough to justify monitoring the interior air quality.
Which do you find more terrifying: something you can actually see with your eyes, or something that only exists in your mind? What genuinely frightens most of us is what we can't see.
Fears about what lurks unseen in your home's air can be valid regarding the air quality there. Every breath you take puts you at risk of a multitude of invisible risks.
5 invisible reasons to consider indoor air quality (IAQ) testing for your home
1. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) & Particulate Matter
VOCs
Have you just placed new carpeting or even a new shower curtain and experienced a persistent chemical odor? The off-gassing of VOCs from that substance is what you can smell.
Numerous items in your home, including paint, furniture, and cleansers, emit VOCs. They are all present in most homes, if not overtly, then at least in "background" levels. Even if you can't smell them all the VOCs, exposure to them can give you headaches and nausea in the short term. With repeated exposure, longer-lasting (and scarier) health impacts are also conceivable.
Testing for a variety of VOCs may not be beneficial because there is a lack of guidelines to interpret the data. However, you can use it to detect particularly dangerous VOCs such as formaldehyde. Wood, fabrics, tobacco smoke, combustion appliances, and more contain this carcinogen.
Particulate matter
The EPA defines particulate matter as "is a complex mixture of solid and/or liquid particles suspended in air. These particles can vary in size, shape, and composition." The most concerning PM is when it's 10 micrometers or less in diameter. A human body can inhale these particles because they are small enough.
When inhaled it can make pre-existing respiratory conditions worse. PMs impact those with asthma, the elderly and children the most.
According to the CDC, these particles consist of dust, dirt, smoke, soot and liquid. Causes or sources of particulate matter include:
Pets and plants in the home
Cooking
Certain types of cleaning
Smoking in the home
Burning candles
Indoor fireplaces
Wood stoves
2. Carbon monoxide & radon
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a gas which you cannot see or smell but can have fatal repercussions if they bild up. Combustion appliances, including gas stoves, furnaces, wood burning stoves, and fireplaces, release gases like carbon monoxide. Additionally, combustion can release airborne particles into the atmosphere that might impair respiration.
IMPORTANT: Home owners should install carbon monoxide detectors as a safety precaution. A carbon monoxide leak can be deadly to all those in the home.
Radon
Like carbon monoxide, radon is odorless and deadly. Radon is a natural radioactive gas emitted from uranium in the soil decaying. It can enter your home through cracks in the foundation. If radon builds up in your home, it can be deadly.
The United State's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has strict recommended guidelines for radon since it's so deadly. They recommend that anyone buying or selling a home should have that home tested for radon. You can do this using a radon testing kit. If the radon levels in the home is 4 picocuries per liter, or pCi/L, or higher then the home has to be fixed to lower exposure.
3. Mold, mildew and bacteria
You should be concerned about a variety of biological contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew, and fungus.
In warm, humid air, these unwanted microbes flourish and proliferate. Therefore, it is imperative that you maintain low humidity levels and stop any water leaks in basements and bathrooms.
According to the CDC, mold spores can cause a wide range of symptoms. Symptoms include: eye and skin irritation, breathing issues (especially for those with asthma or difficulty breathing).
You can visually find mold, unlike certain other airborne contaminants. Though experts may advise mold tests in some cases.
4. Pest droppings
You probably were aware that mold can contaminate the air in your home. However, there are other biological agents that can cause odors and health issues as well, namely insects and rodents. Even if you don’t see them, dust mites, cockroaches and mice can leave behind droppings that cause respiratory problems. These respiratory problems impact the vulnerable most, especially in children and the elderly.
Indoor air quality testing can detect the presence of these pests. You can also get to the root of the problem with a visual inspection.
5. Pesticides
Other biological agents, such as insects and rodents, can produce odors and health problems. This is in addition to the mold that might contaminate the air in your home. Dust mites, cockroaches, and mice can leave behind droppings that cause respiratory issues even if you can't see them. This is especially true for youngsters and the elderly.
You can test the indoor air quality for these pests, but you can also find the source of the issue through a visual assessment.
Here’s what to do BEFORE home air quality testing
All that being said, there are some facts you need to know, and some steps you should take BEFORE investing in indoor quality testing.
Indoor air quality testing results may not be definitive
First, the findings of an indoor air quality test may not provide you with a clear-cut solution.
Airborne pollutants are present in most buildings, and interpreting the data can be difficult. There aren't any established guidelines that can specify for the majority of environments whether concentration of VOCs or mold in the air (as an example) can be considered safe or harmful.
Furthermore, since everyone's body responds differently to environmental toxins, what's safe for one person could be harmful for another.
Start with a visual inspection
Testing for indoor air quality is particularly useful when it is used to confirm or deny the existence of a particular source of pollution. This can include the presence of formaldehyde or benzene or levels of mold or pesticides.
Start with a space inspection to identify any potential indoor air quality issues. That will enable you to spot potential problem spots. Take particular note of the following:
WATER DAMAGE: Leaks and other sources of moisture can cause mold and mildew growth in your home, resulting in water damage. Look for any leaks in your HVAC, plumbing, or roof that are allowing water to pool and harm your house. Repair any leaks immediately. Dispose of water-damaged items such as ceiling tiles, carpeting, and wall board.
ODORS: The majority of indoor air pollution causes are invisible to the naked eye. However many of them are detectable by scent. These smells include cleaning chemicals, fresh building materials like carpet, pesticides, cigarette smoke, fireplaces, and musty odors from mildew. If possible, use scent-free cleaning supplies and eliminate any chemical contamination you may uncover.
VENTILATION: Is the location and number of fresh air intakes in your home appropriate? For instance, intakes might be excessively close to sources of outdoor air pollution or exhaust vents.
A malfunctioning air conditioner can facilitate mold growth by causing excessive humidity. Mold, dust mites, and other pests may be hiding in your HVAC ducts. Your best option is to have an experienced HVAC specialist examine your system.
Before spending money on IAQ testing, take the time to look into the problem's root. This will help you pinpoint the issue and find a solution more quickly.
Got questions about indoor air quality testing near me?
Contact us today and learn how you can improve the air quality in your home with IAQ services. Our IAQ services include:
Aeroseal duct sealing
Duct cleaning
The Protector air purifier
Air filters
