Numerous pollutants, including mold, mildew, radon, VOCs, and airborne chemicals, can impact indoor air quality. While DIY testing kits exist, a professional can perform a thorough assessment by taking samples, using equipment, and interpreting from their experience.

Some contaminants cannot be detected without a professional evaluation, such as carbon monoxide, an odorless and colorless gas, or radon, a carcinogen that can seep into homes.

Increased Value

Keeping indoor air clean can help occupants maintain healthy respiratory and circulatory systems. This results in fewer sick days, lower medical costs, and more energy efficiency. Whether living in a single-family home or running your own company, indoor air quality testing can benefit everyone.

Biological contaminants like mold, mildew, and pet dander can affect the health of occupants. They can cause nasal congestion, eye irritation, and other symptoms. Similarly, pesticides used to eradicate insects and rodents can also be harmful.

Air pollution can be complex to detect with your senses alone, but a thorough inspection should give you an idea of what’s happening. For example, if your ductwork is dirty and causing poor ventilation, comprehensive duct cleaning can improve the indoor air quality and reduce energy costs. This makes an investment that will pay off in the long run.

Increased Energy Efficiency

While energy efficiency improvements can lead to healthy and comfortable homes, many homeowners must consider the impact on indoor air quality. As buildings become more tightly sealed, they trap pollutants inside. Studies show poor indoor air quality leads to immediate and long-term health effects. Direct effects include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, and fatigue. Long-term effects include respiratory diseases and cancer.

Choosing a professional IAQ assessment company is essential to get the most value from your investment. Experts say the assessment process includes observations, data collection, testing, and sampling.

A good IAQ professional will identify sources of contaminants, like noxious odors, and provide recommendations for remediation. This may involve air filtration, humidity control, and other strategies tailored to the individual home. Long-term home environment management will include routine cleaning, reducing clutter, and ensuring adequate ventilation.

Aside from that, it would be best to have water testing to ensure safety and free from contaminants and other harmful pollutants. Studies of office workplaces show that workers feel more productive when odors are eliminated and impurities that interfere with respiration are removed.

Reduced Illnesses

Many pollutants in homes and buildings irritate the eyes, throat, nose, and skin. Some also trigger allergies. A home inspection can detect pollutants that may be causing discomfort or even harming the health of occupants.

Certain harmful substances, such as radon, can be complex to detect because they are not gases but particulates that cling to surfaces in the air. These can irritate the respiratory tract and cause illnesses, especially in children and older adults.

Other pollutants, such as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), can trigger various health problems, including cancer. They are often found in wood, fabrics, tobacco smoke, and combustion appliances. An indoor air quality test can help identify these dangerous contaminants and find ways to reduce their levels. The result is fewer illnesses and less money spent on healthcare costs. The test results can also provide peace of mind, as you can rest assured that your family is safe and comfortable in your home.

Increased Comfort

The four factors influencing home comfort are temperature, humidity, pollutants, and air quality. When these are out of balance, it can cause discomfort for building occupants.

Poor air quality can result in discomfort, such as sneezing and sinus congestion. This is because common allergens, such as pet dander and pollen, can be found in airborne particles that trigger human allergies.

An air quality test will help identify allergens in your space and create a whole-house Clean Air System that removes them from the air. This improves your comfort because it allows you to avoid allergy symptoms, including sneezing and congestion.

A good air quality test will also detect contaminants that pose a health risk, such as radon, mold, harmful chemicals, dust (respirable suspended particulate matter RSPM), Volatile Organic Compounds, and Ozone. The test will point out the areas in your home that need cleaning and recommend a solution, such as HVAC UV Lights or an Air Filter, to eliminate these dangerous pollutants from the indoor environment.