Your home’s indoor air quality is a vital component to a comfortable living space. Breathing in bad air on a regular basis can cause a ton of health problems. According to the National Safety Council, we spend 65 percent of our time inside our own homes. By ensuring that the air we breath while indoors is clean and fresh, we help provide our family with a healthy living environment.Bad indoor air quality can be caused by mold, pet dander, plant pollen and a host of other things. By testing the air quality in your home, you can learn valuable information on how you can improve the indoor air you breathe. If you gain the knowledge necessary to improve your home’s air quality, you can understand what kind of problems your house has and how you can deal with those problems and prevent them from occurring again.
What Kinds of Things Does Indoor Air Quality Testing Measure?
Pollutants surround us every day, especially within the walls of our homes where toxins build up and become trapped. Whether you have allergies or not, it’s worth having an indoor air quality test performed to help you breathe easier. Here are seven reasons why:
- Combustion fumes: If you have a gas or oil-fired furnace, water heater, stovetop or fireplace, you could be subject to carbon monoxide poisoning. CO detectors are helpful in identifying a threat.
- Radon: Soil contains decaying radon-emitting uranium. While this gas normally dissipates harmlessly outside, it can become trapped in your basement if it flows through gaps in the foundation. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and an indoor air quality test is the only way to know for sure if your home has elevated levels.
- Asbestos: Older homes may contain asbestos insulation, a material that causes lung cancer, lung scarring and mesothelioma when inhaled. Having your home’s air quality tested is a good place to start. Then, rely on professional removal.
- Volatile organic compounds: VOCs are emitted by countless household products, from paint and upholstery to adhesives and plastics. Some VOCs give off a bothersome odor and cause short-term health effects while others are barely discernible and pose serious risks including brain damage and cancer. The primary VOC you should test for is formaldehyde.
- Mold growth: Mold causes nasal congestion, breathing problems and skin rash. Test for mold, seek professional mitigation and control moisture levels to keep future mold growth at bay.
- Dander and droppings: Pet dander and droppings from cockroaches and dust mites negatively impact indoor air quality. Good housekeeping and ventilation are your best allies to alleviate these problems.
- Pesticides: While it may seem logical to eradicate rodents and pests with pesticides, their inherently toxic nature can add to the existing VOCs in your home. Also, improperly stored pesticide bottles or residue tracked into the home from a treated lawn can raise interior pesticide levels. Opt for chemical-free alternatives to lower your exposure.
Why Should You Hire a Professional for Indoor Air Quality Testing?
An HVAC professional uses equipment specially designed to measure the amount and types of irritants that might be causing allergies or other issues. The readings may be conducted over the course of a few days to ensure an accurate picture of what’s going on inside your air.
What will results show? Well, different tests measure humidity, mold levels and the amount of particles in the air. Tests can determine the carbon monoxide levels in your air and screen for other gases.
After the tests are run, your air-quality expert will provide you with the solutions that will help you improve your home’s air quality. He or she can also give you some energy-saving tips that will allow you to reduce the price of your monthly utility bills.
Bad air quality can turn into a major problem if not corrected. Don’t let bad air quality ruin you or your family’s health. Contact the professionals at Roth Home today at (503) 673-6394 to set up an indoor air quality test. It will be one of the best investments you make.
