When we think of poor air quality, many of us still think that it’s only about the pollution outdoors. What we don’t realize is that the air quality inside their homes can be even more polluted. Did you know that poor indoor air quality can lead to a range of health problems? That includes allergy and asthma symptoms. That’s why it’s crucial to have your home’s air quality tested before you move in and on a regular basis afterward. We wrote an article before about how to handle air pollutants and improving your indoor air quality but now we’re adding more knowledge to share.
Here are the top indoor air quality concerns that proper testing can help diagnose.
Allergens
This is one of the major factors why homeowners get their houses tested for air quality but not all are doing it. Testing the air quality inside your home can easily identify any allergens that are present, such as dust mites, pet dander, and rodents. After determining which allergen is present and needs to be eliminated, an HVAC specialist can help you decide if an indoor air cleaner would benefit you.
Here are the basic types of air cleaners that you can install in your home to manage those allergens:
Mechanical
Gas-phase
Hybrid
Electronic
Pesticides
In reality, many are still using pesticides to eradicate pests such as termites and mice in their home. A study found out that 75 percent of households have used at least one type of pesticide indoors during the previous year. But before using pesticides from your home, you must know what you’re dealing with- a good place to start is having your indoor air quality tested.
Asbestos
Before, people used asbestos as an effective form of insulation in older homes. If you’re planning to move into an older house, make it a point to ask when it was built since homes built before the 1980s used asbestos a lot. Medically speaking, asbestos is now known as a hazardous substance that can cause lung cancer. So before moving into an older home, you’ll definitely want to have the indoor air quality tested for asbestos. Do take note that Asbestos remediation is fairly expensive and is a legitimate reason to continue your search for a different house.
Radon
For those who don’t know, Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that’s harmful to your health and can lead to the development of lung cancer. Since it can be a danger to one’s health, proper indoor air quality testing can pinpoint the level of radon present in your home. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that a radon level of 1.3 picocuries per liter in the home is average and isn’t harmful to your health but if your home has levels of 4 picocuries per liter or higher, you’ll need to take action.
A professional indoor air quality test would only take about 30 to 45 minutes to perform. The good thing about this test is no matter what type of residence you’re in, you should make an appointment for air quality testing on a regular basis.
It’s essential to have your air quality tested especially when you’re purchasing a new home and you’re unfamiliar with the types of chemicals that were used indoors beforehand. If you need any assistance and would want to know more about the benefits of indoor air quality testing, then send us a message
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