What Is Indoor Air Quality Testing, and Why Is It Important

Suppose you get back home after work, hoping to relax, only to discover that your eyes, throat, or head are uncomfortable. Most of us wouldn't suspect that the air in our homes could be causing us harm. After all, we keep it clean, and cleanliness means it is also healthy.

Not always.

You could be breathing harmful air without even realizing it. That's where an air quality test comes in, and in this blog, we discuss it at length.

What Is An Air Quality Test

An air quality test checks the air inside your home for pollutants and harmful substances that could be impacting your health and comfort. These tests can detect multiple contaminants, like:

• Mold spores.

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

• Carbon monoxide.

• Radon.

• Dust and particles in the air.

• Several kinds of bacteria and viruses.

It's a way to examine the health of your house.

What Makes Indoor Air Quality Important

Indoor air tends to be at least two to five times, and occasionally 100 times,  as polluted as outdoor air, according to the EPA. Because we usually spend 90% of our lives indoors, air quality has a big effect on how we feel.

Indoor air problems are tied to these consequences:

• Allergies and asthma.

• Long-lasting lung conditions.

• Headaches and tiredness.

• Eye, nose, and throat irritation.

• Persistent and prolonged poor indoor air quality can lead to increased cases of heart disease and cancer.

Children, the elderly, and people with health issues and weak immunity are most vulnerable.

What Does An Air Quality Test Include

A professional air quality test typically involves the following:

• Experts use special equipment to sample the air around the house.

• Reviewing results that have been obtained from a certified laboratory.

• Identifying pollutants and measuring their levels in the air.

• Providing recommendations as part of the report.

Based on your needs, your inspector may test for radon, mold, carbon monoxide, or various other pollutants.

Benefits Of Getting An Air Quality Test For Your Home

Want to be sure if it's the right choice? These are the primary benefits you can expect from testing your home's indoor air quality.

Helps You Keep Your Health Safe

This is the most important reason. If something in your home is making you ill, you have to find it. Most often, it is the pollutants in the air. Lowering these levels helps reduce long-term health risks.

Contributes To Better Sleep

Even minor issues like sneezing or dry skin can disrupt your sleep. Healthier air helps you sleep better and improves your mood.

Makes Your Home More Valuable

If you're selling your home, an air quality test can reassure potential buyers that the house is safe. This approach helps your house stand out from the competition. 

It Saves You Money 

When you catch early signs of issues like mold or carbon monoxide, your house will require fewer repairs, you'll avoid expensive health bills, and the problem will become less severe over time.

Peace Of Mind Comes First

Paying for an indoor air inspection to ensure there's no danger is worth it. If you have kids, pets, or elderly individuals living with you, such a test is crucial.

When Should You Get An Air Quality Test

Here are a few situations where an air quality test is especially important:

• After your home has undergone a renovation or remodeling.

• If you're moving into a home for the first time.

• If you have unusual and unexplained symptoms in the family.

• After a leak or a flood.

• If your home smells musty or unusually stuffy.

Testing your home's air quality every few years makes sense for everyone and is a smart precaution.

Doing The Test Yourself vs. A Professional's Analysis

If you look online, you can find DIY air testing kits available. But their results can be limited or unreliable. A professional air quality test utilizes calibrated equipment and laboratory analysis, providing you with precise and actionable results.

It’s like checking your blood pressure at home, helpful, but not a substitute for a doctor’s diagnosis.

Conclusion

Your house should give you peace and comfort, not cause you any health problems. A professional air quality test is a simple yet powerful tool that helps ensure the air you and your family breathe every day is clean, safe, and healthy.

If we paid as much attention to our home's air quality as we do to the food and water we put into our bodies, everyone would take these tests.

At Bryan & Bryan Inspections, we don’t just inspect; we help keep your family safe and comfortable. Our comprehensive air quality tests are conducted by certified professionals using advanced tools for precise results.

Schedule your air quality test with Bryan & Bryan Inspections today because a healthy home starts with the air you breathe.