Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) can significantly affect health and wellbeing due to the fact that people are now spending a large amount of time indoors. The air within modern airtight homes is often 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outside, according to EPA. As Americans spend about 90 percent of their times indoors on an average, they are susceptible to adverse effects of toxic pollutants which may come from modern building materials, cleaning agents, paints, solvents, combustion products, flame retardants in fabrics, and various household products that release VOCs and formaldehyde. Poor indoor air and all other toxicities that our bodies are absorbing from food, water, air, and electromagnetic radiations can eventually create the “Rain Barrel Effect”, leading to various illnesses.

If you are a health conscious person and concerned about indoor air quality issues, then consider any of the inspections/tests below in your current home, or before you sign a contract to purchase a home or move into an apartment.

A. Environmental/IAQ Inspection

This inspection is a general visual assessment of indoor/outdoor environmental, toxicity, and moisture management issues that may contribute to air quality problems inside the house or otherwise affect health. It includes many verbal tips and advices on where improvements can be made. Homeowners who are seriously interested in healthy house and living typically benefit from this inspection.

  • Up to 2000 sqft.
  • Takes approximately 2-3 hours.
  • Options
    • Written report
    • Water intrusion inspection with thermal imaging
    • Mold Spores in Air
The Process
  • Complete the  questionnaire for IAQ
  • Upon receiving and reviewing it, we will contact you and schedule a date
  • Make a $200 payment to reserve the date. The remaining is due prior to the assessment.

Please note: All prices are for areas within 25 minutes travel distance. 

Discount

We try to keep our fees reasonable. For anyone who is financially constrained, we may reduce fees on a case by case basis. To request reduced fees, please submit the discount form.

B. Water Intrusion Inspection with Thermal Imaging

Water and moisture infiltration can not only casue damage to a house but it is also a critical factor in mold growth. This inspection is done using professional thermal imaging camera and moisture meter to detect possible water penetration issues or leakages that may not be otherwise visible. While not all water issues may be detected as it depends on many factors and circumstances, this inspection can uncover what naked eyes cannot.

  • Takes approximately 1-2 hours (up to 2000 sqft including basement).
  • Walls and floors in the living space is checked (no attic, storage, or equipment room).
  • Any walls/floors to be inspected should not have any furniture or barrier  in front of it (Note: we do not move furniture).
  • Options:
    • Mold Spores in Air
The Process
  • Same as above.

C. Mold Spores in Air

Air sample is taken which shows what mold spores are present in the air at a given point in time.

  • Professional equipment and industry standard sampling medium is used.
  • 3 air samples are included: 1 from outdoor, 1 from an indoor area of concern, 1 from an indoor area of no concern.
  • Lab results are available in approximately 1 week.
  • Options:
    • Additional samples
    • Surface sample using Bio-Tape or Swab. This provides positive mold identification as well has historical data from what has settled down on the surface.
The Process
  • Same as above.

D. Dust/Particle Analysis

This lab test checks for fibers, dander, pollen, dust mite parts, insect parts, ash, and more.

  • Involves collection of 1 air sample from an indoor area of concern.
  • Lab results are available in approximately 1 week.
  • Options:
    • Additional samples
The Process
  • Same as above.

E. VOCs

This test shows significant VOCs in the indoor air and their levels (normal, moderate, elevated, etc.). List of items shows may include paints/varnishes, PVC cement, gasoline, fuel oil, personal care products, alcohol products, odorants, and more. It also  shows where your home falls in comparison to samples taken from thousands of other homes in the nation.

  • Professional equipment and industry standard sampling medium is used.
  • 1 air sample is taken from an indoor area, preferebly the main area of concern.
  • A specialty pump is used for about 2 hours to take the air sample .
  • Lab results are available in approximately 1 week.
  • Options:
    • Additional samples, especially if the home is over 2000 sqft.
    • Tobacco smoke testing.
The Process
  • Same as above.

F. Tobacco Smoke

This test scans for chemical markers indicating the presence of secondhand and thirdhand tobacco smoke in the house. Also known as “passive smoking”, this refers to a non-smoking person’s exposure to tobacco elements that is released in the air by an active smoker or from household surfaces, such as carpets, rugs, furniture upholstery, walls, rugs, clothes, bedsheet, toys, etc. These surfaces may have absorbed nicotine from an active smoker in the past, and now continually off-gassing it back into the air. Nicotine reacts with indoor air pollutants forming carcinogens that may cause cancer.

According to a CDC article, “there are more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, including hundreds of chemicals that are toxic and about 70 that can cause cancer.” Passive smoking can be deadly. Even if one never smoked, he/she can still develop heart disease, lung cancer, or stroke from passive smoking, and even a short time exposure can be harmful to the heart and blood vessels. According to CDC, “since 1964, about 2,500,000 people who do not smoke have died from health problems caused by secondhand smoke exposure.”  Infants and young children, including fetus in the womb, are particularly vulnerable to passive smoking since their bodies are still developing.

  • 1 air sample is taken from an indoor area, preferebly the main area of concern.
  • A specialty pump is used for about 2 hours to take the air sample.
  • Lab results are available in approximately 7-10 days.
  • Options:
    • Additional samples, especially if the home is over 2000 sqft.
    • VOC testing.
The Process
  • Same as above.

G. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a strong smell. It is used in many building materials and household products, such as particleboard, plywood, fiberboard, other composite wood products, glues and adhesives, permanent-press fabrics, paper product coatings, certain insulation materials, and more. It is commonly used in industrial fungicide, germicide, and disinfectants as well. Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in the environment.

Exposure to formaldehyde can cause eye irritation, respiratory irritation, skin irritation, burning sensations in the eyes/nose/throat, coughing, wheezing, nausea, and headaches. Long-term exposure is also implicated in cancer. Due to its potential to cause cancer, formaldehyde has been identified as a toxic air contaminant.

  • Professional equipment and industry standard sampling medium is used.
  • 1 air sample is taken from an indoor area, preferebly the main area of concern.
  • A specialty pump is used for about 20 minutes to take the air sample.
  • Lab results are available in approximately 1 week.
  • Options:
    • Additional samples, especially if the home is over 2000 sqft.
The Process
  • Same as above.

Combinations

  • Combining multiple services in the same home visit will result in significant savings.