Understanding Why Air Quality Testing is Imporant

You are out looking at houses, and there’s one you really like. But your nose is twitching the entire time you are inside the house.

It’s easy to say to yourself, “Oh, it just needs a good airing out.” and focus on things like the number of bedrooms, the size of the yard, or how close it is to good schools. But have you thought about what you can’t see? Air quality inside the home might not be something you notice right away, but it’s just as important as those other factors. Poor indoor air quality can impact your health and comfort, so testing for it before you make a purchase is a smart move.

What Is Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor air quality refers to the cleanliness and safety of the air inside a home. So many people immediately jump to the idea of mold when it comes to air quality. But the air quality can be affected dust, radon, carbon monoxide, and harmful chemicals from paint, building materials, or furniture. If a home has poor air quality, it can lead to health problems such as allergies, asthma, or long-term respiratory issues.

Test Before Buying

For as little as a few hundred dollars, you can discover any hidden issues. You’ll get results on:

• Radon, which is a naturally occurring gas that can seep into homes and is linked to lung cancer.
• Mold and fungi of all types, which can grow in damp areas and can cause respiratory issues or worsen asthma.
• Carbon monoxide, the odorless gas that can be deadly if levels are too high.

By knowing about these issues ahead of time, you can decide if the home is worth the cost of fixing them or if you need to look for another property.

Hiring a Professional

Hiring a company that provides testing services is the most reliable option. They use specialized equipment to check for pollutants and allergens. Some home inspectors include air quality testing in their services, but you can also hire an environmental testing company for a more detailed assessment.

And If There are Problems?

Should an issue be revealed, that doesn’t mean you have to cancel the purchase. By doing this during your due diligence period, you can make an informed choice whether to proceed. Some options might be:

1. Negotiating remediation or repair
2. Negotiating a lower price so that you can address the issues yourself (you may even have a remediation company come by to price out the work as leverage for your proposed price)
3. Determine whether the risks are worth it; don’t forget to consider the issues you may have selling the house later base on the issues and whether they are likely to get worse over time.

There are Solutions

A qualified professional can install a radon reduction system and/or increase ventilation, or seal cracks in your home. There are also companies that can address the presence of mold. Some issues can be helped through the installation a home purification system or a duct cleaning.

Your health and safety should always come first, even when choosing your dream home. Testing air quality is a simple but important step to make sure your new home is a safe and healthy place to live. It gives you peace of mind and can save you from unexpected problems in the future.

Additional Resources