Indoor Air Quality Test in San Francisco, CA

The only difference between the air in your lungs and the one outside of them is its location. This is why indoor air quality is so important. While we can’t have full control over the air quality when outdoors, we do have control over the one indoors. And this is where GCD Restoration’s air quality testing services for San Francisco Bay Area come in to play.

Make Indoor Air Quality Testing A Priority For The Rainy San Francisco Season

HVAC systems (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) are a San Franciscan’s main source of air cooling and heating. It’s an intricate network of air ducks distribute cooled or heated air throughout a property.

This network is circulating indoor air and expelling excess heat or moisture outside, picking up dust and fine particles, depositing them into the air vents and air ducts of the property.

Air current and circulation will disturb deposited particles and dust, bringing them back into the room, contributing to poor indoor air quality and intensified room pollution. A regularly scheduled air duct cleaning will make property maintenance and dusting a lot easier. In addition it will alleviate any respiratory issues or allergy-like symptoms

While such a system is quite convenient for creating a standardized indoor climate, it requires routine maintenance and air quality checks to see how it’s performing. Information gathered through air tests is an indication of the pollution of the air ducts.

Such pollution is inevitable, though it will result in the lowering of efficiency of your HVAC system. Prolong the longevity of your air conditioning with GCD Restoration’s routine air duct cleaning.

Which Are The Most Common Air Duct Pollutants?

San Francisco resident’s HVAC systems are more prone to mold and mildew growth. With The Mediterranean-like climate of the Bay Area, and an average annual humidity rating of 75%, it’s quite expected.

This introduction of moisture into the air provides perfect breeding conditions for fungi, especially during the rainy 5 months from March to early October.

Some common substances and microorganisms that may be contaminating the air in your residential or commercial building include:

Mold and Mildew
Fungi
Dust, Pollen, and other micro-particles
Asbestos, lead, radon, and other hazardous building materials
VOCs (volatile organic compounds), pollutants found in paints, cleaning products, air fresheners, and other household chemicals
Carbon monoxide
Secondhand smoke

Any of these may be a factor for the decrease of air quality and the introduction of unpleasant smells. They may also be main contributors for poor health, allergies, sleep apnea and other issues.

Side Effects Of Poor Indoor Air Quality

Air quality testing is vital for the proper diagnosis of many health issues.

If you are experiencing any of these, please check with your doctor and give GCD Restorations a call for immediate assistance. All of these may be the cause of poor air quality and airborne pollution:

Shortness of breath or other respiratory issues including asthma and bronchitis
Allergic symptoms such as skin irritation, itching, rashes, swelling, or stuffy or runny nose and sore throat
Fatigue or headaches, migraines, lethargy
Nausea or diarrhea, upset digestive tract

The extent to which you are affected depends on your immune system and how it responds to outside intrusion.

If you are noticing that the symptoms described above persist only when you are indoors, and subside when you step outside, it is a sure sign that your HVAC system is due for a cleaning.

How Does Indoor Air Quality Testing Work

When you reach out to us for an air quality test, regardless if it’s for a commercial or residential property, you get a scheduled visit from our air quality technicians. For businesses, we provide special accommodations for after-working hours as to not disturb the day-to-day work-flow.

It’s important to get a good idea of the composition of the breathable air because it will be circulating into your lungs, making this private resource quite vital for a normal life. Indoor air quality testing provides us with a more in-depth idea of the condition of your property and is especially important when dehumidifying a flooded space.

As one of the leading indoor air quality testing companies in San Francisco, our main focus is to provide quick and accurate results. Air quality testing can also be required as a supplementary part of home restoration, especially in circumstances where the property is more than 50 years old.

To understand more about the chemical composition of the circulating indoor air, we use a variety of air quality tests and perform inspections to guarantee that the air is pure enough. This will determine if further intervention is required for the removal of existing contaminants like mold.

If you think your home or business may be suffering from poor air quality, contact us here at GCD Restoration today at (650) 835-4447 to book your air quality inspection!

GCD Restoration On Indoor Air Pollution Prevention

How to Test Air Quality in Your Home

There are cases where the services of air quality testing companies are not yet required. If you want to do an air quality check, there are several things that you can do. Here are just some of them:

Buy a home air quality test kit from the pharmacy;
Place a paper towel on-top of went covers to see the condition of the air flow;
Check the immediate vicinity of the air vent covers.

The paper towel trick is a useful tool which will provide you with a visual representation of the conditions of your breathable air. It is a quick form of air quality inspection which takes 1 day to complete.

Place the paper towel on top of any vent cover and use duct tape to seal it well. The porous texture of the paper towel will still allow air to pass, but will still be able to catch any large particles.

Remove and inspect the paper 24 hours after you’ve placed it – if it’s dirty then it might be time for an air quality test from professionals.

There are many different ways one can improve the indoor air quality even without turning to professional help. As our goal is to promote better community health, we will share with you what we know from experience:

It’s advisable to avoid lighting scented candles made from paraffin – the burning and evaporation process of the paraffin will release harmful particles into the air contributing
Frequently open your windows to allow fresh air to circulate and carbon dioxide to leave the building.
Utilize green plants to acts as natural air purification but be mindful of not sleeping in the same room as them – they breathe out carbon-dioxide.
Dust and clean surfaces around the house regularly, especially in the basement, attic, and other dark or humid places where microorganisms like living and breeding in.
Switch your HVAC filters every 3-6 months to prevent mold from clogging the system

Summary:

If you are experiencing respiratory issues or out-of season allergic reactions, check with GCD Restoration for a scheduled indoor air quality test.
Not all cases require air duct cleaning, and we will recommend what you can do to improve your air quality.
We provide certified laboratory air testing
If necessary we clean your air ducts with our specialized air duct cleaning service.

Other Services you might find useful:

Mold Removal and Remediation
Water Damage Restoration
Carpet Cleaning
Dryer Vent Cleaning

Air Quality Testing Includes…

a series of rigorous inspections, quality tests, 24 hour monitoring and chemical analysis. GCD Restoration’s air quality inspections uses:

Testing for Mold
Carbon Monoxide Test
Smoke Test, Nicotine and Smoke Soot

and a variety of other preliminary tests, including two unique air samples which are sent to a local lab for further analysis.

After the inspection is complete and the lab results are in, we’ll provide a written report with the results of your air quality inspection. In it we will detail a list of potential problems and suggested services and solutions to help get your air quality back to normal.

These documents are certified by our laboratory making them admissible with your GP or any other medical professional.

Solutions May Include

Mold Removal and Cleaning Services
Professional Air Duct and Ventilation Cleaning
Residential Furnace Repair and Cleaning

If a problem with the air quality of your property is identified, we’ll provide you with additional air duct cleaning coverage.

The procedure utilizes a range of powerful, organic cleaners and disinfectants which clean your building and purify your indoor air.

Our cleaning solutions are designed to deter future contamination and prolong the life of your HVAC system, increasing efficiency, saving you quite a lot of money and time in the long run.

Areas And District Coverage

Since 2015, we’ve been providing high quality restoration and cleaning services for:

San Bruno;
Colma;
Brisbane;
Daly City;
Hillsborough;
Burlingame;
San Mateo;
Westlake;
Serramonte;
Visitacion Valley.

GCE Restoration will expand its water damage repair and restoration efforts to all of San Francisco, San Jose and the entirety of the Bay Area, expect us near you in the near future.

What is indoor air quality test and why do I need it?

This is a service which tests the chemical composition of indoor air to determine whether there are harmful substances in it and how dangerous to your health they are.

The quality of the air you breathe is directly correlated to your overall health, and it will also affect any preexisting respiratory conditions. It’s also a good way to find mold infestations present on your premises.

Do I get a copy of test results?

Yes, you do, both digitized and on paper. This is a part of our service and since it’s an official test from a laboratory, it is admissible as for insurance, both medical and property and can even supplement medical examinations.

The reason we provide you with a copy is so you can decide what the next course of action is and whether the levels of a certain chemical are worrying or not.

What do I do if there are dangerous agents in my indoor air?

The best way to react depends on the contents of the test. If the cause for concern is organic, like fecal matter or mold spores, then it’s vital to find the source – its possible sigh of HVAC vent malfunction or other problems.

If the source of the contamination is non-organic, i.e. there are solvents and harsh chemicals in the air, it’s important to purify the air and find the source.

How often should indoor air be tested?

GCDRestoration’s professional recommendation is that you have your indoor air tested at least once a year. A lot can change in a year, appliance can malfunction, a roof may leak, mold may grow – early detection of any such issues is vital for the speedy resolve.

What this service accomplishes is it provides an exact footprint of the property and it’s condition, since it can detect even the smallest chance in air quality due to dust, dust mite activity and much more.

How much will this cost me?

Indoor Air Quality Testing is a specialized service which requires time and the employment of a specialized laboratory. There is no fixed price on the service and the best way to determine the price of our expertise is to contact us by phone or our contact form and to ask us directly.

What determines the price is the size of the location, the amount of unique samples and if you book any subsequent services.

Phone: (650) 835-4447

E-mail: info(at)gcdrestoration.com

24 hours a day

7 days a week

Get Free Estimate