Indoor Air Quality Test

AIR QUALITY TESTING

Indoor Air Quality Test in San Francisco

We often hear or read about the impurity of the air quality outdoors. The air quality index, with values from neon green to dark maroon, shows us what quality the air is, along with the rest of our weather forecast, and lets us know whether we should stay inside or have our windows open.

However, did you know that air quality isn’t just a concern for the outdoors? In fact, often the air quality indoor may be worse than the air quality outside. How? When air ducts or ventilation systems are crowded with dust, mold, pollen, and other potentially-harmful contaminants and other substances, the air you breathe inside your home or office may be shockingly unhealthy. These pollutants sometimes don’t originate from your HVAC system but can arise from a variety of other causes too.

COMMON INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS

While you may not be exposed to smoke from wildfires or smog from factories inside your home or business building, you may be surprised at the number of other contaminants you may be breathing in every day as you stay indoors.

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 microparticles
  • 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

All these causes and more may be decreasing the good quality of the air inside your building, potentially causing numerous health issues you may not even be aware of yet.

SIDE EFFECTS OF POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Air quality testing is vital if you are experiencing any of these issues, which are often common side effects of indoor air pollution:

  • shortness of breath or other respiratory issues including asthma and bronchitis
  • allergic symptoms such as skin redness, itching, rashes, swelling, or a stuffy or runny nose and sore throat
  • fatigue or headaches
  • nausea or diarrhea

These health concerns can be mild or quite serious, even in severe circumstances causing lung cancer. In addition to these serious health risks and issues, contaminated air clogs your HVAC system and can raise your utility builds while decreasing the life of your system.

HOW INDOOR AIR QUALITY TESTING WORKS

When you call GCD Restoration for an air quality testing for your home, business, or office, our licensed and insured air quality technicians will use a variety of air quality tests and inspections to ensure your air is the best quality possible and to remove any contaminants or mold that may be lurking in your building.

Air quality testing includes a series of rigorous inspections, quality tests, monitoring, and analysis. At GCD Restoration, our air quality inspections include a mold test, a carbon monoxide test, a smoke test, and many other tests and inspections, including two unique air samples that are sent to a local lab.

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

Solutions may include…

  • mold removal and cleaning services
  • professional air duct and ventilation cleaning
  • residential furnace repair and cleaning
  • and more.

After we identify the air quality issues particular to your home or business, we’ll use a range of powerful organic cleaners and disinfectants to cleanse your building and your indoor air.

PREVENT INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

There are many simple ways you can improve your indoor air quality and help prevent pollutants and contaminants from decreasing your air quality.

  • Avoid lighting scented candles because they can release harmful particles into the air as they burn
  • Frequently open your windows to allow fresh air to circulate and carbon dioxide to leave the building
  • Have live household plants, as they convert carbon dioxide to oxygen
  • Dust and clean surfaces around the house regularly, especially in the basement, attic, and other dark or humid places where microorganisms may like to breed
  • Switch your HVAC filters every 3-6 months to prevent mold from clogging the system

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!

Get a Quote