How Often Should I Have My Indoor Air Quality Tested?

Since we spend the majority of our time inside, the quality of our air is extremely important. In many homes, indoor air is actually more polluted than outdoor air due to the presence of mold, dust, VOCs, and other chemicals. The first step to addressing this problem is checking your indoor air and finding out which pollutants are in your home. How often do you need to test indoor air? The answer to this question depends on several factors.

When to Get Your Initial Test

You should always prepare to get a complete panel of tests done when you move into a new location. There are all sorts of things that a good indoor air quality test should check for, including:

• Dust mites
• Pollen
• Volatile organic compounds
• Carbon monoxide
• Lead
• Radon
• Mold

Some of these pollutants, like radon, pollen, and lead, can be present as soon as you move in. Since they are dangerous, identifying them as soon as possible is a good idea. However, you normally do not want to test things like VOCs and dust mites right after you move in because the levels of these pollutants can alter depending on your furniture, cleaning supplies, and habits. By waiting at least a few months, you can get a more accurate picture of what your home’s air really looks like when your entire family is living there. Pollen and mold levels can vary depending on the season, so they might not be present at certain times of the year.

There are a few different ways to figure out the ideal time to talk to Reed Service Company about our Beaumont indoor air quality testing. Some homeowners find it best to just test for everything in the spring or fall after they move in. This provides an accurate picture of how your family is affecting your home’s air, and it is still soon enough after moving in that you may not experience much danger from problems like lead. However, if you are concerned about certain dangerous airborne contaminants, you can test for things like radon and mold before moving in and then schedule your VOC and pollen test for later.

Reasons You May Need Another Complete Test

Typically, once you have done the full panel of testing, you can just get a checkup every five years or so. However, there are a few reasons you may want to get another full air test done on your property. If you have had any structural changes to your home, such as remodeling a bathroom, renovating a basement, or adding an extension, you should test your air to see how the change has affected your home.

Another reason to get a new set of tests is if you or someone in the home is experiencing health problems. Things like chronic headaches, coughing, or trouble sleeping can be a sign that something is going wrong with your indoor air. Finally, you may want to entirely retest the air in your home if you have a new air conditioner, heater, air purifier, or ventilation system installed. This can tell you how well your new system is cleaning your indoor air.

Types of Tests That Need to Be Done Regularly

There are a few specific types of indoor air quality tests that should be performed on a regular basis. Carbon monoxide should be continuously tested with a CO monitor inside your home. You should test for radon every few years since levels of this cancer-causing gas can fluctuate due to ground settling or other minor changes.

Another thing you should test for every couple of years is VOCs. Volatile organic compounds can be released from cooking, cleaning, furniture, clothes, toiletries, and more. Since these levels of harmful chemicals are so closely linked to your daily activities, you should get them checked out fairly often. If any of your past tests have shown problematic levels of a certain pollutant, you should do a test for this pollutant regularly to ensure it is not still causing issues.

If you want to test your indoor air quality, we can help check for pollutants and recommend ways to clean it. In addition to providing indoor air quality services, our technicians can also assist with repairs, maintenance, and installation of HVAC systems. Call Reed Service Company in Beaumont, TX, today to get the clean, refreshing air your home needs.