How Do I Perform a DIY Air Quality Test?
If you’ve ever watched a good old-fashioned Whodunnit, you know the culprit is almost always the last person the audience expects. The butler. The good-natured neighbor. The mailman. Well, think of your indoor air quality as the suspicious butler of the “why can’t I breathe” home improvement whodunnit. Indoor air quality should always be on the usual suspect list, and fortunately, there are several investigatory tools at your fingertips you can use to rule it out – or catch the criminal.
Signs You May Have an Indoor Air Quality Problem
Every good detective begins with a profile. Some common symptoms and risk factors related to indoor air quality problems you should watch out for include:
- An older home – Older homes mean more dust, not-great ventilation, and potentially some of those more dangerous vintage hazards such as asbestos.
- You just moved in – It’s a new environment. An unknown entity. And lots of air pollutants are odorless, colorless – invisible. A good detective always crosses unknowns off their list.
- An allergy flare-up – Coughing. A runny nose. Sneezing. These are all common allergy symptoms, and could just be how you roll. However, if you notice these symptoms get worse, or persist beyond the usual season, there’s a chance indoor pollutants in your home are to blame.
- You seem to always be under the weather – Do you often wake up with a throat that feels like sandpaper? Are you fatigued or short of breath often? This is something to investigate.
Essential Tools of the DIY Air Quality Tester
1. At-home test kits.
Lucky for homeowners everywhere, the DIY air quality test kit market is robust. Kits are available for most common pollutants, including allergens, mold, formaldehyde, organic vapor, lead, and radon. Below are some of the Air Expert’s favorite DIY testing kits:
- The DIY Mold Testing Kit – Test for all types of mold growth.
- The Asbestos Testing Kit – Reveals asbestos that may be lingering in the air.
- The Digital Moisture Meter – Detects excess moisture in the air
2. Air quality monitors.
If you’re not especially dexterous and don’t want to wander around your home like a mad scientist with different testing strips and petri dishes – we do understand. In that case, you may want to invest in a multi-utility air quality monitor. These easy-to-use handheld devices can detect multiple air quality culprits at once.
Remember – The Air Experts Are Always Available to Assist on a Case
If planning DIY air quality testing is more frustrating than helpful, or if you have reason to believe an indoor air quality culprit is wreaking havoc in your home, it’s safest to call in the professionals. The Air Experts guarantee convenient and affordable service done right, and we’ve got decades of experience solving indoor air quality cases.
Call the Air Experts at 919 – 480 – 2727 or contact us online today to learn more about how you can improve your indoor air quality.
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