Why Should You Do an Air Quality Test?

December 18th, 2020

Indoor air quality plays a major role in providing a safe living environment for homeowners and their families. Air quality is equally important in our places of work, study, and play. It often shocks people to learn that indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air, even in a developed city like Montreal. As such, it is very important to have the quality of your air tested.

The clean air specialists at QualiTAM offer these insights about commonly asked questions regarding why you should do an air quality test:

  • What do air quality tests measure?
  • What are the consequences of poor indoor air quality?
  • Why should I do an air quality test?
  • What should I look for when choosing a company to do an air quality test?

What do air quality tests measure?

Indoor air quality tests are conducted in order to measure hazardous materials that can be floating in the air in residential, commercial, and industrial spaces. Some of the dangerous contaminants that are commonly found in poor indoor air include:

  • Mold spores
  • Asbestos
  • Radon
  • Dust
  • Chemicals
  • CO et CO2
  • Formaldehyde
  • Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)
  • What are the consequences of poor indoor air quality?

There are some signs of poor indoor air quality that can be detected without a professional. Signs that the quality of air in your home might be poor include:

  • Odors
  • Visible mold or other contaminants
  • Water damage
  • Condensation problems
  • Excessive dust and other airborne particles

Left untreated, these consequences of poor indoor air quality can lead to health symptoms for those breathing the air on a regular basis. Common health symptoms of family members or co-workers breathing poor indoor air quality include:

  • Fatigue or dizziness
  • Coughing or sneezing
  • Watery eyes
  • Irritated eyes or skin
  • Headaches
  • Respiratory problems

If you are experiencing any of these signs of indoor air quality, have your indoor air quality tested in order to find out what is causing these problems. Air testing positions homeowners and business owners alike to be fully informed about how to keep their family and employees safe and healthy when it comes to the air they breathe daily.

Why should I do an air quality test?

When homeowners and business owners start to detect some of the signs of poor indoor air quality that we listed above, the only way to rule out poor indoor air quality as one of the contributing factors is to have a professional air quality test conducted. While air purifiers and other DIY solutions may marginally improve the air quality in the immediate vicinity, these Band-Aid solutions only mask the problem.

In order to find out which contaminants are found in your indoor air, and assessing where these contaminants are coming from is the only way to fully understand and then permanently solve the problem and increase the indoor air quality of your entire home or business.

What should I look for when choosing a company to do an air quality test?

There are lots of companies who claim to provide accurate air quality testing and it’s important for you to feel confident that you are selecting a fully trained team that provide reliable results and recommendations about your indoor air quality.

Make sure you choose an air quality team that uses the latest technology and tools. It’s also important to keep in mind that reliable testing services do not provide on-the-spot results. For accurate results, air samples which are collected in your home need to be sent to a laboratory for professional analysis. Choose a company that works with an accredited laboratory, it is a regulated field of expertise.

Furthermore, when selecting your air quality testing company, also inquire about what you will receive after the test results are received from the accredited lab. QualiTAM, for example, provides not only a detailed report of the indoor air testing results from the lab, we guide you step-by-step through an explanation of the findings and provide suggestions for ways to improve your indoor air quality.

f you are concerned or have questions about the quality of your indoor air and air quality testing, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals at QualiTAM, proudly serving Outremont and the greater Montreal area to ensure high indoor air quality.

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