You give plenty of thought to how your home looks, sounds and even smells. But beyond just odors, you need to give serious thought to what’s going on with the air in your home. Bad indoor air quality, or IAQ, is about more than just smell, but health and allergies.
Many different tests detect different air quality issues, and your total expense depends on the collection of tests you do. However, you can usually expect to pay about $420 for an IAQ test that identifies mold, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, pet dander and a number of common allergens. Who to hire for an IAQ test? For serious indoor air quality problems, you don’t want to rely on guesswork.
You can purchase a DIY home air testing kit for around $100, but it won’t tell you as much as a professional test can. It also can’t diagnose the problem and suggest what to do next. Many home inspectors and HVAC pros carry IAQ certification, and some testers do the work exclusively.
Look for an experienced professional and ask about their qualifications. Most areas don’t license indoor air quality testers, so you need to make sure their experience and certifications demonstrate their ability. A number of industry organizations offer certification, as does the Environmental Protection Agency.
The test will probably take a few hours. You’ll get some of the findings immediately. Generally speaking, you’ll receive a complete report within two to 10 days.
What can I do about IAQ? Volatile organic compoun.
