# 8 Things you Need to Know About Indoor Air Quality Testing

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/09/8-things-you-need-to-know-about-indoor-air-quality-testing/
- Published: 2021-09-21T15:54:55-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

We live and breathe most of the time indoors. On average, we spend 20 hours indoors
each day. Therefore, indoor air quality should be checked at all costs. It is not
only hazardous to your health, but it will also cause well-being issues.

But before you go for professional [air quality testing](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/06/lucid-air-touring-test-drive-results/),
there are a few things you should know about indoor air quality.

This article will [discuss indoor air quality testing](https://www.peakoil.net/sustainability/air-pollution-is-a-serious-problem-for-children-of-our-age)
in detail and learn about different types of air quality, air quality testing methods,
and ways to get air quality tested.

![8 things you need to know about indoor air quality testing](https://i0.wp.com/
greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/marek-piwnicki-WiZOyYqzUss-unsplash.
jpg?resize=780%2C488&quality=52&ssl=1 "8 Things you Need to Know About Indoor Air
Quality Testing - The Green Living Guy")

## **What is Indoor Air Quality Testing?**

Bad indoor air quality can cause multiple issues, from nose and eye irritation to
serious problems like cancer and heart diseases. Since air is invisible, these problems
are not visible until the person gets infected with lung-related issues. Therefore,
you must carry out indoor air quality tests to have complete peace of mind from 
time to time.

Indoor air pollution, according to the EPA, can create [long-term health problems](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/07/5-reasons-why-you-should-consider-a-home-energy-audit/).
If you’re not inhaling large amounts of dust or pet dander, you’re less likely to
experience coughing fits or difficulties from respiratory illnesses like [asthma](https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm)
or COPD.

Since clean air has some obvious benefits.  Let’s discuss what you should know about
indoor [air quality testing in Toronto](https://thehealthyabode.ca/) and GTA area.

### **1. Air Quality Varies for Each Area**

Air quality varies from area to area. Even in a big house, the air quality will 
significantly differ from one room to the next. Rooms that are not adequately ventilated
will have more germs and bacteria in the air because of less airflow and lack of
sunlight.

### **2. Size of the Room/Area**

If the size of the room is larger than 50 square feet, make sure to get the room’s
air quality in different areas tested. Professional testing services would require
multiple tests for each room of the house. If the rooms are considerably larger,
like a hall, multiple tests might be needed to test the air quality in different
areas. A proper house survey will tell more about the size of the room and the tests
that will be carried out for the same.

### **3. Type of Pollutants Involved**

Since air is a mixture of multiple substances, it also has many pollutants available.
Different tests are conducted to measure different harmful pollutants in the air.
Professional air tests require multiple samples for accuracy.

It also increases the time to detect the number of pollutants in the air. However,
it is still important to test for multiple pollutants, as that is generally more
affordable and can provide a thorough analysis of the air you breathe.

### **4. Airborne Lead Testing**

Lead is often found in materials and supplies available at home. If you have moved
into an older home, there are chances of having lead particles in the air, and [Lead-based paint](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/12/epa-raises-awareness-of-lead-paint-rules-in-philadelphia/)
is also the main reason for airborne lead.

Apart from that, rusty window frames, cupboards, cabinets, and doors can also emit
lead particles that cause breathing problems. Airborne lead testing analyzes the
air for lead particles/ A swab check will tell about the amount of lead available
in the air.

### **5. Carbon Monoxide Testing**

Another gas that can cause inhaling and breathing problems is carbon monoxide. It
can even kill you if you are not careful. Carbon monoxide gas is usually used in
gas stoves, generators, heaters, and even car exhausts.

Many people die around the world due to the higher presence of carbon monoxide gas
in the air. The problem is simple, carbon monoxide gas is colorless, odorless, and
used daily in our houses.

Any leakage of the carbon monoxide gas can be harmful to humans living in that area.
You have to place carbon monoxide detectors in your house to test the gas. If these
detectors go off, call help immediately.

First-time responders will be able to locate the gas leakage and fix it on an immediate
basis. It is also better to get your house inspected for carbon monoxide emissions
from time to time.

### **6. Mold Testing**

Mold is another substance that can cause breathing problems for most users. It typically
occurs where the atmosphere is damp, and the air is moist. Due to lack of sunlight
and low ventilation, mold can become a common problem in most basements, garages,
and backyards.

However, if mold starts appearing in living areas like lounges, drawing rooms, or
even bedrooms, it is a cause of concern. So in such a case, your first bet is to
fix the mold growth problem. Since mold is not odorless, you can test the musty 
odor by using a special mold testing kit. The samples are taken from a place and
sent for further testing.

### **7. Radon Testing**

Radon is another harmful gas that can cause lung cancer. It is estimated that [radon gas](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/04/ecosia-and-trees-for-the-future-partnership/)
causes around 21,000 lung-cancer related deaths every year. It is even more harmful
than cigarette smoking because 2,900 deaths occur among those who have never smoked
a cigarette every year.

The gas is odorless, tasteless, and radioactive. You won’t know if you are inhaling
radon, which is the primary reason why most people never know if they have smelled
this gas.

Many devices exist to test Radon quality in the air. Short-term [testing of radon](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/05/radon-home-test-the-silent-killer-revealed/)
in the air can be from 2 days to 90 days on average. It is usually present in charcoal
canisters. Houses that use charcoal in any way or near charcoal factories are more
prone to radon gas.

### **8. Indoor Air Quality Testing Kits**

The price of indoor air quality testing kits can vary somewhere from $50 to $500.
You can get a decent kit for air quality testing from Amazon and test the air in
your house without any professional help.

Professionals can charge from $300 for a single visit to $3,000 for a whole-house
air quality testing. It is better to get an air quality testing kit and test your
house for the air metrics discussed above.

If you find any reasonable increase in air quality parameters, you can call professional
air quality testers for help.

We hope that you are now familiar with things you should know for indoor air quality
testing. We have apprised you of how to test air quality, types of air pollutants
to check for, and the air quality testing kits you can purchase from any reputable
store.

Apart from that, professional [indoor air quality](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/10/does-vaping-affect-indoor-air-quality/)
testing services are also available in almost every area. They charge a tiny payment
visit fee, but they can tell a lot about the air condition within your house. Since
you spend a large part of your daily routine indoors, testing your indoor air is
essential

_If you need any help regarding air quality testing in your area or any more questions
that we can answer, please comment below._

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
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Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
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