Here’s a shocking fact: according to the EPA, indoor air quality is two to five times worse than outdoor air quality. In some cases, indoor air pollutants can even exceed outdoor levels by up to 100 times! Did you know that? If not, and you spend considerable time inside your home, you may want to consider getting your indoor air quality tested. 

Why would you do that? How do you stand to benefit from indoor air quality testing? Read on to find out. 

What’s in Your Indoor Air?

There’s a good chance the air inside your home harbors several harmful substances you may not even know are there. But don’t assume that they’re not negatively affecting your health because they aren't apparent. Several indoor air pollutants that your home may be harboring can have negative effects on your respiratory system, including:

  • Mold and mildew

  • Radon

  • Volatile organic compounds

  • Chemical residues

  • Asbestos

  • Nitrogen dioxide

  • Carbon monoxide

  • Dust mites 

  • Pollen, dust particles, and dander

  • Secondhand smoke

  • Acrylamide dust and/or vapors (typically generated by cooking)

When you don’t actively take steps to reduce your indoor air pollution, these substances can build to dangerous levels inside your home. That’s what indoor air quality testing is for — to alert you to potentially hazardous levels of indoor air pollution so you can fix the problem and protect your health. 

Why Get Indoor Air Quality Testing?

If you work from home or spend a lot of time indoors, it’s important to understand that you may be breathing in the above-listed pollutants on a near-constant basis. Indoor air quality testing is important for any home, and you should consider having it done for several reasons, including:

To Detect Indoor Pesticide Levels

If you routinely use insecticides inside or around your home, those pesticides can harm your health. Air quality testing is especially important when purchasing a new home, and you’re unsure whether the previous owner used pesticides. 

To Detect Radon Levels

Radon is a colorless and odorless gas and a known carcinogen. It may seep into your home through the soil if there are naturally high levels in the ground around your home. 

To Test for the Presence of Asbestos

If you own an older home, its insulation may contain asbestos, also a known carcinogen. Indoor air quality testing can alert you to the presence of this harmful compound so you can take steps to remove it from your home. 

To Measure Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds

VOCs, which exist in many of the products you use around your home every day, can cause respiratory issues and headaches. If you’ve recently moved into a new home or remodeled your current home, you should seriously consider getting the air tested for these substances. 

To Help Prevent Indoor Allergy Symptoms

Indoor air pollutants can trigger sneezing, coughing, runny nose, headaches, itchy eyes, and skin irritation. If you’ve been dealing with mysterious allergy-like symptoms, indoor air quality testing may be able to alert you to the culprit. 

What Can You Do To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality?

If you’re currently unaware of whether your IAQ needs help, you should first get professional indoor air quality testing. Once you get your results back, you’ll know which particulates are present at the highest levels in your home, and you can take measures to control them.

It’s fairly tough to give specific recommendations on fixing those issues without knowing exactly what's contaminating your indoor air. However, you can implement the following measures to boost your IAQ, regardless of whether you get testing or know what exactly is polluting your home:

●          Get a few houseplants that naturally clean the air.

●          Invest in a whole-house air purification system or portable air purifiers.

●          Schedule a duct cleaning appointment with a reputable provider (check out how to avoid falling victim to a duct cleaning scam).

●          Keep up with routine furnace and a/c cleaning to help your HVAC system function better.

●          Change your air filters every 30-60 days.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality With Dust Doctors

Feel like your indoor air quality isn’t so great? Dust Doctors can help you improve it with our 5-star services! Duct cleaning, proper a/c and furnace maintenance, and air purification systems can work wonders to boost indoor air quality, and our expert team offers all that and more. 

To get started, call our Little Canada, MN office at 651-319-9777 or request a free service quote online. You can also message us with any questions, and we’ll get in touch!

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