HOME INDOOR AIR QUALITY

If you are in the market to buy a home or sell one, it is very important to make sure that the air is safe to breathe. Now that people are spending more time indoors than out, things like hidden mold and building materials of old can make the quality of the air you breathe in the home unsafe.

BUYING A HOME

As part of what I do as a home inspector, I find and report on the soundness of the home. This is done through a visual inspection on the physical things that are seen and felt. Another part of the inspection is of the air quality that cannot be touched or seen. The air quality of the home can potentially pose health risks to you and your family.

Air Quality Important Facts to Know:

1. The USEPA has reported that home air can have 100 times more chemicals inside than outside.
2. The USEPA has also reported that adults and kids now spend most of their time indoors (90%)
3. The CDC has reported that 20+ million adults have asthma, and the National Ashtma Survey has reported that asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease among children. These numbers continue to increase annually, suggesting that the indoor environment plays a contributing role in this trend.
4. Mold growth can be present within the home and be hidden behind walls or underneath carpeting or flooring.
5. The use of Formaldehyde is prevalent in certain building materials and the concentration of this known cancer-causing agent can be many times the save level.

How to know if my air quality is safe:

For my customers, I choose to offer an IAQ Home SurveyTM. This test allows me to check the air for the presence of any of the chemicals that can potentially be hazardous to you and your family and make you sick. With this test, I am able to provide you with an assessment of the air quality in the home.

1. IAQ Home Survey is a low-cost test designed to measure the chemicals in the air and find hidden mold.
2. IAQ Home Survey is performed during the home inspection.
3. IAQ Home Survey reports the total amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) found in the home and whether they are within a recommended safe rage.
4. IAQ Home Survey predicts the source of the VOCs and determines if the home is the source or if the VOCs are merely from the contents of the home.
5. IAQ Home Survey is so sensitive it monitors for the chemicals released by actively growing mold, whether it is behind walls or underneath the carpeting or flooring.
6. Formaldehyde can be measured and reported individually for an additional charge. This test is especially recommended for any home constructed or remodeled within the past five years.

Before you buy your home, it is a good idea to have the air quality tested. We are ready and able to perform an accurate and affordable IAQ Home Survey test as part of a complete home inspection.

Download a Sample Analytical Report here

​Sample Analytical Report

Download a Sample Formaldehyde Report here

​Sample Formaldehyde Report

SELLING A HOME

A Great way to show the potential buyers that the home was cared for is to have a pre-inspection and indoor are quality assessment completed before the sale. This will also help in the sale by preventing any delays from potential issues that may come up when the potential buyer has these tests done.

IAQ Home Survey is a low cost, state-of-the-art indoor quality assessment that can identify numerous chemical sources, whether they are from known sources (e.g., new paint, potpourri, or carpeting) or from mold that might be hidden from view but potentially found during a full home inspection. The IAQ Home Survey analytical report can be utilized to create an action plan to remove or remediate any issues found prior to putting your home on the market.

Air Quality Important Facts to Know:

1. The USEPA has reported that home air can have 100 times more chemicals inside than outside.
2. The USEPA has also reported that adults and kids now spend most of their time indoors (90%)
3. The CDC has reported that 20+ million adults have asthma, and the National Ashtma Survey has reported that asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease among children. These numbers continue to increase annually, suggesting that the indoor environment plays a contributing role in this trend.
4. Mold growth can be present within the home and be hidden behind walls or underneath carpeting or flooring.
5. The use of Formaldehyde is prevalent in certain building materials and the concentration of this known cancer-causing agent can be many times the save level.

How to know if the air quality is safe:

For my customers, I choose to offer an IAQ Home SurveyTM. This test allows me to check the air for the presence of any of the chemicals that can potentially be hazardous to you and your family and make you sick. With this test, I am able to provide you with an assessment of the air quality in the home.

1. IAQ Home Survey is a low-cost test designed to measure the chemicals in the air and find hidden mold.
2. IAQ Home Survey can be easily performed at your convenience on an area of up to 2,000 sq. ft.
3. IAQ Home Survey reports the total amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) found in the home and whether they are within a recommended safe rage.
4. IAQ Home Survey predicts the source of the VOCs and determines if the home is the source or if the VOCs are merely from the contents of the home.
5. IAQ Home Survey is so sensitive it monitors for the chemicals released by actively growing mold, whether it is behind walls or underneath the carpeting or flooring.
6. Formaldehyde can be measured and reported individually for an additional charge. This test is especially recommended for any home constructed or remodeled within the past five years.

Before you buy your home, it is a good idea to have the air quality tested. We are ready and able to perform an accurate and affordable IAQ Home Survey test as part of a complete home inspection.

Download a Sample Analytical Report here

​Sample Analytical Report

Download a Sample Formaldehyde Report here

​Sample Formaldehyde Report


For more information regarding Home Air Quality and the IAQ Home Survey, visit the Prism website at the link below: