Did you know that air pollution kills about 7 million people globally every year? For that reason, you may want to pay more attention to the contaminants in your home’s air. Here’s how to test air quality.
Testing for Mold
An easy way to test for mold is to sniff for musty air. You can also inspect the places where mold is likely to grow for dark-green, black, or brown stains or patches on surfaces.
Radon Test Kit
Radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. You can test the average radon level in your home using long-term or short-term test kits.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends first carrying out a short-term test. If the result is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, the EPA advises you to perform a second, short-term test — particularly if the result is double 4 pCi/L — or a long-term one. If the average of your two short-term tests is 4 pCi/L or more, or the long-term test finds your radon level to be 4 pCi/L or more, contact a specialist to fix your radon problem.
Testing for Lead
If you have a surface that was painted before 1978, it’s likely to contain lead. Exposure to lead can harm all the body systems. An EPA-recognized test kit used by a trained professional can determine if your home has lead-based paint.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) can cause unconsciousness and death at high levels. Do yo know how to test air quality for CO? Have CO detectors with alarms installed in your home. Also, have a professional inspect fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces and water heaters for CO leaks.
Using High-Tech Devices
Want another answer to the question of how to test air quality? You can also purchase an indoor air-quality monitor or high-tech air purifier with a built-in air-quality monitor.
After testing air quality, you can come up with an appropriate way to make your home’s air cleaner and healthier. To learn more about how to test air quality, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We help Lorain-area homeowners stay safe and comfortable in their homes all year.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area