Why Is Indoor Air Quality Testing So Important?

The city of Tacoma, WA, is a bustling urban city and economic hub, which means you may be exposed to a variety of air pollutants, even when you’re inside your home. Fortunately, indoor air quality testing helps you identify the types and levels of airborne contaminants present indoors. The experts at Kliemann Brothers Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electrical offer a range of IAQ services, including comprehensive testing, tools, and solutions to identify issues and improve your home’s indoor air quality, supporting better overall health and well-being.

What Is Indoor Air Quality Testing?

HVAC indoor air quality testing involves collecting air samples to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the air inside your home. This professional-grade test measures a range of pollutants and air quality parameters, including temperature and humidity. When you receive an IAQ test, you’ll identify specific pollutants that may pose certain health risks to help you understand how to mitigate them and keep your indoor environment safe.

Signs Your Home Might Need Air Quality Testing

Health Symptoms

When the air in your home is unhealthy, you may experience frequent allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, a runny nose, watery eyes, or an itchy throat. Indoor air quality can make these symptoms more noticeable or severe when you’re at home. Other health-related signs of poor indoor air quality include frequent asthma attacks, respiratory infections, cardiovascular issues, or neurological problems.

Environmental Clues

Your home may also provide environmental clues that indicate you need indoor air quality testing. Lingering musty, chemical, or unpleasant odors, and visible signs of mold or mildew on your walls, ceilings, or window frames, are common indicators. Excess dust accumulating quickly on surfaces, high indoor humidity, and HVAC air filters that become dirty much faster than usual are additional environmental indicators to monitor.

Other Times to Test

Consider conducting IAQ testing after a major flood, a sewage spill, or any nearby hazardous material release in your home. It’s also important to schedule IAQ testing before you move into a new home. Have your home’s air quality tested after a major remodel or the installation of new flooring and other products, as these activities can release dust or VOCs into the air.

Why Indoor Air Quality Testing Matters for Your Health

Indoor air quality testing is well worth the cost. It identifies hidden pollutants that can trigger symptoms such as dizziness, brain fog, headaches, allergies, asthma, and even long-term illnesses. Detecting and then proactively removing these pollutants helps improve comfort and reduces your risk of experiencing many of these health problems.

Since many people spend much of their time indoors, it’s important to ensure the air you breathe is clean and free of contaminants. This is especially vital to young children, elderly adults, people with pre-existing health conditions, and those with asthma or allergy sensitivities. Polluted indoor air can worsen respiratory problems, cause chronic inflammation, weaken the immune system, and disrupt sleep. Exposure to certain pollutants, including asbestos and radon, increases the risk of cognitive decline, cardiovascular issues, and some cancers.

Top Indoor Air Pollutants Found in Homes

A wide variety of indoor air pollutants may be found inside your home. These are some of the top pollutants that our IAQ testing service detects:

• Biological pollutants: From pet dander and pollen to dust mites and bacteria, these pollutants can pose significant health risks in many homes.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): These chemicals from non-living sources may be undetectable or barely detectable but can pose health risks. They often include lead, formaldehyde, radon (a naturally occurring gas), and other compounds found in paints, cleaning products, and furniture.
• Combustion byproducts: Soot and other particulates can circulate in your home if your furnace has a combustion issue, including carbon monoxide, secondhand smoke, and other combustion byproducts that may have long-term negative health effects.

Tools and Solutions for Improving IAQ

The team at Kliemann Brothers knows how to improve indoor air quality through various effective tools and solutions. Some air quality solutions for allergies we offer include installing a whole-house humidifier system, a central dehumidifier system, and air scrubbers in Tacoma, WA.

Dehumidifiers

A full-house dehumidifier system controls your home’s indoor humidity when it reaches 50 percent or higher. A moist indoor environment supports the growth of mold and mildew, invites pests, and may cause or exacerbate respiratory issues. Not only will a dehumidifier improve indoor air quality, but it can also protect your home’s structure from damage like rotting wood that often occurs due to excess exposure to high levels of moisture over time.

Humidifiers

There are many benefits of a whole-house humidifier, especially when the air gets cold and dry. A humidifier raises indoor humidity when it drops too low (typically below 35 percent). When the air is too dry, it can crack wood furniture and floors, leave your skin extremely dry, and cause respiratory issues. Some people also experience sore throats, headaches, or bloody noses when indoor air humidity is too low.

Air Scrubbers

Kliemann Brothers proudly installs Air Scrubber by Aerus® products, which use special technology proven to destroy up to 99 percent of airborne contaminants. If you’re wondering, does a humidifier help with smell? Our air scrubbers are a better option for removing unpleasant odors, including mold and mildew, cigarette smoke, household pet odors, paint fumes, and more. These scrubbers purify the indoor air by consistently removing contaminants, particles, and smells for a cleaner, safer home.

When Should You Test Your Air Quality?

The cost to test indoor air quality varies based on the number of pollutants tested, your home’s size, and current demand. If you’re not sure when you should test your air quality, these tips will help you determine whether getting this necessary testing is right for you:

• Schedule an IAQ test when moving into a new home or when remodeling or renovating your current home.
• Test your indoor air quality if you experience sudden, intense allergy symptoms, headaches, dizziness, or asthma symptoms.
• Consider indoor air quality testing if you notice excess moisture or dust buildup in your home, or if your HVAC system’s efficiency drops significantly.

Breathe Easier with Professional IAQ Testing From Kliemann Bros

Kliemann Brothers Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electrical is the top IAQ testing provider in Tacoma, Fircrest, Bonney Lake, and beyond. This testing is important for your health, comfort, and HVAC efficiency, helping you breathe more easily and gain peace of mind. If you’d like to learn more or want to schedule your comprehensive IAQ test, contact us today!