Every day, your home’s indoor air quality, or IAQ, can have a significant effect on your family’s comfort and health. However, it is particularly important to consider your IAQ before beginning any renovations. If you are planning a home renovation in San Francisco, then there are several good reasons for you to schedule indoor air quality testing before you get started.

To Address Moisture

One popular home remodeling option is to convert a basement into a living space. If you are thinking about furnishing your basement, for example, then indoor air quality testing should be considered an essential part of the initial planning process. Basements are areas that are particularly vulnerable to moisture problems. If your basement is affected by high humidity or water leaks, then this can cause mold growth and attract pests into the space. Before you take on any type of remodeling project, have the air tested so that you can address any moisture problems first.

To Add Ventilation

Having a proper ventilation system is crucial for ensuring your family’s comfort and maintaining your indoor air quality. If you are planning to remodel an area of your home, then consider having an IAQ test performed first to determine how well it is ventilated. If the ventilation is lacking, then the remodeling project can provide you with an excellent opportunity to remedy the situation.

To Control Mold

Mold is a common cause of IAQ problems, and it’s not uncommon for it to grow undetected in homes until it starts causing health problems for those who live there or growing into a visible location. While mold can continue to spread on its own without much assistance, a home remodeling project can dislodge spores and allow them to spread the mold throughout your home. To help prevent turning a mold problem into a bigger one and to identify any mold problems that your home already has, consider scheduling IAQ testing before you begin your next home renovation.

Lead is a substance that can pose a threat to your family’s health by affecting your home’s indoor air quality. For this reason, it’s important to test your home for this substance if there is any chance that it may be present, particularly before beginning projects like kitchen remodels or home renovations. When you have your home tested for the presence of lead and level of its air quality in San Francisco , there are certain locations where the inspection team might check for lead.

Homes that were built before 1978 may have lead-based paint. When you sand, tear down, or remodel walls that are covered in paint that is contaminated with lead, this can release harmful amounts of lead into the air that can cause a broad range of health issues in anyone exposed to them. Some older homes may also have plumbing that contains lead, which means that they can contaminate drinking water. If there is a chance that your home is contaminated with lead, then consider scheduling an air quality test right away.

When planning your home renovation project near San Francisco, you are probably busy looking at paint colors, new appliances, and your future decorating scheme. These are important choices to make, but your indoor air quality is just as important to consider. You may not realize that performing renovations on your home may result in future breathing problems for you or your family. Continue reading to learn more about the link between your indoor air quality and your home renovations .

Updating Outdated or Banned Materials

During your renovation project, you may be updating your bathroom or kitchen with better and newer appliances. However, you must also look to the flooring, painting, and other building materials that were used in addition to your older appliances. Some building materials, such as paint, may contain banned substances, like lead, that could cause significant health problems. If you are updating a bedroom or living room, then consider the age of the flooring. Outdated carpeting may not only be displeasing to the eye, but you may have poor indoor air quality from it too.

Staying Protected While Renovating

While you are doing any sort of home remodeling, you should remain protected at all times. If you are working in an attic or crawlspace, then wear a mask to protect yourself from breathing in dust or other harmful contaminants. In the event you are working with wood or building materials—such as hanging drywall or knocking down walls—then wear a breathing mask to avoid inhaling drywall and wood dust. You must keep yourself protected however possible when performing home renovations.

Testing Air Quality Before Renovating

Proactively testing the indoor air quality before renovations is another smart way to prevent health problems in the future. Professional technicians can test your indoor air quality to locate potentially harmful bacteria, such as mold or asbestos. They can also help you choose the right building materials and products to ensure your home renovations are safe. These services are essential to performing a healthy and safe remodeling project.

Just as you are probably choosing more energy-efficient appliances, you will benefit most by choosing healthier building materials during your house remodel. Healthier home renovations near San Francisco will result in a more enjoyable remodeling project and a better environment for you and your family to live in. Here is a quick look at some healthy materials to use for your home remodeling and why you can benefit most by choosing them:

There are certain materials that have been deemed as “volatile organic compounds,” also called VOCs. These materials should be avoided at all cost during your home remodeling project. Products filled with VOCs can cause harmful off-gassing after your renovation is complete, which may result in health problems. You should also choose building materials that prevent mold and bacteria growth. Many flooring and paint materials offer this benefit, and it is healthier to choose these for your next home remodeling project. Mold, mildew, and other bacteria can cause a significant amount of respiratory problems, including increased asthma symptoms, allergies, and even cancer. Choose healthier home renovation materials to ensure you have a healthy renovation and future.

Home renovations and new constructions are using better and more insulated materials than ever before. However, these same materials could also be causing poorer indoor air quality in San Francisco and around the country, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. Watch the video for a more in-depth look at five indoor air quality concerns .

1. Carbon monoxide, even in low doses, can cause headaches, fatigue, and dizziness.
2. Microbial growths, like mold and bacteria, can cause asthma, headaches, and more severe health problems.
3. Allergens, such as pollen and dust, can cause allergy symptoms.
4. Infectious diseases, like colds or flus, can continually circle through a home’s HVAC system.
5. Home remodeling materials, gases, and pesticides all fall under the toxic compounds category.

Homebuilders and renovators should strive for healthier home renovations by using healthier materials. They should also have professional air quality testing performed.

Your home inspection should include a thorough indoor air quality test before you officially purchase your new home. This home inspection in San Francisco can tell you a number of features you may not know before buying a house , such as if mold is growing and other dangerous air quality issues.

You can locate future problem areas.

Many homes may have certain areas of the house, such as the bathroom, that may be hotspots for the occasional mold growth or bacteria buildup. There may be a ventilation register or section of the HVAC system that has reduced airflow. These are not reasons to back out of buying your dream home. However, they are good traits to know as you go through buying a house, and they can only come with an indoor air quality test. You can then make the decision to remodel those areas after you have purchased the home.

You can back out before purchasing an unsafe home.

On the other hand, there are some houses that have a host of problems, including extensive mold growth, gas leaks, plumbing problems, and many more. Unless you are looking for a fixer-upper house, you should not be pulled into purchasing an unsafe home. A thorough home inspector will test the home’s air quality, plumbing, electricity, and all other utilities to ensure the house is safe for you and your family. If it is deemed unsafe or has too many damages, then you can find out before you move in.

You can learn more about your future home.

Even though you are likely to receive a lot of history from your realtor or the former owners, there are certain features of a new home that can only be answered with a home inspection. You may find out where there were previous mold problems or if fire and smoke damage had ever occurred. These are just a few of the many benefits you will find when an inspector performs an indoor air quality test.

Before your home remodeling in San Francisco begins, it is best to schedule a test of your indoor air quality . Testing air quality, especially before your home is torn up for a remodel, can prevent and address possible problems, such as asbestos and mold. Hiring the right air quality testing company can guarantee you have a safe home remodel process and safe air to breathe. Continue reading for 4 essential tips to help you hire the right air quality testing company.

Tip #1: Ask for recommendations.

It is always best to ask for recommendations no matter what type of service you are want for your home. Just as you would ask friends and family for home remodeling company recommendations, you should also ask about air quality testing companies. Consider asking your remodeling company, before they begin their work, if they have recommendations on trustworthy indoor air quality testing companies.

Tip #2: Request certifications.

When you have a sufficient list of potential air quality companies to call, you can start narrowing it down by asking for certifications. Testing your indoor air quality requires specialized equipment, training, and accredited labs to analyze the results. Your air quality company should have the necessary certifications to perform the job correctly for you.

Tip #3: Investigate turnaround time.

As your home remodel start date looms closer, you need to know that your air quality can be tested quickly and efficiently enough so you can have potential problems addressed. Trusting the right air quality company means getting the results back in a timely and professional manner, with enough time to remediate any problems.

Tip #4: Focus on testing companies.

It is best to look for an air quality testing company that focuses solely on air quality testing. These companies will have no hidden agendas, and they will provide the honest truth about your home’s air quality. If there are no problems with your air quality, then your testing company will be honest with you, because they have nothing to gain from lying.

You may not even realize that your indoor air quality has deteriorated until your health, or the health of your family, has deteriorated. There are certain causes, such as poor ventilation and various chemicals, which could be negatively affecting your air quality near San Francisco. Continue reading for a look at common causes of poor indoor air quality and how it may be affecting your family’s health.

Poor Ventilation

If your home is not properly ventilated or your air conditioner is not working properly, then you could be looking at very poor indoor air. Dust, dander, pollen, and various other particles should be circulated through your home and outside through the work of the air conditioner and vents. If these are poorly connected or broken, then your air quality could be suffering greatly.

Chemicals Located Indoors

Cleaning chemicals, smoke, and paints are just some of the chemicals that may be present in your home at any one time. These chemicals can severely impact your air quality and potentially cause health problems, if they are not addressed properly. If you are working with potent cleaning chemicals or painting, make sure there is plenty of open ventilation to allow airflow through your home.

Mold or Mildew

Mold, mildew, and other dangerous organisms can impact your air quality as well as your family’s physical health. If your indoor air quality is typically humid or filled with moisture, then your home may be at risk to develop mold or mildew. If these dangerous organisms are allowed to progress, you may be facing asthmatic symptoms, as well as severe respiratory conditions.

Chemicals Located Outdoors

Outdoor chemicals can possibly affect your indoor air quality, as well. If you live near or next to dumping grounds, processing plants, and other industrial buildings, then you may be at risk for inhaling various type of chemicals, gases, and contaminants. Consult a professional on improving your indoor air quality to negate any effects caused by these nearby industries.

When you are buying a house near San Francisco , you may not know everything that has occurred in that home, such as leaky pipes or flooding. If there was ever a problem with excess moisture, in the bathroom for example, you may have mold growing behind the walls or under the flooring. The only way to be truly confident your new home is without mold is to schedule a home inspection for mold.

As seen in this video, any type of mold can be dangerous to your health. If it is ignored or removed improperly, your family and pets could be in danger of developing or exacerbating respiratory problems. With a qualified home inspection for mold, you can buy a house with full confidence that you will be safe from mold and other air quality dangers.

Mold, which can severely affect your air quality in San Francisco , can show up anywhere in your home, including your kitchen. You may notice mold growing when you have left something in the refrigerator too long. While this kind of growth may be somewhat common, it should never be allowed because it can still affect your health through the air quality in your kitchen and refrigerator.

Mold simply needs the right food, warm air, and moisture to grow. These needs can be easily met within a kitchen. If your kitchen is often humid, possibly from steaming pots, then you may attract mold. Mold could be growing under your cupboards or in between appliances located around the stove. This should be cleaned up and discouraged from growing as it can affect the air quality while cooking over a stove. Be aware that mold can also grow in your sink drain. This is the perfect environment for mold growth, and you may quickly notice a change in the smell and air quality every time you pass by the sink. Consult your air quality professionals and remediation experts to remove the mold growth.