DIY –vs– Professional Asbestos & Mold Air Quality Testing

Aeris Asbestos Air Quality Testing

Testing air quality should be a priority for the health and safety of home and business owners and their families. Aeris offers environmental consulting services for South and Central Florida and has recently expanded to North Florida. Asbestos and mold testing is important because the frequency of buildings having air quality hazards. Poor air quality can be the result of mold, asbestos, and chemicals such as cleaning products.

The most common question is whether or not to purchase an in-home testing kit or hire a professional. Professionals should be well trained, experienced, have all of the necessary equipment and offer reliability and accurate results. Asbestos and mold air quality testing is best left to the professionals for many reasons.

DIY Air Quality Testing Kits

There are a lot of inexpensive kits available for simple testing. The higher quality kits can detect substances polluting the air including formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds such as benzene, acetone, and sulfur. Unfortunately, the majority of kits do not detect mold or asbestos appropriately. Due to the damp climate of Florida, homes and businesses are more susceptible to mold.

The average person will experience mild symptoms of mold including nasal stuffiness, wheezing, coughing, and skin, throat or eye irritation. Individuals with mold allergies often suffer a severe reaction. Serious lung infections can result in individuals with chronic or obstructive lung disease. Professional mold air quality testing is necessary for safety, health and protection.

Human Error

Home testing kits are susceptible to human error. To ensure an accurate reading, air quality testing must be performed in the right location according to specific standards. The results of the home test are sent to a lab for analysis. Since the analyzer does not examine the home, important signs of mold or asbestos are missed.

Inspecting the Environment

Professionals are trained to inspect the entire environment and thoroughly evaluate every location for potential sources of asbestos and mold. Professionals have the experience to find indoor air issues, look for hidden sources of contamination, collect physical samples, analyze surface and air samples and identify contaminants. Aeris looks for the cause of both moisture issues and water damage including:

• Examining air handling equipment including air ducts for signs of malfunction or contamination

• Measuring the parameters for ambient air quality for humidity, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide

Aeris professional air quality testing includes a detailed written report for every hazard discovered. Recommendations are made for the next step to improve air quality in the home or business. Asbestos air quality testing includes:

• Airborne asbestos
• Combustion gases
• Mildew and mold
• Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
• Formaldehyde
• Pollens and dust
• Allergens
• Insulation fibers
• Resins, solvents and chemicals
• Bacteria
• Off-gassing from office machines
• Cleaning products
• VOCs or volatile organic compounds

No home testing kit is capable of finding all of the dangers listed above. For this reason alone, professional air quality testing is necessary.

DIY Testing Kits vs Professional Services

Using an at-home testing kit is not worth the risk. Important findings are easily missed with a potentially negative impact on the health of the residents or employees. Saving a few dollars on asbestos or mold testing is not worth the potential consequences. Aeris offers environmental consulting services that are accurate, reliable and provide peace of mind for Florida residents.

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