Why Proper Preparation Is Key to Accurate Results
Scheduling a professional indoor air quality (IAQ) test is a significant step toward ensuring a healthy home environment. However, the accuracy of the results depends heavily on how you prepare your home beforehand. The primary goal of an IAQ test is to capture a snapshot of the air your family typically breathes day in and day out. If you alter your home’s normal conditions right before the test, such as by deep cleaning or airing out the house, you can inadvertently skew the results and mask the very problems you are trying to identify.
Proper preparation ensures that the samples collected by the technician are a true representation of your home’s typical state. This allows the laboratory analysis to provide a precise and actionable report. By following a few simple guidelines in the 24 hours leading up to your appointment, you help the IAQ specialist gather the most accurate data possible. This in turn enables them to give you effective recommendations for remediation, ensuring that your investment in testing leads to tangible improvements in your home’s air and your family’s health.
Keep Your Home in Its Normal State
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make before an IAQ test is performing a thorough, deep cleaning of their house. While the impulse to tidy up for a visitor is understandable, it can significantly interfere with the test results. You want the test to measure the typical dust and particulate levels in your home, so you should avoid vigorous dusting, vacuuming, or sweeping for at least 24 hours before the technician arrives. Wiping down surfaces with harsh chemical cleaners can also introduce new VOCs into the air, which can create misleading readings.
The objective is to test the air as you live in it. Let the dust settle where it normally does. This provides the most realistic sample of airborne particulates that your family is exposed to on a daily basis. By resisting the urge to deep clean, you allow the test to identify the true baseline of your indoor environment. This gives the IAQ professional the accurate information they need to diagnose any potential issues and recommend the most effective solutions for your specific household.
Close All Windows and Doors for 24 Hours
To get the most accurate measurement of pollutants originating from inside your home, it is essential to create what is known as a “closed building condition.” This means you should close all your home’s windows and exterior doors for at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled test. This step is critical because it prevents fresh outdoor air from diluting the indoor air, allowing any contaminants present to accumulate to a more easily detectable level. This includes keeping fireplace dampers closed and turning off any whole house fans or window fans.
This closed condition is especially important when testing for issues like radon gas, which seeps in from the ground, or for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that off gas from furniture and building materials. During a high pollen season in a city like Atlanta, keeping windows shut is a normal practice for many, but doing so intentionally before a test ensures an accurate reading of your home’s filtration effectiveness. Following this instruction is one of the most important preparatory steps you can take for a successful test.
Maintain Normal HVAC System Operation
Just as you should not deep clean, you should also continue to operate your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system as you normally would. Your HVAC system is the lungs of your home, constantly circulating air, and it plays a massive role in your overall indoor air quality. The test should reflect how your system contributes to, or detracts from, your air quality during its typical operation. You should set your thermostat to a normal, comfortable temperature and leave the system fan in its usual setting, which is typically “auto.”
Do not turn the system off or change its settings right before the test. The specialist will want to see how pollutants are distributed throughout your home via the ventilation system. Maintaining normal operation helps them to assess the effectiveness of your filtration and determine if the ductwork itself is contributing to the problem by circulating dust, allergens, or mold spores. Keeping your system running normally ensures the air samples collected are representative of the air you breathe every day.
Document Your Concerns and Observations
An IAQ professional is like a detective, and you can provide them with crucial clues. Before the technician arrives, take some time to walk through your home and make a detailed list of your specific concerns. Note any rooms where symptoms like coughing or headaches seem worse. Write down any unusual or persistent odors you have noticed and where they are most potent. If you have seen visible signs like mold spots or excessive dust, document their locations. This information helps the specialist target their investigation and testing strategy.
This is an important step because you live in the space and are most familiar with its quirks. To make your list as comprehensive as possible, it helps to review what are the signs of poor indoor air quality at home to ensure you don’t miss any clues that could be important. Presenting this detailed list to the technician upon their arrival will streamline the process and help them focus on the areas that are most likely the source of the problem, leading to a more efficient and effective assessment.
Postpone Certain Household Activities
To ensure the test results are not skewed by temporary spikes in pollutants, it is wise to postpone certain household activities in the 24 hours before your appointment. Refrain from any activities that could introduce unusual chemicals or particles into the air. This includes painting, varnishing, or using aerosol products like air fresheners, hairspray, or cleaning sprays. You should also avoid using scented candles, incense, or essential oil diffusers, as these can release particulates and VOCs that will affect the test.
It is also a good idea to postpone any cooking that produces strong odors or a lot of smoke, such as frying or broiling, immediately before the technician is scheduled to arrive. While normal cooking is fine, intense cooking activities can temporarily elevate particulate levels in the air and lead to an inaccurate reading of your home’s typical condition. By putting these activities on hold, you help ensure the test captures a true baseline of your everyday indoor air.
Consider the Impact of Weather and Season
While you cannot control the weather, it is important to be aware of how it can influence your test results and to communicate any recent events to your technician. For example, testing for mold during or immediately after a long period of heavy rain can be very revealing, as this is when moisture problems and mold growth are most active. Conversely, a long dry spell might show lower than usual mold spore counts. Informing your technician about recent weather patterns helps them interpret the results with the proper context.
The season itself also plays a major role. Testing in winter reveals issues in a closed environment, while a spring test in Atlanta might focus on pollen infiltration. Choosing when to test can be a strategic decision based on your primary concerns. To help you plan your assessment for the most relevant findings, it’s wise to understand the best time of year for air quality testing based on your specific goals, whether they relate to allergens, mold, or chemical pollutants.
Plan for the Technician’s Visit
A little logistical planning can make the day of the test go smoothly. The IAQ technician will need access to all areas of your home, including the basement, attic, and any crawl spaces, as these are common problem areas for mold and moisture. Ensure these spaces are accessible and clear of any major obstructions. If you have pets, it is a good idea to have a plan to keep them contained in a specific area or crate during the testing process.
Also, be prepared for the duration of the visit. The on site portion of a comprehensive IAQ test can take a few hours. The technician will conduct a visual inspection, ask you questions about your concerns, and set up sampling equipment. Knowing the approximate time frame helps you plan your day accordingly. Clear communication with the testing company beforehand will ensure you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare your home and family for the visit.
What to Expect on the Day of the Test
On the day of your scheduled appointment, the IAQ professional will begin by discussing your concerns and the notes you have prepared. They will ask questions about your family’s health symptoms, the history of your home, and any recent renovations. This initial consultation is followed by a thorough visual inspection of your property. The technician will look for evidence of water damage, moisture intrusion, inadequate ventilation, visible mold growth, and other potential sources of contamination. This helps them determine the best locations for sample collection.
After the inspection, the technician will use specialized equipment to collect air and sometimes surface or dust samples. This process is quiet and non disruptive. The samples will then be carefully sealed and sent to an accredited laboratory for detailed analysis. The technician will explain the next steps and when you can expect to receive your results. This methodical process ensures a comprehensive and scientific assessment of your home’s air.
FAQs
Should my pets be home during the IAQ test?
It is generally best to have a plan to keep your pets secured in a crate or a single room, or to have them stay elsewhere during the test. This ensures they do not interfere with the sensitive sampling equipment. Additionally, it prevents pet dander from being unusually stirred up right before or during the test, which could lead to an inaccurate reading of typical particulate levels.
Can I be at home while the test is being conducted?
Yes, you can and should be home during the test, especially at the beginning. Being present allows you to speak directly with the technician, answer their questions, and point out your specific areas of concern. The testing process itself is non disruptive and does not release anything harmful, so it is perfectly safe for you and your family to be in the house while it is conducted.
How long will it be before I get my test results?
While the on site sample collection may only take a few hours, the laboratory analysis takes time. Typically, you can expect to receive a detailed report with your test results within 3 to 5 business days after the appointment. The IAQ professional will then contact you to review the findings and discuss any recommended next steps.
What happens if the test finds high levels of pollutants?
If the test reveals elevated levels of pollutants like mold or VOCs, the IAQ professional will provide you with a detailed report and a clear action plan. This may include recommendations for professional mold remediation, improving ventilation, upgrading your HVAC filtration, or removing the source of chemical off gassing. The goal of the test is to provide you with the information you need to take effective, targeted action.