Contaminants That Deteriorate Indoor Air Quality

Posted in Air Quality, on April 17, 2023

Because we spend so much time indoors, home air quality greatly affects our day-to-day health and wellness. At SafeAir, we help families optimize their indoor environment with air quality testing in Toronto. These safe and non-invasive tests help identify contaminants and other issues with your indoor air environment — with that knowledge, we can help you devise a plan to eliminate or reduce your risk and any health effects. We also do focus tests to identify indoor contaminants before they cause too much harm including mold testing in Toronto or radon testing. 

Read on to learn about four common air quality problems across the GTA. 

Mold Infestations

Mold growth happens in homes, apartment buildings and condominiums with poor air circulation and water or moisture problems. Mold can grow out in the open or behind walls or furniture — in fact, it’s often impossible to spot without professional mold testing in Toronto! 

SafeAir tests for mold using several methodologies, including visual and physical tests, air samples, and environmental monitoring. Even if your mold infestation is invisible, testing helps identify the presence and quantity of mold spores and can help us pinpoint the source of the infestation. 

Radon Gas

Created by naturally occurring deposits of uranium in the earth's crust, radon gas is attracted to our homes by the negative pressure created by basements and sub-grade rooms. Colourless, odourless and invisible, radon gas causes harmful long-term lung and respiratory damage; it’s the second-most leading cause of lung cancer across North America! At SafeAir, we test for radon gas using long-term passive testing devices that give accurate, focused results on your home air quality.

Carbon Monoxide

Even though carbon monoxide alarms are a requirement in homes across Ontario, many homeowners don't bother to get one or make installation errors. Carbon monoxide gas is created when fuel is burned, such as in your furnace, stove, heating oil, or charcoal BBQ. Air quality testing in Toronto will pick up on minute levels of carbon monoxide in your home, which you may otherwise not be able to smell, hear, or taste. 

Sewer Gas

Nothing smells less appetizing than sewer gas, which is especially common in older homes with cast-iron piping. Sewer gas can enter your home in many ways and may contain a toxic soup of chemicals like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrous oxides. A complete air quality inspection can help isolate the area where gas is escaping, allowing you to make repairs. 

Indoor Air Quality Testing in Toronto

If you have questions about your indoor air environment and how it might affect acute or long-term health conditions, the SafeAir team can help! Air quality testing in Toronto is great for families with small children or elders, who are affected more deeply by poor air quality - but it can help healthy people too! The air you breathe affects more than just your lungs and affects the brain, sleep, skin and hair too. 

To learn more about SafeAir’s home air quality testing or assessment, reach out to our team online or by phone today.