Bought A New House? Test Air Quality Before You Move.

So you just bought a new house or a resale house in the Toronto area or GTHA. Congratulations first of all! Hopefully, you were able to get a reasonable sale price and you were also allowed to have a structural home inspection to ensure there are no surprises coming your way from a structural or mechanical perspective. What about the indoor air that you and your family will be breathing? The indoor air quality of a new residence is often overlooked or clients believe that the structural home inspection covers this...it doesn't.

The home (even brand new ones) could have had some water damage in the past, could have had mould cleaned up, could have chemical off-gassing issues, could have inadequate ventilation, poor air purification and the list goes on.

In a resale home, the previous occupants could have had a rodent or mouse issue, could have had pets and if you are allergic to pet dander, rodent allergens or dust mites, this could cause annoying and in some cases serious health issues for sensitive individuals.

Top 10 Indoor Air Quality Allergens In A Home:

Airborne Fine DustPoor VentilationAirborne Mould SporesFormaldehydeTVOC'sAirborne Pet DanderAirborne Rodent AllergensAirborne Dust Mite AllergenPollen issuesBacterial issues (E.coli).

The first 5 of the above top indoor air quality issues apply to homes that are just built and brand new as well as resale homes in any community, not just the Toronto and surrounding area. Even brand new homes would have been open to the elements at some point and can have hidden mould growth in attics, near bathrooms as well as near windows and doors.

In most resale homes, finished basements can hide quite an array of problems. HVAC systems in both new and old homes seem to be poorly installed, undersized or may be contributing to the home's indoor air quality problems and poor indoor environmental conditions.

When buying a home, it is important to look for some telltale signs of a potential problem. Should any of the following issues be found, then a professional indoor air quality assessment or air quality test is highly recommended.

Swelling or water damage in the basement on baseboards or door jams. This can indicate a past flood and hidden mould growth.Water damage in corners on wall surfaces. This also can indicate a flood or foundation issue.Visible mould growth...for obvious reasons.Excessive accumulated dust. This can indicate a lack of cleaning as well as possible poor air purification systems.Condensation or mould on window frames. This can indicate a ventilation issue leading to elevated RH% or humidity leading to allergies and mould.Mould in the attic on the underside of the roof system. This could mean that bathrooms vent into the attic. This can lead to a mould issue in the attic, rarely inside the home.Furnace filters that don't properly and fully fit the casing they are in. This can lead to airborne fine dust and allergen issues.Past evidence of rodent damage or odours.Past evidence of pets for allergy sufferers could be an issue.

The best way to make sure that the home you just bought has good indoor air quality is to call us and book a professional air quality test. We can show you what is in the air that you are breathing and if it needs anything to improve the indoor air quality.