Air Quality Testing

Air Quality Testing questions

Do home inspectors test for asbestos?

A standard home inspection does not. Asbestos testing means taking a sample of a suspect material and having an accredited lab analyse it, which is a separate service. We offer it, and it can be scheduled with your home inspection so there is one visit.

Should I test my house for asbestos?

It is worth testing when a home is older, generally built before the 1980s, and you plan to renovate, or when you find damaged popcorn ceiling, floor tile, pipe insulation, or siding. Asbestos left undisturbed and in good condition is usually not an immediate concern; disturbing it is what creates one.

Are home asbestos test kits reliable?

The lab analysis in a kit can be fine. The problem is the step before it: you have to cut or scrape a sample yourself, and disturbing asbestos-containing material is exactly what releases fibres into the air. That is the part worth paying someone trained to do.

What does an indoor air quality test measure?

Our AirAdvice assessment measures particulates and other indoor air factors, and explains what the readings mean for your home rather than handing you raw numbers. Beyond that we test for specific contaminants when the home's history calls for it: allergens, VOCs and formaldehyde, lead paint, asbestos, and meth residue.

How do you test for VOCs in a home?

We take an air sample and have it analysed for volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, the gases that off-gas from new flooring, cabinetry, paint, and furniture. It is most useful after a renovation, in a newly built home, or when there is a persistent chemical smell nobody can place.

How much does air quality or asbestos testing cost?

Air quality and contaminant testing runs from $150 to $650, depending on which tests you need. A single AirAdvice assessment sits at the low end; several targeted lab tests sit higher. Tell us what you are concerned about and we will quote the specific tests rather than everything.