Volatile Organic Compounds

When you are buying a home, always select a home inspector that will diligently review the structural, electrical, and plumbing components of the home before you buy. This way, any issues uncovered can be corrected by the owner or within the purchase agreement. But how do you determine if the Indoor Air Quality of the home will jeopardize the health of you and your family? See how a low-cost Indoor Air Quality Assessment can find potential hidden issues with a home and protect your future investment.

If you are selling a home it is wise to have a pre-inspection done to make sure no hidden issues will present themselves when a potential buyer has made an offer to buy your home. Many home buyers are now requesting Indoor Air Quality audits. See how you can use a low-
cost test to make sure your home air quality is within safe limits and to identify potential issues that can be remediated prior to putting your home on the market.

As a home inspector, I can review and report on many things related to the soundness of the home. But one thing I cannot observe with the naked eye are the airborne chemicals present in the home that could potentially affect the health of you and your family.

Here are some important facts to know:

1. The USEPA has reported that home air can have 100 times more chemicals inside than outside.
2. The USEPA has also reported that adults and kids now spend most of their time indoors (90%).
3. The CDC has reported that 20+ million adults have asthma, and the National Asthma Survey has reported that asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease among children. These numbers continue to increase annually, suggesting that the indoor environment plays a contributing role in this trend.
4. Mold growth can be present within the home and be hidden behind walls or underneath carpeting or flooring.
5. The use of Formaldehyde is prevalent in certain building materials and the concentration of this known cancer-causing agent can be many times the safe level.

I have chosen to offer my customers Home Air Check™ Professional, a state-of-the-art test that allows me to observe the chemicals in the air that could potentially make you and your family sick, and provide you with an assessment of the home air quality.

1. Home Air Check Professional is a low-cost test designed to measure the chemicals in the air and find hidden mold.
2. Home Air Check Professional is performed during the home inspection on an area of up to 2,000 sq. ft.
3. Home Air Check Professional reports the total amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) found in the home and whether they are within a safe range.
4. Home Air Check Professional predicts the source of the VOCs through an industry-leading Contamination Index™ and determines if they are from safe sources (e.g., gasoline, potpourri, dead animals, contaminated drywall, or other sources).
5. Home Air Check Professional is so sensitive it monitors for the chemicals released by actively growing mold, whether they are behind walls or underneath the carpeting or flooring.
6. Formaldehyde can be measured and reported individually for an additional charge, if there is a concern that building materials in the home might contain and release this known carcinogen.