Indoor Air Quality: Frequently Asked Questions
By Robert Weitz, Founder RTK Environmental
THE BASICS
How polluted is indoor air compared to outdoor air?
Indoor air is 2 to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. The EPA puts the typical figure at 2 to 5 times, and spaces with poor ventilation can reach concentrations up to 100 times higher. Because Americans spend roughly 90% of their time indoors, the quality of indoor air has a direct and continuous effect on health.
What causes most indoor air quality problems?
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and mold spores cause 80 to 90% of indoor air quality problems.
VOCs are toxic vapors off gassed by man-made materials found in every home and workplace, including paints, solvents, carpets, furnishings, building materials, cleaning products, disinfectants, air fresheners, pesticides, and glue.
Mold grows wherever moisture accumulates and can reach harmful concentrations with no visible sign or odor.
What is Sick Building Syndrome?
Sick Building Syndrome is a condition in which people experience health symptoms inside a specific building that clear up after they leave.
If your symptoms appear consistently in one place, such as your home, office, or apartment, and improve when you go elsewhere, Sick Building Syndrome may be the explanation. Poor ventilation and accumulated indoor contaminants are the primary causes.
HEALTH SYMPTOMS AND WHEN TO TEST
What are the symptoms of poor indoor air quality?
Symptoms of poor indoor air quality include unexplained allergies, headaches, nausea, and skin irritations; coughing, wheezing, and breathing difficulties; fatigue and persistent malaise; sneezing and cold or flu-like symptoms; and asthma that worsens in a specific location.
A key signal is symptoms that improve when you leave the building. Long-term exposure can lead to heart disease and serious respiratory illness.
When should I get my indoor air quality tested?
Get your indoor air quality tested when unexplained health symptoms appear without a clear medical cause, especially if they improve when you leave the building.
Other situations that call for testing: after a flood, leak, sewage backup, or plumbing failure; before or after a renovation, which can release asbestos and lead dust; after new carpeting, furniture, or building materials are installed; when you notice a musty odor or see visible mold; when an ice dam forms on the roof; and before buying or selling a home.
VOCs (VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS)
What are VOCs and are they dangerous?
VOCs are toxic vapors off gassed by man-made materials in homes and workplaces, and yes, they are dangerous. Sources include paints, solvents, cleaning products, carpets, air fresheners, pesticides, glue, and building materials. VOCs are responsible for more than 80% of indoor air quality complaints. Short-term exposure causes headaches, fatigue, nausea, and respiratory irritation.
Long-term exposure is associated with serious illness.
DIY INDOOR AIR QUALITY TEST KITS
Is there a DIY test for VOCs?
Consumer VOC monitors exist but cannot produce reliable results. They may indicate elevated levels in general terms but cannot identify specific compounds, measure concentrations accurately, or generate the documented evidence needed to direct remediation.
RTK Environmental tests for nearly 100 of the most common VOCs using air samples sent to AIHA-accredited independent laboratories.
Are DIY test kits cheaper than hiring a professional?
The upfront price is lower, but the true cost is often higher. Most kits require you to mail samples back to the manufacturer at an additional fee.
More importantly, acting on inaccurate results is expensive: a false negative leaves a real problem unaddressed, allowing mold or VOCs to damage health and property; a false positive triggers unnecessary remediation costs.
The cost of fixing decisions made on bad data routinely exceeds the cost of professional testing from the start.
What should I do instead of using a DIY kit?
Schedule a professional IAQ inspection with a certified testing company that does not perform remediation.
RTK Environmental identifies mold types, VOC compounds, and contamination sources; sends all samples to AIHA-accredited independent laboratories; uses thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters to find hidden problems; and delivers a written report with lab results and specific next steps.
RTK also performs follow-up testing after remediation to confirm the work was done correctly. Because RTK does not remediate, its assessments are fully unbiased.
THE PROFESSIONAL TESTING PROCESS
What happens during an RTK indoor air quality inspection?
Before the visit, we want to know when symptoms first appeared, whether there have been recent water or moisture issues, any recent renovations, new furniture or carpeting, and changes to cleaning products.
During the visit, the inspector will conduct a visual assessment, take humidity readings, and use moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to locate hidden moisture.
In addition, air and surface samples for mold are collected in areas of concern and air samples for VOCs are taken in multiple rooms. to detect cross-contamination. RTK tests for nearly 100 common VOCs and tens of thousands of mold types.
How should I prepare for an indoor air quality test?
Close all outside doors and windows before the inspection. RTK will give you specific pre-test instructions for your situation before the visit to ensure the most accurate results.
How long does an indoor air quality inspection take?
Most inspections take one to two hours. Larger properties or more complex situations may take longer.
What do I receive after the inspection?
RTK sends all samples to AIHA-accredited independent laboratories. The inspector combines lab results with on-site findings and delivers a written report explaining what was found, what it means for occupant health, and what to do next, including whether professional remediation is necessary. RTK provides direct contact information so you can follow up with your inspector with any questions.
SEASONAL CONCERNS
Why does indoor air quality get worse in winter?
Indoor air quality worsens in winter because sealing windows and doors traps VOCs, allergens, and radon inside, eliminating the natural air exchange that dilutes indoor pollutants.
Warm moist air from cooking or showering that hits cold exterior surfaces turns to condensation, a primary trigger for hidden mold growth.
Ice dams on roofs force water under shingles, creating moisture in attics and walls long before any visible damage appears.
How do I schedule an indoor air quality test with RTK?
Call 800.392.6468 or visit rtkenvironmental.com. RTK serves southern New York, including the Five Boroughs, Westchester, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley, as well as Connecticut and northern New Jersey.
