Indoor Air Frequently Asked Questions
Can EPA Come to My House to Inspect or Test?
EPA is not able to inspect homes or conduct IAQ testing in homes.
Should I Test My Home for Mold?
If you can see mold and know what the source is, you probably don’t need to test. Mold indoors is an indication that there’s too much moisture; you (or someone else) need to clean up the mold and fix the cause of the excess moisture. (See www.epa.gov/iaq/molds to make sure that you’re doing this safely). One of the only reasons to test a visible mold is in the case of a lawsuit. If you are reasonably sure that you have mold (you’ve had a leak, or you can smell it but you can’t find it), you may or may not need to test. An investigator may be able to find the mold without testing.
How Do I Find an IAQ Consultant?
If you can first narrow down possible sources of the problem, you can focus your consultant search. For instance, if the problem is in the ventilation system, you can hire a ventilation specialist. If it’s a plumbing problem, you should start with a plumber. If you cannot tell the source of the problem, or previous specialists are stumped, you may want to hire an IAQ consultant. But you should always call several to compare costs, qualifications, and experience. Sampling may be necessary, but it’s pricy and you should be wary of a consultant who proposes sampling without also conducting a thorough investigation, asking a lot of questions, and doing a complete visual inspection of your home.
For more on choosing an IAQ consultant, see page one of http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/contractors.pdf