Step 1: You have concerns with indoor air quality and need to contact a fully qualified professional for advice.

Step 2: A qualified IAQ investigator will attend your home to conduct a building science based investigation of the exterior, the mechanical systems and the entire structure for the following:

• Biological & chemical contaminants.
• Housing deficiencies that can be detrimental to indoor air quality.
• Signs of moisture (i.e. water stains, mold, and humidity levels throughout the property).
• Possible asbestos containing materials and potential lead based paint are also identified within your indoor environment. Third party laboratory analysis would be required to assess whether asbestos or lead are present within a bulk sample.
• An infrared thermal imaging camera is utilized to determine if active moisture issues are present. Insulation deficiencies which can lead to condensation and mold growth are also identified.

Step 3: Air sampling will be conducted by the IAQ investigator (if warranted) within the suspect rooms along with obtaining an outdoor reference air sample for comparison. In general, when interpreting air sampling data, a “normal indoor environment” is considered to contain the same types of fungal elements as the outdoor air, or reference sample(s). It is expected that a “normal indoor environment” will have total concentrations of fungal elements that are consistent with and/or less than the outdoors.

Step 4: The IAQ investigator will provide a written report interpreting the laboratory results followed by recommendations to remove, separate or dilute biological or chemical contaminants in the home by means of ventilation and/or remediation.

Step 5: The IAQ investigator’s recommendations can usually be broken down into three different cost categories:

1. No or low cost solutions ($0 – $100). Generally 70% of all recommendations contained in the report.
2. Medium cost solutions ($300 – $1,000).
3. High cost solutions ($1,000 and over).

Step 6: Upon completion of remediation, the IAQ investigator will revisit your property to confirm the air quality issues have been remedied by taking final air samples of the problem areas. The IAQ investigator will also do a visual inspection of these areas at that time of the assessment and provide a final report. Air Aware uses third party accredited laboratories for all of our analysis.

If required, third party contractors should be utilized for remediation.