A Step by Step Indoor Air Evaluation

Walk through your home, top to bottom.  That means from the attic to the basement (or crawl space).  Walk around your home.  Do you see anything that might be contributing to poor air in your home?

• Are all combustion appliances properly vented? 

• Do all bathrooms have exhaust fans vented to the outside?

• Does the kitchen have an exhaust fan vented to the outside?

• Is there indication of water or moisture anywhere in the house? 

• Is there indication of water or moisture collecting outside of the house?

• Is your attached garage vented to the outside?

• Do you have collections of stuff piled up or overstuffed storage areas?

• Do you have collections of household cleaners or chemicals in your garage or basement or under the kitchen sink?

• Is your dryer vented to the outside?

• Are your heating/cooling vents clean?

• Is your furnace filter new?

• When the heat goes on, does it smell "musty" in your house?

• Do you have a pet?

• Do you have evidence of furry invaders anywhere in your home?

• Do you have evidence of non-furry invaders like roaches?

Follow your nose.  If something doesn’t smell right, it’s probably not.  If you smell mold, you’ve got mold.  You can’t always see it and sometimes you’ve got it even when you can’t smell it.  Mold and bacteria create unique odors when they’re growing.  They grow when they get moisture.  So, as soon as the mold or bacteria that’s there gets enough moisture, it’ll start to grow-AND THEN, you’ll be able to smell it.

Trust your nose.  It’s one of the best detectors available and will lead you to many indoor air problems.  And if you’re having trouble smelling anything, ask a woman! Livescience.com says "Women have keener whiffers than men."

Trudy Y. Smith
Senior Training Specialist
Spruce Environmental Technologies and HomeAire