At AirMD, we are often called in to assess the indoor air quality in a company’s workplace. Depending on the setting and the industry, it may be important to test for VOCs, conduct mold testing or test for formaldehyde or asbestos. 

Now that so many people are working from home, the line between residential and commercial environmental testing is rapidly becoming blurred. 

From teachers to accountants, computer clerks to creative directors and editors to paralegals, countless people switched to working from home when the pandemic began. That involves not only finding space where you can be productive but also plugging in and powering up an array of equipment that might include a computer, printer/scanner and, perhaps an additional phone line. 

So, what does spending all that extra time at home mean for the quality of the air inside your home – and for your health? 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s report on indoor air quality reveals that the air inside your home may be 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outside. Spending more time there could expose you to greater risk. 

If you invested in new furnishings for your home office or bought desks for your kids who were forced to attend classes virtually, you may have added to the problem. As the EPA explains, pressed-wood products can emit gasses that add to the indoor pollution.

There are certain health effects that you should watch for that, according to the EPA, might indicate the presence of indoor air pollutants, including:

• Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
• Headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.
• Respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer.

If you or anyone in your family is exhibiting these symptoms, please feel free to contact us for more information about indoor air quality testing. 

Of course, not everyone has the option to work from home. Essential workers are showing up for work – and showing up for us – every day in hospitals and grocery stores. Our mail is still being delivered, packages are showing up on our doorsteps, and food processing plants are humming along. Teachers are returning to the classrooms, pharmacists are on duty at the drugstore and you can get the supplies you need to fix a toilet because the hardware stores and home supply stores are staffed
All of us at AirMD, a leading environmental testing company in South Florida, would like to express our gratitude to all the people doing the essential work in our communities. Thank you! Stay safe!

The post Does Working Remotely Impact Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality? appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

If you ask the environmental testing experts at AirMD to conduct Wellness Testing at your house, we will assess the indoor air quality by measuring everything from airborne particles to electromagnetic radiation. We will test for VOCs, too, and assess any odors that are present. Measuring the relative humidity inside your home is also a very important part of any Wellness Test.

Why Is Relative Humidity Important?

The start of summer is still a month away, but the humidity levels are already on the rise across South Florida. You don’t need the weather team at your favorite TV station to tell you it’s humid, all you have to do is walk out the door.

Relative humidity tells us how much moisture is in the air. It’s that moisture that makes it feel like you’re walking into a wall when you step outside.

The average humidity in Boca Raton in May is 64.8 percent, according to Champion traveler. That might not sound too bad, but that’s enough to have a significant impact – both inside and outside your home.

• The impact of humidity outdoors: Let’s say it’s a sunny day in May and the temperature is 89 degrees Fahrenheit with the relative humidity at that average of 65 percent. That will produce a heat index – or a “feels like” – temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. (Don’t ask us about the math, trust us, you don’t want to know. If you want to determine the heat index in your area, it’s much easier to use the heat index calculator provided by the National Weather Service. That’s what we do.)
• The impact of humidity indoors: Ideally, the relative humidity inside your home should fall in the 30 to 60 percent range. Below 30 percent, the air can feel uncomfortably dry. On the other hand, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends maintaining the humidity below 60 percent to prevent mold.

If you have been considering having a mold inspection done, you will be happy to know that AirMD’s Wellness Testing always includes an assessment of the amount of moisture – or the relative humidity – in the air inside your home.

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