AirWater Environmental provides indoor air quality (IAQ) testing and biological disinfection across the Capital Region. Whether you're worried about unexplained respiratory symptoms in your home, evaluating a commercial property pre-purchase, or maintaining a school or medical facility's air quality standards — we provide the testing, the reporting, and the disinfection if needed.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters
The EPA reports that indoor air is typically 2–5 times more polluted than outdoor air, and Americans spend roughly 90% of their time indoors. In Capital Region homes, the most common IAQ issues are mold spores (especially in basements), VOCs from finishes and furnishings, combustion byproducts from gas appliances, dust mites and pet dander, and elevated CO₂ in poorly ventilated spaces.
IAQ testing makes invisible problems measurable. Rather than guessing why your child's asthma flares up only at home, you can identify the specific contaminants in the breathing zone and address them at the source.
What We Test For
Mold and fungal spores — Air-O-Cell cassette sampling for total spore counts and species identification, indoor vs. outdoor comparison. The standard test for "is there hidden mold I can't see?"
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) — formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, and other compounds emitted from building materials, finishes, cleaning products, and adhesives. Common in newly renovated homes and offices.
Particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) — fine particles from combustion, cooking, candles, and outdoor infiltration. Linked to cardiovascular and respiratory health effects.
CO₂ and ventilation adequacy — elevated CO₂ indicates inadequate fresh-air exchange and correlates with cognitive performance decline and occupant discomfort. Standard testing for offices, schools, and conference facilities.
Allergens — dust mites, pet dander, cockroach antigen, and other biological allergens in dust samples. Useful for diagnosing recurring respiratory symptoms.
Biological Disinfection Services
For homes, offices, schools, and medical facilities, we provide aerosol and surface disinfection using EPA-registered antimicrobial agents effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungal contaminants. This service became widely requested during COVID-19 and continues to be useful for healthcare settings, schools, daycare facilities, and post-illness home cleanings.
Our process: pre-disinfection wipedown of high-touch surfaces, electrostatic spray application of EPA-listed antimicrobials with documented kill claims for the target pathogens, contact-time adherence per the product label, and post-disinfection ATP swab testing on critical surfaces when requested.
For medical and dental offices, we coordinate disinfection schedules around clinical hours and provide documentation suitable for regulatory inspection records.
Reports You Can Actually Use
Every IAQ test comes with a full lab report (the technical document) and a one-page executive summary (the document your client, your tenant, or your insurance company will actually read). Charts comparing indoor readings to recognized guidelines (ASHRAE, OSHA, NIOSH, WHO), recommended actions, and follow-up testing schedules where applicable.
We're not selling air purifiers or filtration systems — we're not affiliated with any product manufacturer. Our recommendations are based on what the data shows, not what we'd profit from selling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — that's exactly when IAQ testing is most valuable. A musty odor with no visible mold typically means spore growth in concealed cavities (behind walls, under floors, inside HVAC components). Air-O-Cell sampling identifies the species and concentration, often pinpointing the affected area. From there, an inspection can confirm and remediate the source.
Residential mold air sampling typically runs $400–$700 for two indoor samples plus an outdoor baseline, including lab fees. VOC testing, particulate testing, and multi-zone surveys are quoted per scope. Disinfection is quoted by square footage and surface type.
Direct air testing for active SARS-CoV-2 or other viruses is rarely useful — the test windows and detection sensitivities don't match real-world conditions. Disinfection is the practical service. We use EPA-listed products with documented efficacy against enveloped viruses (including coronaviruses), bacteria, and fungi.
Yes. AirWater Environmental serves schools, daycare facilities, offices, retail spaces, healthcare facilities, and multi-family housing across Upstate NY. We coordinate around occupied hours and provide compliance documentation as needed.