IAQ Testing Services

Huntington Beach, CA, April 3^rd, 2020

More California residents are now turning to mini split air conditioners and heat pumps to provide a comfortable indoor environment. These units have the advantage of being able to cool or heat a specific area, low cost, ease of installation, small size, and the ability to save on heating and cooling costs in many situations.

Mini split units can be found in residential, commercial and institutional buildings all across the state. However, one issue associated with mini splits and other types of air conditioners is the potential for the growth of mold and bacteria in the air exchanger or evaporator. When this occurs it can create a condition known as Dirty Sock Syndrome in the HVAC community. Just as the name suggests, the smell of dirty socks or stinky cheese can fill a room that is being serviced by the unit.

“Dirty sock syndrome typically occurs when AC systems have excessive moisture and standing water issues which allows for the growth of mold and bacteria,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “This microbial growth can off-gas microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), leading to unpleasant odors. The fan could also be blowing spores or microbial fragments into the air. Either of these situations can cause exposure issues for building occupants and create indoor environmental quality (IEQ) problems. These range from nuisance odors to breathing concerns associated with exposure to respiratory irritants, allergens and even asthma triggers.”

The professionals at LA Testing are leading providers of indoor air quality (IAQ) testing in California. With multiple California facilities, they offer laboratory services to analyze air samples, sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments and building inspection tools. These services and products can be instrumental for identifying problems so they can be addressed to create a healthy indoor environment for families, students and workers.

To learn more about this or other indoor environmental quality, building science, health and safety testing services, or for access to air monitoring instruments and inspection tools, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. To obtain IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: : AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego and Ontario.