Air Quality Testing in Galveston, TX

Most Galveston homeowners suspect their indoor air quality isn't great. The musty smell when you walk in. The persistent congestion that never quite clears up. The film of salt dust on surfaces near windows. But suspecting a problem and knowing exactly what you're breathing are two different things. Professional air quality testing tells you precisely what contaminants are present, at what concentrations, and what's causing them — so you can fix the actual problem instead of guessing.

Why Coastal Homes Have Worse Indoor Air

Galveston sits in one of the most challenging environments for indoor air quality in the country. You've got 80%+ humidity driving mold growth, salt air from the Gulf infiltrating through every gap in the building envelope, older homes on the island with potential asbestos in insulation and floor tiles, post-hurricane water intrusion creating hidden mold behind walls and under flooring, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from renovation materials in the many homes being remodeled after storm damage.

Each of these contributes different contaminants that affect your health differently. A musty smell might be active mold growth or it might be bacteria breeding in a stagnant condensate pan. Respiratory irritation could come from mold spores, formaldehyde off-gassing from new cabinets, or elevated particulate matter from salt infiltration. Without testing, you're treating symptoms instead of causes.

What Air Quality Testing Measures

Professional testing goes well beyond what a home test kit can tell you. Here's what we evaluate:

Mold spore counts. Air samples capture the concentration and species of mold spores present in your home. Not all mold is created equal — Stachybotrys (black mold) presents different health risks than Cladosporium or Aspergillus, both common in Gulf Coast homes. We compare indoor spore counts against outdoor baseline samples to determine whether your home has active mold amplification.

Humidity and moisture mapping. We measure relative humidity levels in each room and use thermal imaging to identify moisture intrusion points — areas where water is entering walls, ceilings, or floors but hasn't yet become visible. In Galveston, these moisture sources are the root cause of most mold problems. Finding and fixing them is the only permanent solution.

Particulate matter levels. PM2.5 and PM10 measurements tell us the concentration of fine particles in your air. Salt crystals, dust, pollen, and combustion byproducts all contribute. Elevated particulate levels in coastal homes often indicate poor filtration — standard 1-inch MERV 8 filters don't capture the fine salt particles that infiltrate from outside.

VOC testing. Volatile organic compounds come from paints, adhesives, cleaning products, new furniture, and building materials. Homes that have been recently renovated — and there are thousands on Galveston Island after successive hurricane seasons — often have elevated formaldehyde, benzene, or toluene levels. These compounds cause headaches, eye irritation, and long-term health effects at sustained exposure levels.

Carbon dioxide levels. High CO2 indicates inadequate ventilation. In tightly sealed homes (common after storm-hardening upgrades), CO2 builds up because there's not enough fresh air exchange. The irony: sealing your home against hurricane damage can trap contaminants inside.

Older Galveston Homes: Special Concerns

The island has thousands of homes built before 1980, when asbestos was commonly used in insulation, floor tiles, duct wrap, and textured coatings. If your home hasn't been tested and you're planning any renovation work, air quality testing should happen first. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials releases fibers that cause mesothelioma and other serious lung diseases.

We also find lead paint residue in pre-1978 homes, particularly during renovation when old paint is sanded or scraped. Air testing during renovation work protects your family and keeps contractors compliant with EPA lead-safe work practices.

Post-Hurricane and Flood Testing

Galveston gets hit. It's not a question of if but when. After any water intrusion event — hurricane, tropical storm, heavy flooding — air quality testing should be a priority before moving back into your home. Water-damaged materials begin growing mold within 24-48 hours. Even after visible water is removed and surfaces appear dry, moisture trapped in wall cavities, under flooring, and in insulation continues feeding mold colonies for months.

We've tested homes 6-12 months after storm events that still had active mold growth in concealed spaces. The homeowners had "remediated" by drying surfaces and painting with mold-killing primer, but never addressed the moisture trapped deeper in the structure.

What Happens After Testing

We provide a detailed report showing every contaminant detected, its concentration level, the applicable health guidelines, and our recommended remediation steps. For mold, that might mean targeted removal and moisture source correction. For humidity issues, a whole-home dehumidifier or HVAC modifications. For filtration problems, upgrading to HEPA or electronic air cleaning.

We serve Galveston, Texas City, League City, Dickinson, La Marque, and Santa Fe. If your home smells musty, someone in your household has unexplained respiratory symptoms, or you've had any water intrusion event, testing gives you the answers you need to take the right action.