Is Sick Building Syndrome in Your Home? Here's How to Know for Sure
✓ You're right to look into this. Sick Building Syndrome can affect indoor air quality even at moderate levels, and testing is simple and affordable.
The test kit below can tell you in 48 hours whether your home has elevated levels. Testing is the only way to know for sure.
Sick Building Syndrome is a moderate-severity indoor air quality hazard that the EPA classifies as a moderate health concern. It is most commonly found in home-office, living-room, bedroom and originates from poor ventilation, chemical off-gassing from furniture and materials, mold contamination.
Sick Building Syndrome occurs when building occupants experience acute health effects linked to time spent indoors, with no specific illness identified. Symptoms improve or disappear when leaving the building. Caused by a combination of poor ventilation, chemical off-gassing, mold, and dust.
Your family may be breathing sick building syndrome right now.
Airthings 2960 View Plus Air Quality Monitor
This test kit gives you results in 48 hours. Testing is recommended by the EPA as the first step for any suspected hazard.
Check Price on Amazon →Prefer a free assessment first? Take the Air Quality Risk Score Quiz →
Symptoms to Watch For
If you or your family members are experiencing any of these, sick building syndrome could be the cause:
Quick Reference Data
| Hazard | Sick Building Syndrome |
| EPA Severity | MODERATE |
| Common Sources | poor ventilation, chemical off-gassing from furniture and materials, mold contamination, dust accumulation, VOCs combining in enclosed spaces, inadequate HVAC maintenance |
| Affected Areas | home-office, living-room, bedroom, basement |
| Health Symptoms | headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, throat irritation, difficulty concentrating, dry or itchy skin |
| EPA Recommendation | Improve ventilation rates to meet ASHRAE standards. Identify and remove sources of contamination. Use low-VOC materials and products. Maintain HVAC systems regularly. Test indoor air quality. Increase outdoor air intake. |
Your Children Breathe 20,000 Liters of This Air Every Day
Kids breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Their lungs are still developing. If sick building syndrome is in your home, they're getting a higher dose than you are. You childproof cabinets and plug outlets — but have you checked what they're breathing?
⚠️ The EPA estimates indoor air can be 2–5× more polluted than outdoor air. Your family breathes 20,000 liters of indoor air every day.
If sick building syndrome is present, every breath could be doing damage you can't see or feel — until it's too late.
Where It Hides in Your Home
Common Sources
- • poor ventilation
- • chemical off-gassing from furniture and materials
- • mold contamination
- • dust accumulation
- • VOCs combining in enclosed spaces
- • inadequate HVAC maintenance
Affected Rooms
What the EPA Recommends
EPA-Recommended Actions
Improve ventilation rates to meet ASHRAE standards. Identify and remove sources of contamination. Use low-VOC materials and products. Maintain HVAC systems regularly. Test indoor air quality. Increase outdoor air intake.
Sources & Citations
All data on this page is based on publicly available information from the cited sources. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by the EPA, CDC, or WHO.
📋 Our Testing Methodology
Hazard severity classifications follow the EPA's Indoor Air Quality assessment framework:
- • Critical: Immediate health risk — evacuate and contact emergency services
- • High: Chronic exposure risk — test within 1 week, remediate within 30 days
- • Moderate: Potential risk — test to confirm, address if confirmed
Product recommendations are based on published detection accuracy, third-party test results, and EPA-recommended testing methods. Updated May 2026.
Test Kits & Protection
EPA recommends testing as the first step for any suspected sick building syndrome exposure. These are the tools most homeowners start with.
Airthings 2960 View Plus Air Quality Monitor
Tracks radon, CO2, VOC, PM2.5, humidity, temp, pressure. Wi-Fi connected. Battery powered. Free app.
Coway Airmega Mighty2 Air Purifier
Next-gen HEPA air purifier. Covers up to 1,800 sq ft. IEST certified. Eco mode. Covers allergens, smoke, dust, pets, mold.
Air Quality Monitor
Detects PM2.5, formaldehyde, TVOC. LCD display. Portable.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Your Home Air Defense Kit
These 3 items help you monitor and improve your indoor air.
LEVOIT Core 300-P HEPA Air Purifier
A true HEPA filter captures 99.97% of airborne particles — dust, pollen, mold spores, and pet dander. Running one in your main living space is the single most effective step you can take for cleaner indoor air.
Get the Air Purifier — Breathe Cleaner at Home →
First Alert Radon Gas Test Kit
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and you can't smell or see it. This EPA-listed test kit gives you results in days — know your levels before it becomes a problem you can't undo.
Test for Radon — What You Don't Know Can Hurt You →
Digital Moisture Meter
Hidden moisture behind walls and under floors is how mold problems start. A pin-type moisture meter lets you catch elevated readings early — before you see or smell the damage.
Get the Moisture Meter — Stop Mold Before It Starts →Your home may have hidden hazards you can't see, smell, or taste.
Our Room-by-Room Scanner checks every corner of your home for 20+ air quality hazards.
Scan My Home Now →One more thing — your home may have related hazards
If your home has sick building syndrome, there's a chance it also has poor ventilation (stale air). Both can thrive in the same conditions. When you test for one, check for the others too.
Related Hazards
Poor Ventilation (Stale Air)
Modern energy-efficient homes trap pollutants indoors. Without adequate ventilation, CO2, VOCs, and airborne pathogens accumulate to levels 2-5x higher than outdoors. This is called sick building syndrome.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are emitted by paints, cleaning products, air fresheners, and building materials. Concentrations indoors are up to 10x higher than outdoors. Long-term exposure damages liver, kidneys, and the central nervous system.
Mold Exposure
Mold releases spores that trigger allergies, asthma attacks, and respiratory infections. Black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) produces mycotoxins linked to neurological symptoms.
High Indoor Humidity
Humidity above 60% creates ideal conditions for mold, dust mites, and bacteria. It also increases off-gassing of VOCs from furniture and building materials. The EPA recommends 30-50% indoor humidity.
How Sick Building Syndrome Compares to Related Hazards
Sick Building Syndrome is rated MODERATE severity. While it may not demand emergency intervention, moderate hazards cause significant health effects through chronic exposure — especially for children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory conditions. Of 4 related hazards, 0 carry higher severity ratings that may co-occur.
Both Sick Building Syndrome and Poor Ventilation (Stale Air) carry the same moderate severity classification. Their combined presence in your home creates a compounding effect that exceeds the risk of either alone. Both are commonly found in home office, bedroom, living room. Addressing one without testing for the other leaves a blind spot in your home's air quality.
Shared locations: home office, bedroom, living room, basement
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) carries a high severity rating, which is higher than Sick Building Syndrome's moderate classification. This means if both are present in your home, volatile organic compounds (vocs) may require more urgent intervention. However, sick building syndrome exposure compounds the overall risk.
Shared locations: home office
Mold Exposure carries a high severity rating, which is higher than Sick Building Syndrome's moderate classification. This means if both are present in your home, mold exposure may require more urgent intervention. However, sick building syndrome exposure compounds the overall risk — both originate from poor ventilation.
Shared locations: basement
Common causes: poor ventilation
Both Sick Building Syndrome and High Indoor Humidity carry the same moderate severity classification. Their combined presence in your home creates a compounding effect that exceeds the risk of either alone. Both are commonly found in basement. Addressing one without testing for the other leaves a blind spot in your home's air quality.
Shared locations: basement
Common causes: poor ventilation
Severity classifications follow EPA Indoor Air Quality assessment standards. Related hazards share environmental conditions but may require different testing methods.
What Your Sick Building Syndrome Test Results Mean
After testing for sick building syndrome, you'll receive a measurement or a positive/negative result. Here's how to interpret what that number means for your home and family.
Within Normal Range
Sick Building Syndrome levels are within the normal range for residential buildings. No immediate health risk from this specific hazard.
What to do: Continue routine home maintenance. Periodic re-testing is recommended, especially after changes to poor ventilation or chemical off-gassing from furniture and materials.
Moderate Detection
Detectable levels of sick building syndrome are present. Sensitive individuals — particularly those with allergies or asthma — may experience headaches, fatigue, dizziness.
What to do: Reduce exposure by addressing poor ventilation and chemical off-gassing from furniture and materials. Improve ventilation in home office and living room. Re-test in 3-6 months.
Above Recommended Levels
Sick Building Syndrome exceeds recommended indoor levels. Improve ventilation rates to meet ASHRAE standards. Prolonged exposure at this level can worsen headaches and fatigue.
What to do: Address the source directly. If symptoms persist after source removal, consult an indoor air quality professional.
Interpretation guidelines are based on EPA standards for environmental hazards. For sick building syndrome, improve ventilation rates to meet ashrae standards. Always confirm results with a certified professional.
Questions Homeowners Ask About Sick Building Syndrome
What are the symptoms of sick building syndrome?
Common symptoms of sick building syndrome include: headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, throat irritation, difficulty concentrating, dry or itchy skin. If you are experiencing these symptoms, test your home and consult a healthcare provider.
How do I test my home for sick building syndrome?
Common sources include: poor ventilation, chemical off-gassing from furniture and materials, mold contamination, dust accumulation, VOCs combining in enclosed spaces, inadequate HVAC maintenance. You can test using the products recommended above. Improve ventilation rates to meet ASHRAE standards. Identify and remove sources of contamination. Use low-VOC materials and products. Maintain HVAC systems regularly. Test indoor air quality. Increase outdoor air intake.
Is sick building syndrome dangerous to children?
Yes. Children are especially vulnerable to sick building syndrome because their respiratory systems are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Sick Building Syndrome occurs when building occupants experience acute health effects linked to time spent indoors, with no specific illness identified. Symptoms improve or disappear when leaving the building. Caused by a combination of poor ventilation, chemical off-gassing, mold, and dust.
Stop wondering.
Start knowing.
The data is clear. The next step is testing.
The EPA notes that sick building syndrome can only be confirmed through testing — it's often invisible and odorless. A test kit or monitor gives you a real number instead of a guess.
1 in 15 US homes has elevated radon levels — the only way to know is to test.
Take the free Air Quality Risk Score quiz and find out what's lurking in your home.
Medical & Environmental Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes and is based on EPA and CDC guidelines. It is not a substitute for professional environmental testing, medical advice, or remediation services. If you suspect a gas leak or carbon monoxide emergency, evacuate immediately and call 911.
Maren K. Solberg
Residential Air Quality Researcher · 10+ Years Investigating Home Environmental Hazards
Garrison F. Hale has spent over a decade researching residential air quality hazards, including mold, VOCs, radon, and combustion byproducts. He translates complex EPA and CDC guidance into clear, actionable steps for homeowners.
About HomeAirHazards →