Interior Testing 101

“Do I need to test my house?” “Is it safe for my kids to live in?” “Who do I call?”

Here’s what you need to know.

*This information has been checked for accuracy an non-bias by disaster recovery experts and non-profits specialized in post-fire contamination. Consult with a licensed professional about your specific situation.

The basics

When a home burns, materials like car batteries, lead paint, major machinery, and appliances create a noxious cloud of dangerous substances. Unfortunately, those substances can get inside homes, persisting in insulation, fabrics and even walls.

These contaminants can be invisible and impossible to detect. Unless you’ve had your home profesionally tested, there’s no way to know if you’re living with carcinogens.

how do i know

if my home

was affected?

Many of these contaminants are not visible or detectable by smell. So how do you know?

Experts advise that if you had ash or soot inside your home after the fires that’s a very good sign of contamination.

Some survivors have tested for contamination after experiencing headaches, chest or lung pain, sore throats, nose bleeds, coughing, etc.

Signs You Can See, Smell & Touch:

  • Persistent smoky or “burnt” smell

  • Gray or yellow film on walls, windows, ceilings

  • Discoloration on ceilings, fabrics, or furniture

  • Black streaks near vents or electrical outlets

  • Rust on metal surfaces like doorknobs, appliances, fixtures

  • Warped or sagging walls, wood, or ceilings

  • Peeling paint or bubbling wallpaper

  • Sticky windows or doors that don’t close quite right

TIP

If you have any symptoms that subside when you’re away from home, that’s a good indicator of contamination.

What Are The Dangers? 

Here is a rundown of the risks of some of the main contaminants that can be present after wildfires. 

  • Lead, especially, is dangerous for kids and pets - it can be tracked in on shoes, licked off paws, or spread through dust.

    • Can damage the brain: trouble with learning, thinking, and memory, especially in young children, as their brains are still developing. 

    • Can weaken blood production → possible anemia (less oxygen in the body).  

    • Can cause digestive and nervous system issues: upset stomach, weakness, tremors. 

    • Builds up over time - small exposures can accumulate and cause harm because the body doesn’t get rid of lead quickly.  

    Source: National Library of Medicine

    • Skin problems: patches, discoloration, hard or thick areas.  

    • Increased risk of cancers (skin, lung, bladder) with long-term exposure.  

    • Harm to organs: liver, kidneys, and heart can be damaged over time.  

    • In children, slow growth or developmental delays may occur if exposed early or for a long period.  

    Source: World Health Organization and National Library of Medicine

    • If fibers are breathed in, they can lodge in the lungs permanently. Over years, this can lead to lung scarring (asbestosis), difficulty breathing.  

    • Causes cancers like mesothelioma (lining of the lungs or chest cavity), which is very serious.  

    • Pets are also at risk — dogs, cats (and other animals) can develop mesothelioma when exposed to asbestos fibers.  

    Source: CDC, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and Animal Health Foundation

    • Recognized as a strong carcinogen when inhaled: increases risk of lung cancer.  

    • Can cause skin irritation, ulcers, and respiratory allergic reactions if one comes into contact via air or dust.  

    Source: Cal OEHHA, National Library of Medicine, OSHA, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US EPA

    • Many PAHs are carcinogenic or suspected carcinogens (linked to cancers).  

    • Can cause respiratory problems: inflammation of airways, worse asthma or coughing.  

    • May harm unborn babies / cause low birth weight when pregnant people are exposed.  

    Source: National Library of Medicine, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

    • Short-term effects: irritation of eyes, nose, throat; headaches; dizziness; nausea.  

    • Long-term: some VOCs damage the liver, kidneys, or the central nervous system. Some are possibly or definitely cancerous.  

    • Pets are also sensitive: breathing problems, behavioral changes could result from high exposure. 

    Source: American Lung Association

How Contamination

Can Affect

Property Value

By law, you must disclose past fire damage and known contamination when selling a property in California. When an area has gone through as widely publicized a disaster as ours, buyers, lenders, and insurers will already know that the area was affected and can ask for proof that your home has been tested and remediated. If you can’t prove that, you may face lower offers, delays, or outright refusals.

Note: By this same token, be aware that if your property tests positive for contaminants, you are required to disclose that in the event of a sale. If you have not properly remediated, it could affect your property value or ability to sell. 

What You

Should Do

Testing is the only way to know your home is truly safe for you, your family, and anyone who may live there in the future.

1. File an insurance claim

Call your insurance company and inform them that you need to file a claim because your home was damaged by the fires.

Yes, it’s covered

If smoke, ash, or particulates damaged your home or your belongings, it’s covered under your regular homeowners insurance.

  • Damage to the structure of your home - like walls, floors, ceilings, built-in carpet, and framing - is paid for under your Dwelling Coverage.

  • Damage to your stuff - like rugs, clothes, curtains, furniture, and personal items is paid for under your Contents Coverage.

There shouldn’t be any special limits on smoke damage, like there sometimes are for things like mold. The only limits that apply are your total coverage amounts for the home and your belongings.

That said, you may need to advocate for yourself - not every adjuster understands how serious smoke damage can be. 

2. Arrange professional testing

Hire a Professional Certified Industrial Hygienist or field tester from a laboratory.

Have them perform:

  1. A full metals test of at least RCRA 8 or CAM 17. (Make sure they test as thoroughly as possible, including inside your HVAC system, insulation, etc.)

  2. “TEM” testing for asbestos

3. Follow professional remediation instructions

Follow remediation recommendations issued by a Professional Certified Industrial Hygienist (only).

Your insurance adjuster is not qualified to tell you how to address contamination in your home.

What are

“exceedances”

If the level of contamination and duration of exposure are the big factors here, the baseline metric for concern is what levels of contamination the California EPA and DTSC say are potentially harmful.

Those agencies set a threshold for what level of contamination is normal and safe for humans to live with, vs when we need to be worried. An “exceedance” means the levels are higher than is considered safe for humans.

4. perform remediation

Your Industrial Hygienist or Specialist should also be able to point you to a Remediation Contractor to perform the cleanup.

*Grants to help with the cost of remediation are becoming available. If you would like to be made aware of these, be sure to sign up for the PostFire newsletter at the bottom of the page.

5. test again

Have your home retested after remediation for clearance. This is critically important, as sometimes remediation efforts aren’t complete.

What not to do

don’t clean 

it yourself

Do not clean your house yourself without having it professionally tested. 

  1. Many contaminants in this fire are carcinogenic and can cause long-term disease if not properly remediated.

  2. Some industrial cleaners can actually increase toxin levels if mixed with the right toxins which is why it's important to only let people who understand chemical compound cleanup impact your home.

don’t assume 

you can see it

Do not assume that if you did clean up any wildfire debris in your home, your home is now contaminant-free. Many contaminants, like lead or other heavy metals, are not visible to the naked eye.

don’t rely 

on soap and water

Soap is not sufficient to handle contaminants. Even industrial household cleaning products are not sufficient to remove many post-wildfire contaminants, and professional remediation methods may be necessary.

don’t hold on 

to soft goods

until you’re sure 

they are safe

Depending on how bad your smoke damage was, your soft goods may need to be disposed of. It’s crucial that you have a professional weigh in on what is salvageable - some things may need to be encapsulated if keeping it is a must. 

How Much Does

Remediation

Cost?

Remediation costs vary depending on the size of your home and the nature of the contamination.

Some survivors have been able to include remediation expenses in lawsuits, and some attorneys may arrange and pay for testing upfront.

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