Imperial County homes by era
The ACS 2020-2024 figures count roughly 58,000 housing units in Imperial County. About 39 percent were built before 1980 and about 32 percent in 2000 or later, for a median year of 1988.
Older farmhouses and in-town homes can have asbestos in floor tile, siding or duct insulation, so sample before tearing anything out. Paint applied before 1978 is the one to test for lead.
Desert heat and a late-summer storm season
NOAA's El Centro NAF station records only about 5 inches of rain a year, and about 1.25 of those inches fall from June through September. July highs average about 107°F (1991-2020 normals).
Air conditioners run hard for months, and a dripping condensate line or evaporative cooler can wet a ceiling or wall without anyone noticing. Moisture mapping can find the wet area, and a partner can sample any growth you suspect.
Smoke and fire testing
If smoke or ash reached a home in Imperial County, you can request smoke and fire testing. A partner can sample soot and ash on surfaces and send the samples out for analysis.
Imperial County APCD
On CARB's list, the Imperial County APCD covers the whole county. Under the federal NESHAP, demolishing a building or a sizable renovation there may first call for an asbestos inspection, with the paperwork going to that district.
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Questions
Do you take requests from Calexico and Brawley?
Yes, from any address in the county. If we can't place the request with a partner who reaches it, we tell you.
Can I request indoor air testing for a home with a swamp cooler?
Yes. Mention the cooler and any smell or dampness you've noticed, and the partner suggests what to measure.