Critical Information for Sufferers of Chronic Sinusitis, and Mold Related Illness
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What a Building Biologist Does—and How It Creates a Truly Healthy Home
By Jonathan Farrar, Building Biologist, CRMI & Healthy-Home Assessor
Most people only think about their home when something breaks or smells off. But what if your home could actively help you feel better—sleep deeper, breathe easier, and recover faster—every single day? That’s the aim of Building Biology: shaping the indoor environment so it’s health-affirming in every way possible.
If you’ve never met a Building Biologist before, you’re not alone; many folks do not even know we exist. I hope to change that, though, because, in this article, I will explain what the profession is, how an assessment differs from traditional home or mold inspections and remediations, the details of what happens when a building biologist visits a home, and how evidence-based tools—like Micro Balance products—are integrated into creating, not just safe spaces, but supportive ecosystems for human health in line with nature.
What Is a Building Biologist?
Building Biology is a holistic practice focused on the relationship between people, nature, and buildings. Rather than looking at a single symptom (say, a musty odor or a moisture spot), we study the system: moisture dynamics, indoor air quality, building materials, ventilation, water quality, electromagnetic exposures, and occupant habits/maintenance patterns to get to the root cause. Our north star is simple: nature is the GOLD standard.
Practically, that means we do the following:
Identify and eliminate the causes of poor indoor air quality (e.g., hidden leaks, pressure imbalances, high particle loads, off gassing materials, etc.).
Recommend least-toxic, source-first interventions, and mitigation/remediation.
Help you maintain conditions where mold, biotoxins, and chemical residues are less likely to become a problem again.
Where traditional building disciplines optimize for structure or code compliance, Building Biology optimizes for how your body actually experiences the space and responds to it.
How a Building Biologist Differs from a Mold Inspector or Remediator
I collaborate with excellent mold inspectors and remediators and even perform mold “assessments” myself. We simply wear different hats:
Mold Inspectors
Focus: confirm presence/extent of mold or moisture damage.
Tools: containment, negative pressure, HEPA and other methods per industry and protocol standards (e.g., IICRC S520).
Output: a cleaned and remediated work area ready for clearance testing (otherwise known as PRV – post remediation verification).
Building Biologist (yours truly)
Focus: your whole-home ecosystem—moisture, air, particulate, VOCs, EMF/EMR, ventilation, filtration, materials, and daily occupational habits (plus so much more!).
Tools: moisture/thermal mapping, particle counts, differential pressure checks, VOC/HCHO (formaldehyde) screening, EMF screening, water quality review and testing, occupant health patterns/history, and (when appropriate), TARGETED lab testing.
Output: a clear, prioritized plan—source control first, then ventilation and filtration, followed by materials and maintenance—with coaching to ensure the improvements endure.
Said simply: the mold work is crucial, but it’s only one chapter. Building Biology looks at the entire ecosystem of the home, including the health of occupants.
What I Actually Do During a Home Visit
Every home is unique, but my assessments typically unfold in four phases:
Listen & clarify: We start with your story: health goals, symptoms, history of leaks or odors, renovations, HVAC service, even sleep quality. I’m looking for patterns: “My headaches worsen after laundry day.” “My sinus symptoms flare when the AC kicks on.” “My sleep improves at grandma’s house.”
Map the moisture: Using moisture meters and thermal imaging, I trace where water is or was, including bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, mechanical rooms, and below-grade spaces. Hidden moisture is the #1 risk for microbial growth.
Measure the air & pressure: I check for particle loads (fine particulates can carry biotoxins and allergens), CO₂ patterns (a proxy for ventilation), pressure differentials (especially negative pressure) that can drive crawlspace/attic air into living areas as well as prevent the house from being able to regulate humidity, and targeted VOC/formaldehyde screening.
Evaluate systems & materials: I review filtration (MERV/HEPA and fit), ventilation strategy (balanced? exhaust only?), duct cleanliness, building materials, cleaning products (hint hint), and water quality risks. If sampling is needed, I explain the why, the where, and how the results will guide action.
The deliverable you receive is practical: What to do next to live BETTER, prioritized by health impact and cost. I also will often outline simple maintenance habits to keep gains durable. Often times the simplest and most impactful fixes are FREE!
Where Tools and Cleaning Products Fit in a Health-First Plan
I use tools and cleaning products only where they meaningfully support source-first remediation and ongoing indoor air quality. Here are common examples of how tools and targeted products fit into the plan:
Mechanical Filtration that Actually Moves the Needle: After source correction and deep cleaning, high-efficiency filtration reduces remaining particles and allergens. I specify true HEPA units with appropriate Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) for the room size—often one near the sleeping area, one in the main living zone.
Least-Toxic Cleaning and Maintenance Products: Once contaminants are removed, the last thing I want is to reintroduce unnecessary chemicals that add VOCs or leave residues that can irritate sensitive clients. I favor simple, non-sensitizing/non-abrasive cleaners and microfiber/HEPA workflows. When clients need a specialty product (e.g., post-remediation maintenance in high-humidity seasons), I look for ingredient transparency and proven effectiveness—two of the MANY reasons I trust Micro Balance’s EC3 line of environmental cleaning products. I use and recommend the wipes, laundry additive, mold spray, candles, and enzyme cleaner to most clients.
Thoughtful Materials & Preventive Care: If materials need replacement, we steer toward low-VOC, moisture-appropriate options and detail how to operate the home (dehumidification set points, ventilation run-times, filter schedules) so the ecosystem stays healthy.
Important: I don’t believe in “spray and pray.” Coatings and long-term antimicrobial films can appear convenient, but they’re not a replacement for source removal, moisture control, and mechanical cleaning. Products should support the plan, not mask problems or introduce even more concerns.
A Quick Story: From “Musty and Tired” to “We Forgot We Had Allergies”
A family called me about recurring congestion and fatigue. Two remediations in two years, yet symptoms crept back each summer.
What we found
A minor—but continuous—condensate drain issue in the attic air handler wetting the pan and not draining properly due to improper pitch of the drain pan.
Negative pressure in the upstairs hall pulling attic air through recessed lights on hot afternoons as well as through the attic access ladder.
The HVAC filter was “high MERV” and caused extreme strain on the system, choking it off and causing it to work harder than it should–more condensation and less ability to remove/regulate humidity.
A dark and barely-accessed linen closet shared a wall with an unconditioned chase; humidity routinely hit 65–70% on humid days.
What we did
Corrected the drain slope and added a float switch (source).
Sealed attic penetrations and balanced pressures (physics).
Installed a properly fitting filter and added a room HEPA for the upstairs sleeping zone (filtration).
Set a dehumidification target of 50% RH and adjusted ventilation runtimes (operation).
Particles dropped, odors resolved, and sleep improved. The family joked, “We forgot we had allergies.” No MAJOR fixes—just fundamentals, well planned, with the right support products where they mattered.
My Path to Building Biology (and Why It Matters)
Like many in this field, I arrived here because people weren’t getting answers (and neither was I – having gone through failed remediation and my family still being immensely ill). I saw clients ping-pong between contractors, testers, and products—each solving part of the puzzle. Building Biology gave me a structured, evidence-based way to connect the dots and advocate for families. Today, I combine standard-of-care practices (e.g., IICRC S520 concepts for moisture/microbial work, clear PRV criteria) with Building Biology principles so improvements are measurable, durable, and health-friendly.
That’s also why I partner with companies like Micro Balance —we share a bias for transparency, ingredients that respect human biology, and tools that do what they claim without adding new problems or concerns.
How I Work With Clients
If you’re new to this, start simple:
FREE Discovery call– We talk through your home’s story and goals.
Onsite assessment– I map moisture and thermal, measure the home environment, evaluate systems/materials, and outline testing only where it will change decisions.
Roadmap & coaching– You get a prioritized plan by impact and effort, with clear maintenance habits. I also provide a remediation protocol if applicable.
Targeted product support– Where filtration or least-toxic cleaners strengthen the plan, I recommend specific options, like those from Micro Balance, so you can act with confidence.
The outcome isn’t just “problem solved.” It’s a health-affirming ecosystem you can sustain, in line with nature, aka “normal fungal ecology”.
About the Author: Jonathan Farrar
Jonathan Farrar is a Building Biologist, Certified Residential Mold Inspector (CRMI), and healthy-home assessor who helps families create health-affirming indoor ecosystems through source-first moisture control, practical ventilation and filtration, and non-toxic materials and maintenance through his company JF Healthy Homes. He collaborates with homeowners, clinicians, and remediators to turn complex homes into supportive places to live and heal. He is active sharing tips, tricks, and information on Building Biology on Instagram and TikTok.
Questions? Comments? Write to us below or join Jonathan on Wednesday, November 12 at 6 PM CST for a Live event on the Micro Balance channels: Mold Through the Lens of Building Biology.
Jonathan Farrar is an environmental consultant and Building Biologist (currently in final steps for EMRS, BBEC, BBNC through the Building Biology Institute). His work was born not from textbooks alone, but from lived experience.
Several years ago, Jonathan and his family became devastatingly ill after moving into a home with toxic black mold. Already struggling with the effects of EMF exposure, parasites, and toxic burden overload, this experience pushed him to the edge. Doctors and inspectors had no answers, often dismissing his concerns, while his spouse and young children grew sicker by the day. That moment of desperation became a turning point—igniting Jonathan’s mission to take health into his own hands and uncover the hidden factors in our homes and environments that profoundly affect our wellbeing.
Since then, Jonathan has dedicated himself to rigorous training through the Building Biology Institute—completing coursework and seminars in EMF, indoor air quality, mold, and building materials, both in-person and online. He has also gained extensive hands-on experience working with families facing mold infestations, EMF exposure, poor indoor air, and unsafe water, as well as guiding new construction and renovation projects to ensure healthy building practices.
His work has helped countless clients who were told “nothing was wrong” by conventional inspectors, but who were still struggling with fatigue, insomnia, mysterious health issues, and chronic illness. Jonathan’s compassionate, science-based approach has brought answers, hope, and healthier living environments to families who felt unheard and dismissed.
Looking ahead, Jonathan’s vision goes beyond individual homes. He is passionate about transforming schools, churches, businesses, and all indoor environments—working toward a future where sick buildings no longer exist. “A healthy home and indoor environment is a basic human right,” he often says, “not a luxury.”
At the heart of it all is Jonathan’s family. His children are the driving force behind his work, reminding him daily why safe environments matter. Outside of consulting, he finds balance in nature, grounding, sunshine, and music. Once a touring musician, Jonathan still writes and plays music—but his truest calling now is helping families reclaim their health by creating spaces that nurture rather than harm.
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