HOUSEHOLD ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING SERVICES
HOUSEHOLD ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING SERVICES performed with or without a home inspection.
What could be more important than environmental safety in the home? That’s what many home-inspection companies claim. Yes, they are trying to sell you something. So beware of the hype. That said, there is justifiable science to back up a few of these claims. I searched for several home-environment safety services and found agencies offering honest, science-backed tests. Here’s one from Allstate Home Inspection and Household Environmental Testing, Ltd.
Here are the things they test for:
Mold:
Homes with damp conditions or that have suffered from some sort of water leakage are prime suspects for the development of potentially harmful molds. Mold and the airborne spores they produce may cause allergic reactions, asthma, and other, more serious respiratory complaints. The standard for mold testing created by IESO (Indoor Environmental Standards Organization) is the standard by which AHI Certified Residential Mold Inspectors conduct mold screenings. The inspectors will utilize either wetted swabs, tape medium or high velocity vacuum pumps and spore traps to extract samples that will the be sent to an approved laboratory for analysis. When the results return AllState’s professional inspectors will interpret the results and provide a professional recommendation.Radon:
Instant radon test results available from AHI inspectors. Any house may have a radon problem. In fact, EPA believes that 1 out of every 15 homes in America has elevated radon levels. The concentration of radon in a home depends on many factors; relevant factors include local geology, the home’s construction, and the property’s condition. Radon concentrations build up in underground soils and rocks. Cracks and fissures enable the radon to move through the ground the same way a conduit or pipe allows gas or liquid to move. Finding its way through building cracks and openings into enclosed areas, high concentrations of radon can build up in your home, and pose increased lung cancer risks according EPA, the American Lung Association and the National Environmental Health Association. Testing a home before you buy it may save you thousands of dollars in corrective measures due to elevated levels. AllState’s inspectors have been trained to utilize the latest technology for radon testing in order to ensure your home is safe from radon hazards. AllState’s inspectors utilize passive devices as well as active electronic continuing radon monitoring devices. All tests conducted in accordance with EPA require testing devices to remain in the home for a minimum of 48 hours. AllState’s inspectors may set the testing devices 2-3 days prior to the inspection and provide instant results during the building inspection.Lead:
Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in paint, pipes, and other household materials. In 1978 it became illegal to use lead paint in residential housing. In the 1980s most states banned the use of lead solder for domestic water supplies. Anyone purchasing an older home should consider testing for lead in the water and on interior and exterior surfaces. High lead levels in blood have been proven to cause many negative health effects, including behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures, and even death. Children are not becoming lead poisoned by eating paint chips like potato chips; most children are becoming poisoned from prolonged exposure to lead dust. All of our inspectors have been trained to extract dust samples from homes to identify a number of contaminants, including lead dust. The inspectors will utilize either dust wipes, tape medium or high velocity vacuum pumps and fiber cassettes to extract samples that will the be sent to an approved laboratory for analysis. When the results return our professional inspectors will identify the severity of any conditions that exist.Water Quality Testing:
EPA recommends that private domestic water supplies, including wells and springs, be tested yearly for bacteria. AllState’s inspectors are trained to take water samples appropriately and deliver the sample to local state-approved labs for testing. Common water tests the AHI inspectors perform include tests for bacteria in water; the HUD screening, a test for nitrate, nitrite, iron, turbidity, ph, & lead; radon, radon in water testing is particularly recommended in homes were the presence of radon in air is detected; and arsenic in water. Testing for other the presence of other chemicals is often determined by local conditions.Septic System Testing:
Industry experts estimate about 30% of the septic systems in America suffer from some level of failure. An AHI inspector is trained to conduct preliminary testing called a “Leach Field Loading Dye Test”. AllState claims to have found failures in about 2-3 percent of the systems they have tested over the last 10 years. Some of the systems were only 3 or 4 years old. AllState’s AHI inspector will introduces about 175 gallons of water and “Ultra Glow” tracing dye into the septic system. Next, the inspector visually inspects the leach field and surrounding area for signs of dye at the surface, aka “Break Out”. In some cases the dye will be diluted in adjacent catch basins, by streams ponds, snow, or by underground springs. AllState’s inspectors are equipped with high powered ultra-violet lights they use to detect the dye’s presence even at dilutions as low as 1 part per hundred thousand. Equipped with these advanced technologies our inspectors are ready to assist you at every inspection where an on site private septic system exists. Most lending institutions accept this testing when septic testing is a loan requirement.Wood Boring Insect Certification:
Includes review and certification report of termite, carpenter ant, and powder post-beetle activity. Carpenter ants and powder post beetles are common with termite sightings. The certification report includes the type of infestation and what you should do about it.Asbestos identification testing:
Prior to being banned in 1970s asbestos containing materials (ACMs) were used in a variety of materials including acoustical tiles, caulking, wall board, tile adhesives, shingles, roofing felt and tiles, pipe and boiler insulation. Asbestos containing materials are considered a health hazard in homes, offices and schools. All AHI inspectors are trained to identify building materials that may contain asbestos fibers. Positive identification of ACMs may only be conducted by a certified asbestos consultant and requires sample extraction and laboratory testing. Many of AllState’s inspectors are certified to conduct the sampling needed to identify ACMs. This type of sampling is conducted with high velocity vacuum pumps, and fiber cassettes, with tape or bulk sampling.Carbon Monoxide:
Clogged chimneys, malfunctioning stoves, water heaters, space heaters, as well as auto, boat and airplane exhaust releases carbon monoxide into the air that a home residents breathe. Test for the presence of carbon monoxide in the home will detect as little as 50 ppm (before it becomes dangerous to residents). Most of AllState’s AHI inspectors are prepared to conduct this sort of testing utilizing short-term electronic testing devices at appropriate locations throughout a home.Chlordane:
Indoor air chlordane contamination problems are typically a result of termite treatments prior to the “banning” of chlordane in 1988. U.S. Air Force research also shows 7% of homes are suspected of being above the “safety levels”.Electromagnetic Fields:
EMF stands for either electromagnetic fields, or electric and magnetic fields. These fields occur wherever there is electricity — near radio and microwave towers, high voltage transmission lines, low power electrical distribution lines, household appliances and office electrical equipment. The term electromagnetic fields generally refers to the high frequency radio waves in which the electric and magnetic fields are inseparable. Electric and magnetic fields can cause small electric fields in our bodies. These fields are much weaker than the fields that occur naturally in the body, but there is some evidence they might affect some cell functions. A trained technician with the proper equipment can conduct field measurements around your home to determine electromagnetic field levels.
Environmental Testing is also hugely important in the industry. Think of all the products we purchase that have to be proven to (perhaps as requied by law) to be safe and durable during normal or even stressful use. If this topic interests you, visit my site devoted to measurement testing. Where you may find interesting info on stuff like Environmental test chambers — these are giant ovens/freezers/pressure chambers. While I wouldn’t want to be be in one of these things, I sure as hell want my car’s critical components to spend some prove-themselves-worthy time! Read more…