Environmental Tests

Studies have shown that environmental hazards in the home contribute significantly to chronic health conditions. Therefore, a property should be tested for water quality, radon gas, lead dust and mold and mildew. This may be done as part of the home inspection, or you can hire a specialist.

Lead Paint: Lead paint was prohibited in the United States in 1975. That means there are a lot of homes that are still covered in lead-based paint. Housing authorities place the actual figure at somewhere around 75%. Children and pets are particularly susceptible, and lead poisoning is known to cause learning disabilities and attention-deficit disorder.

Conventional wisdom used to say that lead poisoning was only possible if a child ingested chips of peeling paint. It turns out, though, that as lead paint decomposes, it releases a fine, invisible dust that can’t be picked up by conventional vacuum cleaners because the particles are so small that they easily pass through filters and vacuum cleaner bags.

Lead paint can be sealed by painting over it, but this only puts off the problem for a later time. As the newer paint deteriorates, lead dust is again released. The only ways to deal with lead dust are to strip off the old paint and start again, or periodically pick up the lead dust with a special HEPA vacuum. Make sure your home inspector tests for lead paint if the home you are buying was constructed before 1978.

Radon Gas: Radon is an invisible and odorless gas, and has caused health hazards in lab animals. It’s a natural by-product of the breakdown of uranium in the ground, and is found in basements, especially in homes near lakes.

A hundred years ago, homes normally had a high amount of outside air circulation in them… cracks around window frames and doors, chimneys, etc. Most homes were heated with wood or coal, both of which necessitate a good air flow. Under these conditions, radon is not a major problem.

But newer homes or renovated older homes are extremely well-insulated for energy conservation and efficiency. Radon may be a problem in this case. The gas seeps up through the ground in the basement, even through concrete, and then gets trapped in the basement. Radon gas is heavier than air, so it stays in the basement; but residents will inhale it whenever they’re in the basement..

Testing for radon is simple, and if a high level is registered, mitigation systems are available for below $1,000.00.

Water Testing: Water quality is a real issue in Ohio if the property uses a well. In many agricultural areas, well water is no longer drinkable because of run-off from crop fields. It’s still safe for bathing and laundry in most cases.

Cities regularly add sanitizing chemicals to keep their water supply safe, but the municipalities only test their water at their reservoirs and holding tanks. Once the water leaves the water treatment plant, it passes through many pipes to get to each home, and some of these pipes are old and deteriorating.

Therefore, each property that uses well water should be tested for water quality to determine if some sort of filtration system is required for safe use. Most lenders now require that water is tested for bacteria, but it should also be tested for lead and other contaminants.

Lead Paint: Lead paint was prohibited in the United States in 1975. That means there are a lot of homes that are still covered in lead-based paint. Housing authorities place the actual figure at somewhere around 75%. Children and pets are particularly susceptible, and lead poisoning is known to cause learning disabilities and attention-deficit disorder.

Conventional wisdom used to say that lead poisoning was only possible if a child ingested chips of peeling paint. It turns out, though, that as lead paint decomposes, it releases a fine, invisible dust that can’t be picked up by conventional vacuum cleaners because the particles are so small that they easily pass through filters and vacuum cleaner bags.

Lead paint can be sealed by painting over it, but this only puts off the problem for a later time. As the newer paint deteriorates, lead dust is again released. The only ways to deal with lead dust are to strip off the old paint and start again, or periodically pick up the lead dust with a special HEPA vacuum. Make sure your home inspector tests for lead paint if the home you are buying was constructed before 1978.

Mold & Mildew: Mold & mildew are the leading cause of allergies in the home. They are often found in damp or wet areas of the home, including basements, crawl spaces, laundry rooms, bathrooms and HVAC ductwork. Most mold is harmless and occurs naturally. However, if you find black mold in your house, consider serious mitigation.

Call Susanne today at 614-975-9650 to discuss how to insure that the home of your dreams has a healthy environment.