Environmental Testing – EPA Testing Before Purchasing a Home
The purpose
of home EPA testing is to discover if there are any
hazardous materials in or around a house. It includes both home air quality
testing and soil testing, and it can provide homeowners and residents with the
information they need to create a cleaner environment, protecting themselves
and others from common health hazards.
Why Home
Inspection Tests Matter
If you’ve bought or sold a home before, you’ve probably
heard advice about having the home inspected. Home inspectors look for damage
in the home.
As a seller, this information is useful because it could
pinpoint problems. By fixing these issues, you can demand a higher price for
your home.
For buyers, a home inspection is even more important. It
could uncover costly problems the current owners weren’t aware of or were
trying to cover up. If you buy a home without having it inspected, you assume
responsibility for these issues.
Home inspection testing can help you make a better buying
decision. It could also help you negotiate the price of the home.
Look
Outside the Home Too
As mentioned, some homes may still have lead issues. The
hookups between the house and municipal water supplies could also still have
lead in them.
Lead can also leach into the ground, along with other
contaminants. If you’re buying a home with a yard, it’s a good idea to have the
outdoors inspected too.
Who
Should Inspect the Home?
If you want to have your home tested, make sure the
inspector you hire can perform environmental tests. Not all home inspectors
have the right licensing
for these tests.
What Does
An Environmental Test Do?
1. Checks For Lead
Before lead was known to be dangerous, it was used to paint
a lot of homes. Home paint stopped using lead base in 1978, but in many cases,
traces of the substance still remain. This can be especially hazardous to
children, so having testing done is important.
2. Tests For Asbestos
Asbestos is another toxic substance that was previously used
in home building materials. While asbestos isn’t dangerous until it becomes
airborne, it is definitely necessary to have your home tested before doing any
renovations or repairs.
3. Measures Radon Gas Levels
Not all inspectors are always equipped to test for radon
gas, so make sure that your inspector is when coming to do environmental tests.
Certain small levels of radon gas are normal, but it’s important to make sure
that your levels are normal and meet the requirements from the Environmental
Protection Agency.
Identifying
Environmental Hazards
An EPA test might include everything from air and soil testing to water testing, looking for common hazards that can occur naturally or result from outdated or unsafe construction materials. One of the threats that this testing is looking for is radon.
Radon Testing
Radon occurs naturally as uranium breaks down in the ground, and it seeps up into homes as a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. It is one of the leading causes of lung cancer in the United States, and it can occur in almost any geographic location.
Water Testing
Not only can radon circulate in the air, but it can also
contaminate water supplies. Wells and storage tanks run a particular risk,
though it can also seep into pipes. Of course, well water presents many other
risks because it filters through the ground.
As this water moves through soil, materials that are present in the ground can dissolve into the water and become contaminants. Common contaminants in soil include bacteria, arsenic and lead.
Lead Testing
Lead often exists in older homes with lead-based paints, and it can occur naturally. As homeowners and residents are exposed to lead, it accumulates in the body and becomes toxic to various organs and tissues. Lead paint is a particular risk as children can ingest the chips and flakes.
Mold Testing
Mold is another common risk, growing in places inside homes where there is high moisture content, water seepage or leaks. Mold spores get into the air, and when breathed, they can cause respiratory problems or inflame pre-existing conditions, like asthma and allergies.
These are just a few of the major contaminants that an EPA
test can uncover. MD Mold Testing in Maryland can give homeowners the peace of
mind of knowing that their living space is safe and healthy, as well as the
information to know when there are problems that must be addressed.
Home Air
Quality Testing In Maryland
MD Mold Testing in Maryland offers reliable home EPA testing
and home air quality testing that can identify potential problems for
homeowners. For more information about our services, Call Us At 301-717-1454 or
fill out a contact form
on our website!
