LEARNING CENTER

WATER QUALITY:
How is your water provided?
PUBLIC SUPPLY: 
Water is provided through a water company, and you pay a fee for service.  This could be provided through a large supply of water (reservoir, etc.), a water tank, treatment system, or even community wells.  In most areas, the water provider is obligated to test and file reports on the water quality on a regulated basis.

SHALLOW WELL:
These are wells that are usually no deeper than 25-30 feet, lined with either concrete tiles (approx. 3' in diameter) or stone.  The top is usually made of concrete, or the entire well may be enclosed within a well house. 

DRILLED WELL:
It is easy to pick out a drilled well, as there is usually a 6" to 8" diameter pipe sticking out of the ground, with a metal well cap. Sometimes though, the drilled well access is below the surface of the ground, and is not visible.  Drilled wells can go down hundreds of feet.

If the home you are buying is served by a private well, it is highly recommended that you have a basic water quality test done.

The Basic Water Profile will determine if your water is safe to drink, testing for:
  • Bacteria (both coliform and e-coli)
  • Nitrates and nitrites (often found on old farmland from fertilizers)
  • Color
  • Odor
  • turbidity (sediment in water)
  • pH level (should fall between 6.4 and 10.0)
  • iron
  • manganese
  • sodium
Other water tests are also available, including testing for the presence of uranium, arsenic, Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC's - gas, petroleum, etc.), lead, pesticides, etc.  There are many different types of water testing, but the most common would be the Basic Water Profile. 

To find out more about SAFE DRINKING WATER, visit this website:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/index2.html
RADON IN AIR:
Radon is a naturally occuring gas that is odorless, colorless and tasteless, but can concentrate in homes at levels that are considered harmful to health.  Radon is caused by decaying uranium beneath the earth's surface, which is constantly permeating up into the atmosphere. The gas can seep into enclosed spaces through large or small cracks and porous surfaces.  Radon is considered the second leading cause of lung cancer, but can be easily mitigated with a ventilation system.  The only way to know if your home has radon is to test for it.  Testing for radon in air is highly recommended when purchasing a home.

You can find out much more about radon at the following website:
http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html
RADON IN WATER:
There is ongoing debate about the impact of radon in water. Similar to radon in air, the only way to determine if there is radon in your water is by conducting a test. Some individuals believe that radon in water is more hazardous than radon in air, but our recommendation is to learn more about it through the following link:
http://www.epa.gov/radon/rnwater.html

By reading up on radon in drinking water, Educating yourself on radon in drinking water can assist you in deciding whether or not it poses a health threat to you and your family. Installing a system can also help reduce radon in drinking water to an acceptable level. It's important to note that the existence of radon in water could potentially become an issue when selling your home, even if many people do not test for it. Therefore, some individuals choose to conduct a test for radon in water in order to avoid any complications during the sale. 
LEAD PAINT:
If you are considering buying a home that predates 1978, it's important to be aware of the potential for lead in the paint. A lead paint test is the most reliable way to determine the amount and location of lead paint. This type of specialized test is carried out by a technician using an XRF gun, which can penetrate all paint layers on a surface to detect the presence of lead. The technician will test multiple locations in each room and provide a computerized report. If lead-based paint is found, you can then determine what remediation options are best for your specific needs.

For more information on lead-based paint and its removal, visit the website:
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Are you worried about the air quality in your home? What are the factors that would prompt you to conduct an air quality test, and what elements are they testing for?

*  Have you noticed an unpleasant, musty odor that lingers in your home despite thorough cleaning efforts?
*  Do you suffer from frequent colds or persistent coughs?
*  Does your basement or home experience high humidity, or does the basement or crawl space have a dirt or partially dirt floor?
*  Has your home suffered from water damage in the past?
*  Do you have any sensitivities to allergens or mold, or do you suspect that mold is growing in your home?

Any of these factors would be valid reasons to perform an indoor air quality test. Air testing would capture spores, allergens and other particulates present in the air throughout your home. Tape or swab testing involves gathering visible samples from surfaces for analysis. All samples are sent to a specialized laboratory for identification. Once analyzed, the system compares indoor and outdoor samples and generates a Mold Elevation Level indicator (and a Mold Growth indicator, in the case of surface samples). The report generated includes several actual images from the sample, as well as recommendations for the homeowner. 
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Here is a great resource page that provides information about common pollutants, asthma triggers, carbon monoxide poisoning and more that indoor toxins can produce. Visit ConsumerNotice.org.  

Then, give us a call and we can discuss the benefits of indoor air quality testing for your family.