Services and Resources
Radon testing
According to the EPA radon exposure is estimated to cause thousands of lung cancer deaths a year. Radon comes from the natural but radioactive breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and can get into the air you breathe.
Radon is an invisible and odorless gas and testing is the only way to detect it.
- Testing indoor air for radon: We recommend this testing to almost all of our clients. We follow the EPA recommended testing protocols. The EPA recommends that homes found to have indoor air radon levels above 4 pCi/L be mitigated. The good news is that mitigation can reduce the radon level in a home by up to 99%, which means that even homes found to have extremely high radon levels can be effectively treated to bring the radon level well below the EPA recommended max of 4 pCi/L.
- Testing well water for Radon: Radon can also be present in private well water supplies and its presence poses an inhalation and ingestion risk. Research has shown that the risk of lung cancer from breathing radon in air is much larger than risk of stomach cancer from swallowing water with radon in it. Most of the risk from radon in water comes from radon released into the air during household water usage. If the well water is found to have elevated radon levels, there are 2 ways it can be fixed. A point-of-entry treatment can be installed to effectively remove radon from the water before it enters the home, or a point-of-use treatment device can be installed to remove radon from the water at the tap. Radon testing of well water is not typically requested in the Hudson Valley, but it is a service we offer if requested.
- If you would like additional information about radon testing and mitigation we suggest reading the EPA publication “A Citizens Guide to Radon” which can be found on the EPA’s website using the following link: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
Well Water Quality Testing
We offer several types of water quality testing which are described in detail below.
The most common water quality test we conduct is a bacteria test, but some mortgage loans require a FHA/HUD test.
The testwell test is required for real estate transactions in East Fishkill and Hopewell Junction.
- Bacteria test: Tests well water for the presence of Coliform and E. Coli bacteria. This our basic and mostly commonly performed well water test.
- FHA/HUD: Tests well water for the presence of Coliform and E. Coli bacteria. Alkalinity, hardness (calcium/magnesium), iron, manganese, lead, nitrate, nitrite, pH, sodium, and turbidity are also measured.
- Testwell: Tests well water for the presence of Coliform and E. Coli bacteria. Alkalinity, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chloride, chromium, cyanide, hardness, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, nitrate, nitrite, pH, principal organic compounds including MTBE, selenium, sodium, sulfate, thallium, and turbidity are also measured.
- Well load testing: The goal of a well load test is to determine that the well has enough capacity to support normal household water usage. The water flow rate is measured and the water volume used is dependent on the size of the home. We recommend this test for all homes with a well installed.
- Septic dye testing: A septic dye test consists of adding dye to the drainage system in a home and then running a volume of water dependent on the size of the home. This is not a comprehensive test, but it is possible to find gross failures of septic systems using this test methodology. We always recommend having the septic tank pumped and inspected before taking ownership of the home.
Wood destroying insect inspections
As part of a typical inspection we look for evidence of wood destroying insects such as termites and powder post beetles. However many mortgage lenders require a specific NPMA-33 (National Pest Management Association) inspection. It is a good idea to ask your lender before the inspection what additional inspections or testing they require. 1st Call Home Inspections can provide this service when needed.
Pool and Spa Inspections
Pools and spas (hot tubs) are inspected for structural, functional, and safety issues.
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