Invisible threats can affect your family’s health and your property’s value long before they’re visible. Our environmental inspections identify what you can’t see.
Note: While our inspections can alert you to possible problems, a basic home inspection is not a substitute for specialized contaminant testing. We can refer you to qualified specialists when needed.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral fiber widely used in building materials for insulation and fire resistance. When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed during repair, remodeling, or demolition, microscopic fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs — significantly increasing the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
Homes built between 1930 and 1950 are most likely to contain asbestos insulation. If you plan to remodel or have damaged materials, a professional inspection before work begins is essential.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Methamphetamine
Meth labs can be set up anywhere — homes, motel rooms, vehicles, or rural properties. Each pound of manufactured methamphetamine generates up to five pounds of toxic waste that can seep into soil, walls, and groundwater. The manufacturing process also produces toxic fumes and highly explosive gases that contaminate the structure long after the lab is gone.
If a property was previously used as a meth lab, professional remediation is required before it is safe to occupy. We offer inspections to determine whether a property needs remediation testing.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Radon
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas produced by the natural decay of uranium in soil and rock. It seeps into homes through foundations and accumulates to dangerous concentrations indoors. The EPA recommends taking action at levels above 4 pCi/l — roughly 1 in 15 U.S. homes exceeds this threshold.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, responsible for an estimated 15,000–22,000 deaths annually. Both the U.S. Surgeon General and the EPA recommend all homes be tested. The good news: elevated levels can be effectively and affordably remediated.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mold
Mold can grow on virtually any organic surface — wood, paper, carpet, insulation — wherever moisture is present. While many molds are not dangerous to healthy adults, prolonged exposure can worsen asthma, trigger allergies, and cause respiratory problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
When moldy material is disturbed, spores become airborne and spread. Controlling moisture is the most effective prevention. For minor mold, cleaning and fixing the moisture source is sufficient; extensive contamination requires a professional abatement company.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Lead
Lead is a highly toxic metal whose health effects range from learning disabilities and behavioral problems to seizures and death. Children under age 6 are most at risk. Primary exposure sources are deteriorating lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust, and soil near older structures.
Homes built before 1978 likely contain lead-based paint; those built before 1986 may have lead pipes, joints, and solder. If your home was built before 1978, or if you are planning any remodeling or renovation work, a lead inspection is strongly recommended before work begins.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
