The testing requirements for conducting a radon test during a real estate purchase are different than those for a current home owner. Home buyers and seller should become familiar with them to ensure they are getting accurate test results.

KEY POINTS

• • A radon test only takes 48 hours, only after 12 hours of closed house conditions have been met. Otherwise the total testing time takes 60 hours to 96 hours depending on the device being used. Passive non-electronic devices take 96 hours, not 48.
  • A device cannot be placed in a crawlspace, bathroom kitchen or laundry room.
    The device cannot be moved during a radon test, so if the device was placed on a door, the tester is wrong and the home seller could pay for an unnecessary radon system, or the home buyer may by a home with high radon thinking its low.
  • The home must be kept at a comfortable temperature the entire time. Around 68-75 in winter and 68-75 in the summer.
  • Doors can be used normally, but you can’t move out during a radon test.
  • All windows must remain closed the entire testing period.

Radon In Water Testing

Private wells can add radon gas to the interior environment every time water is drawn from the system. It takes 10,000 pCi/L to add 1.0 pCi/L to the air. Testing is the only way to know what the radon level is at in any home or building and radon systems do fail and they need tested just like the kitchen stove. The difference, the stove failure is not the second leading cause of lung cancer in the USA. So why test the stove if you’re not going to test for radon or the existing radon system?

The home buyer purchase contract may include and require the seller to pay for a water test and the mortgage company may also be requiring a water test. However, that test typically only covers Coliform, fecal bacteria. What about all the other stuff that could be in the water source for the home your about to buy?
Our water test checks for 7 different contaminates and the levels of 4 other factors that determine water quality. At only $75.00 when added to the home inspection it just makes since even if the seller is having one done too.

Better testing service for better water quality.

Why would a home buyer pay for a WDO Wood Destroying Organism inspection if the seller has to get one done anyway? I have been present during many WDO inspections from pest control companies and it blows my mind that they only spend around 30 minutes walking around the home and I have never seen one get in a crawlspace or an attic.

While I am there conducting your home inspection I can also evaluate the property for WDO damage and activity and provide you with not just a NPMA-33 Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report, but include digital pictures in your report too.

Did you know that home inspectors are not required to report on any type of insects, termites or other during a home inspection? With some pest control companies taking a laxed approach to this important inspection and no requirements for home inspectors to report insect damage and any activity it’s important to know who you are hiring.

Home inspectors can only report what they can see, the main sewer line is below the ground and therefore without a sewer scope during a home buyer, home inspection the main sewer line is not evaluated.

The unfortunate part is a home inspector can only run so much water down the drain lines during the home inspection. Even flushing the toilets many times, running the sink and showers for an extended period of time may not be enough water to fill the main sewer line.

The only way to ensure the sewer line is in good working order is a sewer scope and with the cost of $75.00 when included with a home inspection, even the sewer scope does not show any issues at least you know. Even PVC drain lines can have issues so just getting a $75.00 sewer scope on an old home can have drastic consequences.