Beyond an Inspection :. NC Pittsboro: Cindy Brudvik Davis - RE/MAX Southern Advantage Pittsboro, Chatham County NC, Pittsboro NC

What You Should Know Beyond a Home Inspection

Things are not always what they appear to be. And in a home that has potentially hazardous hidden secrets, the unknown can harm you and your family. That's why you shouldn't focus solely on the actual structure of a home, but also on environmental issues like radon gas, mold, harmful water penetration and drinking water concerns.

Radon: Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is invisible and odorless and which permeates through soil. Any type home is at risk for high levels of radon gas, including homes with slab or crawlspace foundations. Basement homes can have high levels as the soil excavation process can open up "pockets" of radon gas.

The radon gas levels can even vary between adjoining homes. Radon gas can be found in schools and commercial property as well. Generally speaking, any structure up to the third floor should be tested for radon.

Radon gas can enter a structure through cracks in solid floors, construction joints, cracks in walls, and gaps around service pipes, cavities in walls and through the water supply. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly recommends that any property which tests high for radon in the air should also have a radon gas water test.

Radon gas is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers.

High levels of radon gas can be remedied through a mitigation system, which can reduce the levels by up to 99 percent. On a national average one out of 15 homes have high levels of radon gas and the only way to determine if it is present is through testing.

Mold: Mold is usually present in a variety of locations throughout the home. Large quantities of mold can cause a range of health-related problems when inhaled, touched or from eating mold-contaminated foods. Most at risk are infants, the elderly, immune-compromised individuals and those with a history of asthma.

Mold testing should be considered in homes that have had or currently have flooding, leaking pipes, leaking roofs, or water intrusion problems in the crawlspace or basement.

In North Carolina, home inspectors are not required to report on mold or mildew growth; however, diligent inspectors should report on abnormal or harmful water penetration into the home or inadequate ventilation in certain areas of the home such as the attic, crawlspace and bathrooms. And don't forget that moisture issues can be found in new homes as well as older homes.

Water Analysis: Water quality is another environmental issue of which buyers need to be aware. If the home has a private well water system, water testing is strongly recommended to ensure that the drinking water is safe.

One of the most commonly tested indicators of water quality is coliform bacteria. Some bacteria, such as strains of E. coli, indicate that sewage may be infiltrating the water supply and can cause gastrointestinal disorders, skin infections and sickness, especially in the elderly and children.

Other tests should be for chemicals like nitrates and nitrites. These chemicals are commonly used in agricultural fertilizers. Since they are highly water-soluble and do not evaporate, they have a great potential to enter and pollute the water supply. This is especially true in historically agricultural areas.

When a new baby is expected in a household it's a good idea to test for nitrate/nitrite early in the pregnancy, before bringing an infant home and again during the first six months of the baby's life.

In any water system if household plumbing contains lead pipes, fittings or solder joints, testing for the presence of lead is also a good idea. If plumbing fixtures and laundry become stained, test for iron, manganese and copper.

All of these environmental issues are normally offered as an ancillary service to the general home inspection. Always be sure to personally consult with our home inspector about how to best protect your family in getting the most out of that inspection.

Source: Ed Harrington, owner of the AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service franchise for the Triangle area.

Cindy Brudvik Davis, RE/MAX Southern Advantage, a full service real estate agent in Pittsboro, Chatham County, will work on your behalf to actualize your real estate and home ownership goals in the following NC Triangle towns and communities:

Apex (Chatham and Wake Counties)

Carrboro (Orange County)

Cary (Chatham and Wake Counties)

Chapel Hill (Chatham and Orange Counties)

Fearrington Village (Pittsboro in NE Chatham County)

Governor's Club (Chapel Hill, Chatham County)

Graham (Southern Alamance County)

Holly Springs (Wake County)

Morrisville (Wake County)

Pittsboro (Chatham County)

Raleigh and North Raleigh (Wake County)

RTP (Research Triangle Park)