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Environmental Inspection
CEPA - Certified Environmental Property Audits
As an affiliate of Certified Building
Inspectors, CEPA provides Environmental Phase One Assessments, Transaction Screenings, Mold, Radon, Lead, or Asbestos testing.
Is Mold an issue in your home?
Mold is a form of environmental hazard for home buyers & sellers. Moisture damage can get into your house in many ways: flooding, leaky roofs, basement walls, plumbing leaks, burst pipes, even rain or sprinkler water against the house.
Sometimes, you can see discoloration on the walls or ceiling, or you see your floors have warped. Maybe, there is a musty odor in certain rooms of the house or perhaps condensation on the walls.
Unwanted water intrusions can lead to mold growth and if the growth is extensive, some people may develop allergies or other health problems. Left unchecked, mold growth can damage furnishings, clothes and shoes, as well as the structural elements in your home or property.
It is generally recognized that exposure to indoor mold is not healthy for anyone. CEPA can help locate the source of the water intrusion and the mold growth that has resulted from it.
What is Radon?
Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water.
The release of this radioactive gas enters the air you breathe, causing a potential health risk to you and your family.
Radon gas can be found just about everywhere. It has become a more widespread problem,
however, with the improvement of "Energy Efficient" homes. As we seal up our
homes with more insulation and better windows and doors, we also seal in the radon
gas. It can seep into any type of building -- homes, offices, and even schools -- through the concrete flooring and can build up to high levels.
What you should know about Radon?
Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas. You cannot see radon and you cannot smell it or taste it, but it may be a problem in your home. This is because when you breathe air-containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
You should test for radon. Testing is the only way to find out about your home's radon level. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing of all homes below the third floor for radon.
You can fix a radon problem. If you find that you have high radon levels, there are ways to fix a radon problem. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
If you are buying a home. EPA recommends that you obtain the radon level in the home you are considering buying. An EPA publication "The Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide" is available through most State Health Departments or Regional EPA offices listed in your local phone book. EPA also recommends that you use a certified or state licensed radon tester to perform the test. If elevated levels are found it is recommended that these levels be reduced. In most cases, a professional can accomplish this at reasonable cost or homeowner installed mitigation system that adheres to the EPA's approved methods for reduction of radon in a residential structure.
What are the Risk Factors?
The EPA, Surgeon General and The Center for Disease Control, have all agreed that continued exposure to Radon gas can cause lung cancer.
In fact, their position on the matter is that all homes should be tested for radon gas exposure, and all homes testing over 4 pCi/L should be fixed.
How Does Radon Enter the Home?
Typically the air pressure inside your home is lower than the pressure in the soil around your home's foundation.
Due to this difference, your house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon gas in through foundation cracks and other openings of your home.
Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the air in your home when water is used for showering and other household uses.
CEPA can help identify radon intrusion and suggest whether remediation is recommended or not required.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a tiny fiber that was used in the past primarily as insulation.
It was also added to some building materials to provide added strength and flame
resistance. The problem with asbestos is that it has been shown to cause lung cancer
and mesothelioma in individuals that were exposed to large amounts of free-floating
asbestos fibers in the air. These conditions typically did not become apparent until
around 30 years after the exposure. Because of the health hazards of asbestos fibers,
its use in insulation and paint was banned in the 1970’s.
What you need to know
Homes built prior to the 1970’s could contain asbestos in insulation,
plumbing, paint, wall joint compound, and other building materials. However, as
long as the materials are in good condition, they pose no danger. Asbestos is only
a threat if the fibers are released into the air and can be inhaled. Renovations
or demolitions of materials containing asbestos can release the fibers into the
air. Therefore, the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
requires the owner of any property containing asbestos building materials to get
an asbestos inspection prior to any demolitions or renovations of that property.
How can asbestos be removed?
If your home contains asbestos, you have two options:
removal of the material or sealing the material to prevent it from releasing fibers.
Either option requires the help of a trained professional. How do I know if my home
contains asbestos? If you suspect your home or a home you are considering buying
may contain asbestos, it’s vital you get a thorough inspection by a qualified professional.
Asbestos can only be detected by a special microscope. Our inspectors are trained
in asbestos detection and will take samples from your home for further analysis.
Please contact our office for further information.
Certified Environmental
Property Audits provides peace of mind!
Let CEPA provide you with peace of mind
by testing your next purchase for Mold, Radon, Lead, or Asbestos. For Commercial
Buildings, we provide Environmental Phase One Assessments, Transaction Screenings,
and field testing.
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