WELL WATER TESTING

Well Construction & Maintenance

Correct well construction together with continued maintenance are essential for the safety of private drinking water wells. Information on proper well construction can be found with the water-well contractor licensing agency, local health department, or local water system professionals.

Placement and construction of new wells must meet state and local regulations and may be surveyed by the local health department. There are strict rules about locating drinking water wells near drain fields, livestock and septic tanks. The locations of wells should be such, that rainwater flows away from it. Bacteria and chemicals on the land’s surface may be picked up by rainwater and transferred to the well, resulting in contamination.

Private wells are not protected by the Safe Water Drinking Act as the EPA’s rules only apply to public drinking water systems. Primary responsibility lies with the individual well owners to ensure the safety of the water drawn from their wells. The government’s health protections for water systems complies with federal and state regulations of frequent analysis, testing and reporting of results and does not benefit private household wells.

3 Reasons You Should Test Your Well Water

Are you wondering whether or not to get your water tested? Here are a few reasons:

1. Pregnant women, nursing women, infants, and elderly are more susceptible to illness and, therefore, should avoid suspicious water sources.

2. Bad water worsens certain health issues. For example, the bacteria found in unfiltered water can exacerbate gastrointestinal problems.

3. Chemicals and contaminants can seep in. Water sources located near farms, factories and waste disposal sites may become contaminated with dangerous pollutants.

Well Water Testing

We can help you discover the facts about the quality of your well water. Our inspectors can test your water for bacteria and nitrates as well as any other contaminants. We will provide you with the information you need to keep your family safe.

Water Testing

You rely on water for hundreds of uses each day. It’s important to know that it’s safe. You immerse your body in water when you bathe. You inhale steam when you shower and you give water to your pets. Water quenches your thirst and you use it to prepare even the simplest meals. If your water supply contains harmful contaminants, you need to know so you can take steps to eliminate the problem.

water testing service helps you feel more confident about selling or buying a home. If you’re preparing to market your home, you can take steps to eliminate any problems we find. If you’ve made an offer on a home, your water potability results can help you decide whether or not you should go through with the deal.

Comprehensive Water Testing

inspector takes samples at your home and delivers them to a certified testing lab for analysis. Depending on a home’s water source, the water may be subject to a number of different contaminants. For more meaningful results, we tailor our testing to the source.

City Source Water Testing

Basic profile test – This test panel includes results for coliform E.coli bacteria, chlorine, chloride, fluoride, nitrite-N, nitrate-N, pH, odor, color, turbidity, calcium, magnesium, total hardness, iron, manganese, sodium, sulfate, and copper.

Lead – The lead in a home’s water supply may be due to plumbing or water lines. Because it’s odorless, colorless, and tasteless, testing is the only way to detect lead. Exposure may cause physical and developmental problems.

Well Water Testing

Basic profile

Lead

Arsenic – High arsenic levels in a well water supply can be a result of drilling a well through bedrock. Arsenic is a known carcinogen with no smell or taste. Testing is the only way to determine its presence.

Uranium –  Deep bedrock wells are susceptible to contamination by naturally occurring uranium. Uranium can cause kidney damage and testing is the only way to determine if well water is uranium free.

Radon – Radon is a radioactive gas which occurs naturally in local soil and rock. It’s a known contributing factor to lung cancer. As its colorless, odorless, and tasteless, testing is the only way to confirm radon in a water supply.

Volatile Organic Compounds – VOCs in water may contain carbon, hydrogen, and other elements. You may notice an odor in the air as they vaporize. VOCs may cause a wide range of adverse health effects.

Water Testing

For the public’s protection, Congress enacted the Clean Water Drinking Act in 1974 and strengthened it in 1986, setting minimum water quality standards for most homeowners. Unfortunately, however, there is no guarantee that all utilities comply with the regulations.

Enforcement is difficult on national, state and local levels; not all known contaminants are on the list; and all testing isn’t necessarily accurate. Having your water tested will let you know if there is lead in it or if it contains other contaminants. If lead levels are greater than 15 parts per billion (ppb), action is highly recommended. Testing is the only way to tell if there are harmful levels of lead or other contaminants in your drinking water.

YOU SHOULD CONSIDER TESTING YOUR WATER IF:

-You use water from a private well. Germs and chemicals can get into your well water and contaminate it in different ways. Some germs and chemicals occur naturally. Heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and cadmium are naturally found in rocks and soil and sometimes seep into ground water whichs ends up inside your well water. Other contaminants come from human and animal waste resulting from polluted storm water runoff, agricultural runoff, flooded sewers, or individual septic systems that are not working properly and will seep into your well water. I’d want to know my drinking water is safe, so testing on it an annual basis will keep you and your family from becoming sick from your well water.

-Your home has lead pipes (pipes are a dull gray color, soft enough to be scratched with a knife or key). Your home inspection report will always indicate the type of pipes that are supplying your water.

-Your home has older copper plumbing and / or chrome-plated or brass fixtures.

-You see signs of corrosion from your water (frequent leaks, rust-colored water, stained sinks, dishes or laundry).

Home Inspections will gladly draw a sample of your tap water and have our independent certified lab analyze your water for any unhealthy levels of contaminants. I will contact you with the water test results within two days. (Pricing does vary. Simply click “Optional Services”, then scroll down to “Water Quality Analysis” to view testing levels and pricing).

If (after testing) you find that the levels of any contaminants are high, then you need to take action immediately. Depending on the pollutants involved, your next steps may vary. You may need to install a water treatment device, such as a reverse osmosis system, a distillation system, an aeration system or an activated carbon filter

Drinking Water Testing Advice

Should You Have Your Water Tested? The question of whether or not to have your water tested is a serious one that concerns the health of you and your family.

Your water should be safe to drink and acceptable for all other household uses. in addition to illness, a variety of less serious problems such as taste, color, odor and staining of clothes or fixtures are symptoms of water quality problems. Even water that appears problem-free may not necessarily be safe or acceptable.

Not everyone needs to test their water and it is impractical and unnecessary to test for all possible contaminants. This fact sheet provides a few guidelines for deciding whether or not to have your water tested, and if so, what tests would be appropriate for your situation. Your Cooperative Extension agent can offer you further assistance and information.

Supplies, Should You Test Your Municipal Water Supply?

Many homeowners get water simply by turning on the faucet and making a monthly payment to a municipal water system. others provide their own water. Your water supply is either public (you and others are connected to the same water system) or private (you supply your own water). Public water systems draw water from rivers, reservoirs, springs or ground water wells. Most private drinking water comes from wells, though springs and ponds are sometimes used.

If your water comes from a public or municipal water system your water is regularly tested for contaminants regulated by Federal and state standards, such as pathogens, radioactive elements and certain toxic chemicals.

Watch out: However, some public water supplies may have water quality problems caused by inadequate municipal water treatment facilities or distribution systems. For example, at PUBLIC MUNICIPAL WATER TESTS we include research citations describing Cryptosporidium and Giardia contaminants found in some public water supplies in various countries.

Some rural water supply districts do not have enough money to hire trained specialists or to immediately comply with expanding government requirements. In addition, corrosive water or deteriorating pipes in the house may add contaminants to municipal drinking water after it enters your home.

Well Water Testing

Water tapped by a private well is often of the highest quality. When buying a home with a private well, your home inspection should include a water quality test. Many tests are available. If a test item is not on the list of commonly used test lists we can put you in contact directly with the lab for custom testing combinations

Drinking Water Test Kits

​FHA/VA ( Epa Parameters)

Bacteria, E. coli, pH, Iron, 1st Draw Lead, 2nd Draw Lead, MBAS, Total Solids, Nitrate/Nitrites

State of Delaware (includes County Complete) Bacteria, pH, Nitrate, Iron, Chloride

Chester County Complete Bacteria, Turbidity, Color, Odor Nitrate/Nitrite, Iron, Manganese, Chloride, MBAS

Homeowners Basic Total Coliform Bacteria, Nitrate, pH, Hardness

Homeowners Special Total Coliform Bacteria, pH, Nitrate, Hardness, Iron, Manganese

Homeowners Plus Total Coliform Bacteria, pH, Nitrate, Hardness, Iron, Manganese, 1st Draw Lead, 2nd Draw Lead

Homeowners Deluxe Bacteria – total coliform/colilert, Lead, pH, Nitrate, Surfactants  (MBAS), Chloride, Iron, Copper, Hardness, Turbidity, Volatiles scan

TEST IMPORTANCE

Turbidity:  Provides a standard means for measuring dirtiness of water.

Color:  Color in water results from the presence of metals, organic matter, and other dissolved or suspended materials.

Odor:  Odor is recognized as a quality factor affecting the acceptability of drinking water (and foods prepared with it).

PH:  Sometimes used in fresh water as the indicator of corrosiveness.  Dissolved carbon dioxide often causes water to become a mild acid which causes degradation of plumbing systems and fixtures, pH of 7 is considered neutral, less than 7 acids, above 7 alkalines.

Nitrate:  High levels of nitrates in water indicate biological wastes in the final stages of stabilization or run-off from heavily fertilized fields.  Drinking waters containing excessive amounts of nitrates can cause infant methemoglobinemia (blue babies).

Nitrite:  Nitrites are not often found in surface waters because they are readily oxidized to nitrates.  The presence of large quantities of nitrites indicates partially decomposed organic wastes in the water being tested.

Iron:  Iron in domestic water supply systems stains laundry and porcelain, causing more of a nuisance than a potential health hazard.

Manganese:  Occurs naturally in many areas.  Presents more of a usability problem than a health hazard.  Causes dark stains in plumbing systems and laundry.  Causes bad tastes and coats the interior of pipes and valves.

Chloride:  High chloride concentrations in water are not known to have toxic effects on human beings, though large amounts may act corrosively on metal pipes and be harmful to plant life.

Detergents:  Causing foaming problems. Does not usually occur naturally.  The most common source is domestic usage eg: wash water, drain fields, etc.

Hardness:  From the domestic standpoint, hard water consumes excessive quantities of soap, forming curds and depositing a film on hair, fabrics, and glassware.

Waters with a total hardness in the range of:

0 to 60 mg/l = soft

60 to 120 mg/l = medium hard

120 to 180 mg/l = hard

above 180 mg/l = very hard

Total Coliform:  This is the most common and basic test for health hazard bacteria contamination.  This test indicates the sanitary condition of a water supply Coliform Bacteria should not be present in a drinking water supply.  Results are given as the number of colonies per 100 ml of water. Acceptable levels are not more than 0 per 100 ml.

Fecal Coliform:  The fecal coliform test will differentiate between coliforms of fecal origin (intestines of warm-blooded animals) and coliforms from other sources.

How to Remediate Mold

Mold and mildew problems in your home are no laughing matter. For starters, mold is an indicator of another serious problem: excess moisture. Whether it’s a roof leak, poor attic ventilation, or moisture problems in other areas of the home (basements are common problem areas), excess moisture can cause a large array of building materials to warp, stain, crack, fail, and rot. Furthermore, once mold sets in, serious health concerns come into play.

Consider Hiring a Mold Remediation Contractor

If you have a mold problem in your home, be it black mold, green mold, white mold, or any other color, your first step is to pick up the phone and call a mold remediation contractor. These specialists are licensed by the state you live in and educated in the safest, most efficient ways to eliminate mold from your home. Never try to tackle a mold problem by your lonesome.

You Can’t Remove Mold until You’ve Fixed Your Moisture Problem

Mold remediation starts with fixing the source of your moisture problem. If you’re experiencing mold in your attic, then roof leaks or poor ventilation are your most likely causes. If you have mold problems elsewhere in the home, everything from leaking plumbing to a seeping foundation could be to blame. Whatever the cause of your moisture issue, you need to get it fixed as soon as possible. Your mold problem isn’t going to go away until you’ve addressed it, and you also risk serious structural and aesthetic damage to your home if you choose to ignore the problem.

Once your mold remediation contractor has identified and fixed the source of your moisture problem, they will then move on to removing the mold itself. The steps for mold remediation are the same, whether you’re dealing with black mold, green mold, or another variety.

Seal off the area. Mold remediation always requires that you begin by sealing off the area with plastic sheeting and tape before you perform any work. This keeps potentially dangerous mold spores contained in the work area itself, instead of distributing the mold throughout the home.

Wet vacuum. A wet vacuum will clean up any standing water and water soaked surfaces, as well as vacuum up mold itself. Never use a dry vacuum to remove mold, however, since a dry vacuum is the perfect vehicle for launching mold spores into the air.

Kill the mold using an approved fungicide applied with either a sprayer or fogger. Never use bleach, as it is ineffective at killing, or keeping away, mold problems.

Clean the area thoroughly. Clean the area using whatever means necessary. This may include scrubbing, scraping, cleaning up dust and debris with a HEPA vacuum, and even removing building materials, furniture, and anything else contaminated by mold. Any materials that are removed should be sealed in plastic bags and labeled before being disposed of.

Dry out the Area. Finally, be sure to dry out the area thoroughly by using fans, dehumidifiers, and father time. If you don’t dry it out completely before doing restoration work, you’re very likely to have mold resurface again shortly down the road.If you’ve got black mold, green mold, or any other type, call a mold remediation specialist as soon as possible. Remember, your home and your health are riding on it.

Tips On Hiring Mold Removal Services

Having mold in your home or workplace can be quite challenging. Mold is not only harmful to your health but will also lower your home’s value if not treated early enough. Experts suggest that you treat mold as soon as you notice and while it is still manageable. The health problems caused by mold usually come out as allergic reactions, causing illnesses such as asthma attacks, skin rashes and sneezing among other conditions. If you ever notice any mold in your home or office, you’ll need to call a professional mold removal service provider.

Mold removal involves the use of various products and tools to kill the parasite that brings about the spread. Without proper use of these products and tools, mold will usually come back. This is why it is important that you only hire a professional to handle your case.

Choosing a Professional Mold Removal Service

There are many mold remediation services to choose from and deciding which one to select can be confusing. A simple Google search will present you with countless mold removal companies operating in your area, making it even more difficult to separate the good from the not-so-good.

Experience and Reputation

The first thing you need to check when considering a potential mold removal service is an experience. It is essential that you only choose a company that has been operating for an extended period of time. You also need to ensure the company you choose has a good reputation among previous customers by reading reviews from various sources. Before treating your home, a reliable company will first carry out an inspection before formulating strategies that will both get rid of your current predicament and prevent farther problems down the road.

License and Insurance

Mold removal services must adhere to strict rules and regulations before they are handed a license to run their business. Proof of license, therefore, indicates professionalism and you’ll have more confidence in trusting your home to a licensed professional. Workers compensation insurance is an insurance policy that covers workers in case they get injured while working at your home. This type of cover will protect you from financial responsibility in case one or more workers get into accidents while at your premise.

Residential & Commercial Mold Prevention Tips

For large moldy drywall jobs, we recommend that you contact a mold remediation professional to ensure the moldy sheetrock is properly removed to avoid cross contamination. They can also ensure the water leak or condensation source is identified and fixed. Use our online mold remediation contractor directory to find a water damage mold remediation professional in your area.

First turn off your heat or air conditioning and close/seal vents in the damaged room. Close or seal doorways, too. Mold spores will get airborne when removing mold damaged sheetrock. So sealing the room is important.

For maximum safety, professionals will tell you to use a fan to vent air in the room directly to the outside of the home.

Professionals will also tell you to use an industrial HEPA filter vacuum on the mold damaged surfaces to prevent mold spores from getting airborn during the moldy drywall removal process. We suggest using our Endurance BioBarrier Mold Prevention Spray on these moldy surfaces before removing. Let the spray penetrate for 24 hours to eliminate the mold spores.

Protect yourself against mold allergy symptoms by using a P100 mask, rubber gloves, goggles, and a body suit. After removing water and mold damaged drywall, be sure to check for mold that may have spread to the insulation and studs, plus the opposite side drywall behind the insulation. You may need to remove moldy insulation and the drywall on opposite side behind the insulation.

Top Tips for Mould Removal and Prevention

Whether you own or rent a property, mould can be a huge problem. On the one hand a mould infestation can affect your quality of living – especially if you suffer from asthma; on the other hand if the mould occurs during your tenancy you may be expected to cover the cost of the cleaning. A common problem in flats, apartments, and maisonettes, mould can strike any property. As with most issues in life, prevention is the best cure, although there are many ways you can deal with an existing mould problem.

Dry clothes outside

Wet clothes can be a major reason for damp and mould developing. From just one load of washing, over 2 litres of moisture is released into the air! Drying clothes outside may not be practical for everyone, as not everyone has access to an outdoor drying area. If you do need to dry your clothes indoors, ensure a window is opened to provide the much-needed ventilation that may prevent damp developing. You can also look into products such as this ‘Moisture absorber’ which is a low-cost solution to deal with excessive moisture in the air.

Open a window and shut the door!

If you are doing something that will release a lot of steam into the room, close the door and open a window. This applies to boiling a kettle, having a shower/bath, and cooking. If you have an extractor fan then this can really help to reduce the moisture, but closing the door will prevent the moisture from spreading into the other rooms of your house. If you don’t have an extractor, be sure to open a window- especially in winter months where steam will condense on cool surfaces!

Furniture and Walls

Exterior walls are often slightly colder than interior walls and therefore more susceptible to damp and mould. Keep furniture away from these walls, instead placing them against interior walls. Another way to reduce your chances of mould is to leave a slight gap between all walls and furniture to leave room for air flow. If you have limited space, then try to regularly clean behind the furniture and ensure you dry the wall after you clean it.

Declutter

Overfilled cupboards are a breeding ground for mould as there isn’t much air-flow. Adopt the Japanese method by Marie Kondo, and declutter your life (and cupboards) for mould-free joy!

TIPS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A MOLD REMEDIATION COMPANY

Molds are silent intruders; they grow unnoticed in dark, moist and warm places or objects that are not used regularly, such as bags, shoes and other things made of leather. Cold and wet seasons are often the times when molds appear. The seven suggestions on how to choose a mold remediation company are: choose a remediation company wisely; examine the degree of infestation, count the cost of remediation, hire an expert, do research, seek advice, and compare and contrast services.

CHOOSE WISELY

The first thing you have to consider is to choose wisely. You have your property and money at stake, so be wise. Do not be fooled by appearances or offers of discounts and attractive offers. Trust your instincts and investigate.

EXAMINE THE DEGREE OF INFESTATION

Secondly, removing mold is not a DIY job. You need help in evaluating the condition of your residential or commercial unit. The bigger the place, the more mold problems could be hidden from your view. It takes an expert to examine the severity of the mold infestation and determine the proper treatment and cleaning.

COUNT THE COST OF REMEDIATION

Does your insurance cover some or all of the processes? ServiceMaster of Cobb works with your insurance company. Money is something that you have to be careful of especially when getting the services of a mold remediation company. You have to make sure that you get your money’s worth. This can be measured by the quality of their performance and products, the length of warranty, and consumer satisfaction

HIRE AN EXPERT

A professional mold remediation company will be able to make a thorough evaluation of your property after mold has grown within your premises. You have to choose a company offering mold removal Cartersville that can be trusted because their technicians are well-trained and equipped for every residential or commercial mold remediation and related concerns.

How to Find a Trustworthy Home Inspector

A home inspector will be evaluating the property that you’re interested in buying and it is important that you choose one who is reliable and trustworthy so that you can rest assured that your home inspection is carried out thoroughly. Here are a few tips on how to choose the best home inspection company

1. Ask for the Experience and Certificate of the Home Inspector

It is important to hire a person who has adequate knowledge and experience about home inspections. Since many states require home inspectors to be licensed, it is even better if you hire someone who has proper training and does this job full-time at a professional organization.

2. Ask Your Real-Estate Agent for a Reference

If you are buying a house through a real estate agent, it is convenient for you to hire a home inspector. All you have to do is to ask your agent to refer you to a trustworthy inspector and your work will be done. The reason we are encouraging you to talk to your agent is because most real estate agents interact with home inspectors on a regular basis. They know who the experts are and they are motivated to connect you with the most experienced professional.

3. Relevant Reports

Before hiring a company for your potential home to be inspected, you should ask them to show you sample reports so that you have an idea of the extent to which the home inspector will vet the house.

4. Read Reviews

The good thing about the digital age is that you have easy access to the reviews posted on websites. Independent review sites like Yelp and Google allow customers to write a review of a company based on their personal experience. This allows potential customers to choose the inspectors wisely.

Request a sample inspection report.

Home inspection reports can come in a lot of different formats, from walls of text to colorful reports with photographs. You will have an easier time reading the report if it is designed to be accessible. Any inspection company you are considering should be able to send you a sample report so you can see if the format works for you.

I would highly recommend selecting a home inspector who provides color photography of the issues they find. When it comes to home inspections, a picture is worth having. The link above shows the type of inspection report you should be looking for. Notice the vivid photos showing the issues accompanied by a description of the problem. Please note – I do not know Home Gauge as they are not in my market. This type of report, however, is what you should be looking for.

When communicating issues to the seller having pictures makes things so much easier. Sometimes it is tough for laymen to discern problems without being able to see exactly what the inspector is referencing.

Ask What You Get for the Price

Inspectors without specialized credentials typically charge around $300 to $1,000, depending on the home’s location and size, the inspector’s experience, and the scope of the inspection itself.

Some inspectors will add free services not covered by a basic inspection, such as using a drone to view the roof or placing an infrared camera on walls, ceilings, and floors to measure temperature differences that suggest the presence of damaging moisture. Others will charge extra for those services. Still others will refer you to an outside expert to do that work.

Be aware that you may have to pay extra for specialized tests that aren’t covered by the initial home inspection. Common risks that may need more testing include termites, radon, and mold.

4 Things That Fail A Home Inspection

One quick clarification: A home inspection isn’t necessarily a “pass” or “fail” test. It’s more about getting a description of the home’s physical condition and giving an assessment of what may need to be repaired or replaced in the home.

Ground sloping or draining toward the house.

In a perfect world, every lawn would have at least a 3% slope away from the home, which allows water to flow away from the home, preventing water damage. Even if the ground were graded correctly (for every 10 feet away from the foundation, the land should drop two to three inches), the house would settle, and the soil under the foundation may shift.

Problems with the foundation

Aside from water-wicking, the home inspector will look for other issues with the foundation. They’re going to look for cracks, too. 60% of homes in the US are built on land with some clay content (also known as expansive soil), which has the potential to shift up to two inches per season. A cracked foundation could mean there are framing problems, roofing issues, doors and windows that will not close, and leaks in the basement

Issues with plumbing and pipes

Plumbing problems and leaky pipes are common things that fail a home inspection. Sometimes these issues can be as simple as a leaking faucet or a slow drain, but they can also encompass larger problems, such as cross-connection issues (Where another water source is contaminating household water), or a need to replace the pipes. Plumbing is a big cause for concern because if there’s a hidden leak that’s left unrepaired, it could cause mold to spread throughout the home.

Mold

Typically when we think of harmful mold in a house, we automatically think of black mold, also known as Stachybotrys Chartarum. What a lot of people may not realize is that exposure to any kind of mold could lead to a variety of health concerns, such as respiratory problems, headaches, skin irritation, and more.

Common repairs needed after a home inspection

Beyond things that designate a property safe and habitable, home inspectors also look for issues that make your home liveable. You may be able to negotiate repairs on the following things with your seller, though they’re less likely to be mandatory:

• HVAC issues
• Plumbing issues like poor water pressure or leaks
• Broken appliances
• Roofing (if not categorized as a structural hazard)
• Drainage issues

What’s necessary and what’s not will depend on where you are, the contract you’ve negotiated, and whether your financing is contingent on certain repairs being made.