Radon/Mold/WDI
OH-Radon Tester Lic. #: RT1556
What is a Radon Test?
A Radon test is designed to measure the amount of Radon gas entering your home on a consistent basis. It is best performed by a state licensed Radon Tester and should produce test results within 7 business days.
What is Radon?
Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas. It is the product of Radium in the soil breaking down over time. Radon gas exists everywhere there is air inside or outside of your home, but it can be potentially fatal to the residents of any home if anyone is exposed to Radon gathered in large amounts over an extended period of time.
Why should I have my home tested for Radon?
Radon gas is capable of seeping through the gaps, cracks, and general porosity of the foundation of your home - becoming trapped inside. If the concentration of Radon within your home becomes high enough, it can then become a potentially deadly health concern for the residents within.
How is Radon potentially deadly to humans?
Radon gas exposure is the #1 leading cause of lung cancer death among nonsmokers. It increases the chance of lung cancer death among smokers by as much as 9 times. Repeated inhalation of Radon levels in the air higher than those deemed safe by the EPA is responsible for 15% of all lung cancer deaths worldwide.
Ex:
Average Radon level outdoors: 0.4 pCi/L
Average Radon levels indoors: 1.3 pCi/L
EPA's action level for Radon: 4.0 pCi/L
*pCi/L = picocurries per liter
If Radon levels within your home are found to be equal or greater than the EPA's recommended action level, your very home has been deemed an active risk to the overall health and safety of your family.
What do I do if my Radon levels are too high?
After receiving the results of an in-home Radon test, if your home is found to be at or above actionable levels of Radon, it is best to seek out a reputable licensed Radon Mitigation Specialist.
Source: www.epa.gov/radon
Mold Inspection Cert. #: 1640
What is a Mold Inspection?
A mold inspection is where a certified mold inspector searches for evidence of mold growth in a structure. When evidence of probable mold is found, a test is performed to determine the specific type of mold present within the structure. The goal of the inspection is to discover if mold is present without damaging the property inspected. Test results should come back within 7 business days.
What is mold?
Mold is a type of fungus. It feeds on things composed of carbon atoms and thrives in damp environments with little sunlight. Mold reproduces by releasesing lightweight spores into the air. These spores then attach themselves to a new source of carbon and start new colonies.
How did mold get inside the home?
Mold is actually in the air we breathe. It's everywhere. Ridding ourselves of the presence of mold in a home is virtually impossible. So the question isn't "How did mold get inside the home?" its "How did mold find favorable conditions to grow inside the home?". A mold problem can only be the product of a moisture problem inside the home. No moisture. No mold.
What are the most common places to find mold colonies inside of a home?
The most common places to find mold inside of a home are:
- Basements or cellars that have been flooded
- Underneath kitchen and bathroom sinks
- Underneath or behind refrigerators
- Behind walls that also house plumbing
- Stacks of damp or wet newspaper or cardboard boxes
- Around air-conditioning units
- Wallboard or around windows that leak
- Under carpeting that may have become wet
Mold is especially common after any sort of flooding. Always remember: Where there's moisture, there's mold.
Why should I have the mold tested?
There are over 100,000 different species of mold fungi. Identifying which species is present in the home will only be possible after a sample is mailed to a laboratory for testing. Many species of mold are dangerous to humans, even more so for young children.
How is mold dangerous to humans?
Mold is dangerous to humans when a large amount of spores are frequently inhaled over a period of time. Exposure to mold can cause a number of health issues such as:
- throat irritation
- nasal stuffiness
- eye irritation
- cough and wheezing
- skin irritation
- heightened sensitivity
Is all mold dangerous to humans?
No. Mold is usually only dangerous to humans when large colonies produce high spore counts in enclosed spaces like buildings. Most mold species are harmless to humans. Some are even helpful. The medicine penicillin actually comes from the penicillium mold. The same mold you can find on old bread.
Source: www.epa.gov/mold
OH-WDI Inspection Lic. #: 152932
What is a Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection?
A wood-destroying insect inspection is a type of property inspection carried out by a licensed commericial WDI inspector to evaluate the presence of wood-destroying insects in a property.
What are Wood-Destroying Insects?
The four types of wood-destroying insects reported in a WDI inspection report are:
- Subterranean Termites
- Carpenter Ants
- Carpenter Bees
- Powderpost Beetles
They are named "wood-destroying insects" for their propensity to disturb humans by eating, burrowing, or nesting inside of the wooden structures in or around our homes.
How did Wood-Destroying Insects get inside the home?
Wood-destroying insects have a variety of ways to intrude inside a home. Carpenter Bees nest in exposed wooden structures on the house. Subterranean Termites build mud tubes to conserve moisture as they climb over non-wood surfaces to feed on the cellulose making up wooden floor joists and rafters. Carpenter Ants nest in wood piles, expanding their colonies into wooden parts of the home, crawling through cracks in foundation and crossing tree branch bridges onto the roofs or window sills of a home. Powderpost Beetles lay their eggs in moist wood used for building or firewood and then pop out onto unsuspecting residents. Nature always finds a way.
Why should I have the house inspected for Wood-Destroying Insects?
The presence of wood-destroying insects inside a home can cost home-owners thousands of dollars in repair costs, extermination fees, medical bills and can even damage the resale value of the home.
What should I do when Wood-Destroying Insects are found inside the home?
Once wood-destroying Insects are found inside the home, the next step would be to call and ask for a quote from a reputable licensed pest control specialist.
