Lead Testing
LEAD TESTING
Lead is Dangerous Whether in Water, Paint, Toys, etc...
The Environmental Protection Agency says there is no safe amount of lead exposure, especially when it comes to youth. Young children, infants, and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults.
Our United Home Inspectors Know the Dangers of Lead-based Paint
Even minor exposure to a child can cause damage to the central nervous system and affect a child’s brain. Through diligence and proper monitoring, our goal is to limit the chance that a child is ever exposed to a dangerous environment containing lead-based paint.
If your home or building was built or significantly renovated prior to 1980, chances are high that some lead-based paint is present. Location of a home does not necessarily affect the likelihood of lead’s presence. The 100-year-old colonial in an affluent suburb is just as likely to contain lead-based paint as is an inner city apartment.
Homeowners involved in renovation projects need to be especially aware, as even minor demolition or sanding can cause a home to become completely contaminated with lead dust.
How Lead Gets into Drinking Water
Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures.
Lead levels in your drinking water are likely to be highest if:
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Your home has faucets or fittings of brass which contains some lead, or
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Your home or water system has lead pipes, or
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Your home has copper pipes with solder, and
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The house is less than five years old, or
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You have naturally soft water, or
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Water often sits in the pipes for several hours.
Lead pipes are more likely to be found in older cities and homes built before 1986. Among homes without lead service lines, the most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and plumbing with lead solder.
We Test for Lead in Water and in Paint On-the-Spot
If it is believed you may have lead pipes or lead paint our inspectors have testing kits to test right then and there. If the preliminary on-site tests come back positive or inconclusive you will have the option for tests to be sent on to an EPA-approved laboratory to confirm results.
Are you planning on a home inspection soon? Worried your home might have lead in your home? We encourage you to reach out and connect with us, and we would be happy to work with you on this issue.
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