(800) 254-1501 Call your home inspector
(800) 254-1501 Call your home inspector
Electrical
Additional Information
Electrical system inspection helps identify and fix fire hazards while also allowing the residents to save money and energy. Top Home Inspection team will ensure that your electrical system meets the electrical code requirement as well as insurance risk assessment inspection. You can consider electrical system inspections if you want to buy a home or if your home is more than 40 years old. If you are adding more appliances or installing a new electrical system, you also want to seek inspectors to assess your electrical system.
In times of renovations, you want the electrical system to remain in proper shape. If you suspect the house does not live up to code, or you have electrical problems, you would better call in electrical inspectors. An inspection can be essential when you want to test the safety of your electrical devices including the dishwashing machine, laundry machine, and the ovens.
Our inspectors check for things such as blackened outlets that indicate risks of sparks and fires. Burn marks appearing on walls, ceiling, and around outlets give hints to an overloaded, loose, or improperly installed electrical sockets and wiring. If you have outlets that can’t allow you to plug in your electronic devices, it can tell something about your electrical system. If you have issues with the little things like sockets and outlets, what about the bigger things like the circuit breakers, electrical panels, and the wiring cables running up in the attic space?
Our inspectors measure the electricity that passes through the wiring circuit to help tell if there is bad wiring, overloading, or electricity taking a different path. The technicians will also examine if there are loose light fixtures, lights flickering, burning plastic or rubber smell, ceiling fans making loud mechanical noises, and switches not operating correctly. They also assess the exterior electrical system including outdoor outlets to see if they have protective covers. For the outlets located close to water sources, the electrical technicians check whether there are GFCI installed to enhance the safety of the electrical system.
A safe and efficient running electrical system prevents fire hazards, risks of electrocution, and reduces energy consumption. If the electrical system is outdated, Top Home Inspection technicians will inform you so that you can take appropriate measures to upgrade it. This area is included in the 4 Point Inspection do in Orlando, Kissimmee, Florida area.
Plumbing
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One of the often-overlooked home systems is the plumbing system, yet it’s among the most important components you have in a home. Without a properly functioning plumbing system, a homeowner is likely to experience a lot of problems and even health issues. A good plumbing system ensures that you don’t encounter issues with kitchen drainage, toilet backups, and leaky sewer lines or drain lines. Our inspectors will check the plumbing system from the interior of the house through the exterior parts to the sewer line. The technicians look for leaky sewers and drain lines or even collapsed drainage lines.
In times of renovations, you want the electrical system to remain in proper shape. If you suspect the house does not live up to code, or you have electrical problems, you would better call in electrical inspectors. An inspection can be essential when you want to test the safety of your electrical devices including the dishwashing machine, laundry machine, and the ovens.
Clogging is one of the problems that Top Home Inspection technicians identify when inspecting plumbing systems. Most homeowners don’t upgrade their drains and sewer lines, they continue using the same system they installed 25 or 30 years ago even though they have made many additions to the home. Any plumbing system has a capacity of load it can hold and when it reaches the threshold, it is likely to collapse. Our inspectors assess the size of the sewer and drain lines in relation to the home to see if it needs an upgrade.
Our inspectors measure the electricity that passes through the wiring circuit to help tell if there is bad wiring, overloading, or electricity taking a different path. The technicians will also examine if there are loose light fixtures, lights flickering, burning plastic or rubber smell, ceiling fans making loud mechanical noises, and switches not operating correctly. They also assess the exterior electrical system including outdoor outlets to see if they have protective covers. For the outlets located close to water sources, the electrical technicians check whether there are GFCI installed to enhance the safety of the electrical system.
Just because you are not seeing issues with the plumbing system does not mean that it is functioning properly. The drain lines may have weakened and it’s only a matter of time before they collapse. The technicians will examine the structural integrity of the drain system to ensure that it’s firm enough to counter the load of liquid waste and physical strain.
Over time, root systems attack drainage lines causing blockages. The roots of trees can find their way into the drainage channels through tiny openings in the joint areas and connections or cracks. Also, if the lines are located in areas of heavy traffic like vehicles turning, the drainage pipes can collapse causing blockages.
The aging drainage lines can develop leaks that causing release of the effluent to the ground surface and this can be a health hazard. Our inspectors will look for any signs of leaky drainage lines and sewers. When you have issues with the drainage system, we can trace it to identify where it is occurring. The problem can be found right inside the home where the drain system originates or deep within the drain lines. This area is included in the 4 Point Inspection do in Orlando, Kissimmee, Florida area.
HVAC
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The heating system is an important element of the home. How the equipment has been maintained may indicate how well the entire house has been maintained. Top Home Inspection technicians will look at a number of things when inspecting the heating system. They examine the filters, exhaust flue, leaky areas, and electrical issues.
One of the biggest HVAC issues is leaks in gas lines. If there is a leak occurring within the gas line, it can be a precursor to serious problems such as a cracked heat exchanger. It’s the heat exchanger that helps convert fuel to heat, so if it has problems, it releases dangerous gas that may contribute to a home fire.
Filters are used to protect the mechanical parts of the heating equipment from becoming dirty. They also help in cleaning the air running through the equipment. Filters that aren’t changed regularly or cleaned can result in many other problems including cooling inefficiencies, airflow issues, health issues, and ballooning power bills. Our technicians will check the filters to find out if they have been changed and cleaned or not.
The exhaust flue acts as the vent for extracting smoke and gases or fumes out of the house. The flue pipe should be designed to slope up and attach to an outdoor vent or even chimney. Proper support is needed for this flue. In addition, the flue should be kept away from materials that are flammable. Top Home Inspection team also checks for any electrical concerns within the heating system. Faulty wiring can lead to blown fuses or tripping of the circuit breaker when the heating equipment is under heavy use. Our inspectors check whether there is an electrical kill switch installed near the furnace to help cut power immediately when there is an emergency.
Top Home Inspection team will look at all possible signs that may indicate problems with the heating system in order to ensure that they are remedied. A heating system that’s inefficient can cost you a lot of money. If there are leaks of gases, it can be a home fire hazard that should be fixed immediately. This area is included in the 4 Point Inspection do in Orlando, Kissimmee, Florida area.
Cooling System
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The air conditioning units and other components of the cooling system also need an inspection to see that they are functioning properly and efficiently. Common problems Top Home Inspection technicians encounter when inspecting cooling systems in homes are such as improperly installed air ducts or ducts that are broken or cracked, often sending cooled air into the walls or attics instead of directing it to the intended rooms.
Another problem is the old age of the system meaning the cooling equipment has reached its life expectancy. Many cooling equipment in homes can last for about 10 to 20 years meaning it will reach a point when the entire pieces will require replacement because they can’t function anymore. Proper, timely maintenance of the cooling system can help extend their life. When inspecting the air conditioning and ducts, our technicians look at the drain issues, leaks, and collection of dirt or debris.
The technicians also check for the presence of leaks within the cooling system, which can result in escape of gas or refrigerant. Leaks in cooling systems of the home are potentially dangerous and can lead to house fires.
In addition, clogging of condenser drains can bring troubles to your cooling system. Condensation collects when the equipment is cooling your home, and it has to be taken out through the drain hose. Besides, dirty coils prevent smooth flow of air and lower efficiency in your cooling system.
Our inspection team will also look for other things like an un-level condenser unit. If the condenser unit is un-level, it reduces the efficacy of lubrication in the unit’s tubing while also increasing stress within the refrigerant lines. The pad intended for the condenser unit in the exterior space should be positioned around 10 degrees of level otherwise, you will have issues with the refrigerant lines and the lubrication.
Whether you plan to sell your home or you are a buyer seeking to purchase a home, inspection on the cooling system can help you make the right decision. Our qualified technicians will look at all the elements that affect the performance and functioning of the cooling system and offer recommendations.
Roofing
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After the foundation, the next most important part of the home is the roofing structure. A damaged or leaky roof can bring a lot of problems. It can result in costly repairs, water damage, and other issues such as mold growth. The roofing structure protects the house, your family, and the things contained in the house. Potential homebuyers will look at the roof when making their purchase decision. A roof not only provides a curb appeal to a home, but also serves as a line of defense against weather elements, so if there are damages and defects occurring in it, they will create problems. Our inspectors will assess the condition of your roof to determine if there are issues that present safety concerns and damages to other structures and components of the home.
A leaky roof can lead to damage to the ceiling, growth of molds, and wall staining. If the roofing material isn’t installed properly, it can lead to costly repairs or even irreversible damages. Our roof inspectors look for signs of aging, and damages needing repair or replacement. The presence of missing shingles on the roof can indicate that the existing roofing structure is old and needs replacement. The shingles may also show curling and buckling indicating that weather elements have taken their toll on the roof.
The way your roof is installed determines whether it lasts longer or not. Top Home Inspection team checks the kind of roof installation you have to see if the structure is firm enough. Inspection can take place from the roof itself where the inspectors check for potential leaks, damaged and missing shingles, flashing, ventilation, gutters, and the overall condition of your roof.
Access to the attic can help verify present and past leaks, proper insulation, proper ventilation, and the status of the roof structure. Signs of roof leaks in a home including stains on walls and ceilings or pools of water on the floor when it rains are a concern. In addition to the roof structure, the inspectors examine the gutters to see if they are collecting surface water from the roof in the right way to ensure proper drainage. The inspectors also look at the surface of the roof to see if there is debris that can contribute to moisture retention leading to leaky roofs. This area is included in the 4 Point Inspection do in Orlando, Kissimmee, Florida area.
Water
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If you’re a home buyer or seller, you may be required to test drinking water. Most mortgage lending companies request potential home sellers and buyers to undertake a water test within the property in order to verify there are no contaminants that can affect the building. Water testing performed by Top Home Inspection technicians is aimed at finding out if there are any contaminants raising concern including bacteria and nitrates.
If you live in a property with a well, you will have to perform well water testing. It’s estimated that more than 13 million people in America get drinking water from private sources like wells. The nature of these water sources subjects them to many contaminants. A well comes out of the ground meaning there is a chance of carrying harmful bacteria and chemicals.
A home buyer would want to know how safe the well water in your home is before they can purchase the property. If tests show that the water is highly contaminated, it can raise issues with the purchase deal. The homebuyer can opt for other properties. Basic-Level testing is often required by most mortgage companies before they can sign off on mortgages. The testing looks for things that can damage the infrastructure of the home. For example, a mortgage-related test can be requested to help bring to light things like water hardness or chemicals likely to damage the plumbing and piping systems.
With basic level testing, it may not look into any issues affecting the safety of drinking water or bathing. A higher level testing looks at substances that can harm humans like arsenic levels and volatile organic compounds likely to make you sick after ingesting them. Many people assume that a basic water test looks for every issue about water safety, however, that’s not the case.
When it comes to water testing, it only tests for issues you are concerned about. The tests you perform will depend on the purpose of the water testing. Top Home Inspection technicians can provide you with quality water testing. They will pick the samples of water from your home and take them to an approved water testing laboratory for screening and analysis.
Interior
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The interior part of your home comprises many parts, components, systems, and structures that need inspection when you are buying a new home, moving into a new house, or remodeling the home. Interior inspection covers a variety of things. Top Home Inspection team looks at the electrical components to see if the outlets have been wired correctly and grounded. It checks if outlets are GFCI protected for the safety of the family, pets, and guests. Besides, our inspection team checks that switches are functioning and lights are working as they should. Also, the appliances are assessed to see if they are in good working conditions. When looking at the electrical items, the inspectors check the fuse box to ensure the wiring has been done correctly.
Interior inspection also constitutes the plumbing system, and our technicians check for functional water flow, whether in or out of the house. They also look for leaks occurring within the plumbing system because they could indicate other problems like mold infestation. Proper drainage in the kitchen sinks, bathrooms, and other locations inside the house reduces the problem of water or moisture damage. The inspectors will look at the plumbing connections to ensure that there are no cross-connections. Heating and cooling systems are part of the interior inspection and our technicians will ensure these systems are adequate and performing efficiently.
Other areas that are technicians examine are the floors, ceilings, interior walls, as well as the painting. The windows and doors are inspected to ensure they lock, open, and close as they should. Any signs in the interior of the home that may indicate safety issues or structural problems are looked at and indicated in the report.
When it comes to interior painting, we look at things like peeling or flaking. In homes built 40 or more years before, we may recommend lead testing on the paint because the paint used in those buildings is likely to contain lead. If the paint is peeling, it poses cross-connections dangers to the family and visitors in the home. Our interior elements inspection report will provide you with the details you need about various structures, parts, components, and systems in the house and their current state.
Kitchen
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At Top Home Inspection, we inspect your kitchen including the roofing, walls, sinks, drain system, storage, floors, ventilation, electrical components, and appliances.
Our kitchen inspection looks at in-built appliances and plumbing fixtures to see if they are in good-working condition. The sinks and the drain system in the kitchen are checked for any signs of clogging and defects. We look at signs of kitchen drain leaks or the presence of molds, which could lead to a possible drain leakage. Besides, we examine the plumbing fixtures to determine water pressure. We look at the basic working modes of ventilators and appliances too. The countertops and cabinets are checked for any deficiencies. The duct system for extracting smoke and fumes is examined to ensure it’s not clogged or defective. Any signs of clogging or other defects are noted down.
The kitchen workplace design is also examined to see if it provides adequate space for storage and placement of your equipment. The walls, ceilings, and floors are checked of their construction to identify if they are in good repair and can easily be kept clean. Any presence of condensation or dripping from ducts, pipes, and fixtures is examined because it can result in contaminating food in addition to causing structural problems. The lighting and ventilation for controlling vapor, fumes, and allowing adequate circulation of fresh air in the kitchen are other things that the team at Top Home Inspection looks at.
We look at the floor to determine if it is chipped or has other deformations that require repair. The electrical components and parts in the kitchen are looked at to ensure they are properly installed and safe for users. The sockets, wires, and circuit breakers are examined to see if they are working safely. Besides, we look at the fire protection equipment including first aid kit in the kitchen. We check whether the fire alarms and other safety equipment are functioning the way they should.
Exterior Elements
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Your home’s exterior space comprises various components that need to function properly to ensure the safety of the home. When inspecting the exterior space Top Home Inspection team can cover numerous things including the drainage, grading, lighting, and outlets. Besides, the inspectors inspect the foundation, porches, decks, sidewalks, doors, trim, siding, and windows.
The condition of the exterior elements can affect the interior of a home. If you have issues with the drainage system, it can impact on the walls and foundation as well as the floor. When inspecting the foundation, we will check both inside and outside to assess the visible areas. The reason to inspect the foundation from inside it’s because there may be elements visible from the inside which show signs of a deteriorating or failing foundation, but you can’t see them from outside. You may have cracks on the foundation visible from the inside, but they aren’t seen from the outside. Top Home Inspection technicians can also enter the crawlspace if it’s safe to do so in order to check the foundation.
The sidewalks and decks are essential exterior spaces that need to function properly. If the decking and sidewalk surfaces are in poor shape, it can result in trip and fall injuries. The inspection team looks at any possible signs of wear and tear of these surfaces. If the materials used in sidewalks have deteriorated, there is need to fix the problem.
Your doors need to be firm and properly secured to prevent incidents of burglary. Insurance companies will look at the level of home protection you have employed when determining claims of burglary. A Top Home Inspection team checks how the doors are functioning from the outside and if there are issues that need to be fixed, they are identified. If the main door won’t open from outside can present safety risks to the homeowner and it should be checked to ensure it functions properly. A homebuyer would want to see that the home he or she is buying has properly functioning doors.
A thorough inspection of the exterior elements of your home by Top Home Inspection technicians can bring out many issues that help ensure safety, functionality, and security in your home.
Foundation and Substructure
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A foundation constitutes an important part of a home. The home’s structural underpinning provides a base for the internal surfaces above, the sheathing, and the framing. When there are understructure and footing issues, they often translate into other serious problems. Top Home Inspection technicians will look at the level of the floor, presence of cracks in walls and slabs, dislodging of sills from the beam or slab and walls that are not well-fortified.
Changes in moisture content can result in foundation problems such as cracking, settling, and shifting of pier blocks or concrete. Inside the house, a floor that is uneven or not level is a sign of a potential foundation problem. If the doors are jamming or failing to latch and there are cracks in the exterior and interior walls, especially over windows and doorways or the areas where walls meet ceilings, these can indicate issues with the foundation. The presence of cracks that run open in ceramic or vinyl tiles over concrete floors, and windows that don’t budge or function properly, may together hint at foundation problems.
Our foundation inspectors are highly trained and will document all the issues they identify that may be serious. Having hairline cracks in the mortar found between concrete blocks may need to be checked sporadically to see if the cracks are expanding. Horizontal cracks are regarded as the most serious since they indicate that the water in the soil outside has frozen and bulged. The swelling soil pushes and expands the concrete.
Inspecting block and raised foundations needs proper training. Our inspectors assess all the visible areas looking for stains, cracks, boring, notching, and anchoring. Some of these signs could indicate a structural deficiency or the traditional sinking meaning if they are apparent, a structural engineer may be recommended. When assessing the crawlspace and basement, Top Home Inspection team looks at all the accessible areas to see if there are foundation issues that entail concrete supports and posts or piers. The technicians also check the bottoms of posts to ensure they rest firmly on concrete surfaces.
The presence of standing water or signs of water intrusion within the crawlspace should be regarded as red flags for foundation damage. Homebuyers need to check on the foundation structure of the home they are buying to ensure it firmly supports the entire building.
Pool
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When purchasing a home that has a pool, you need to give it the same attention as the electrical, plumbing, roofing, and other elements and components of the home. A home with a swimming pool offers an ideal outdoor space for entertaining, exercising, and keeping cool. Some home buyers see the advantage of purchasing a home that has an existing inground swimming pool. At Top Home Inspection, we provide comprehensive pool inspection to ensure the safety, functionality, and structural integrity of the swimming facility. Having a pool inspection can help you negotiate a better price for the home.
Before you can close the escrow, it makes sense if you have our pool inspection team visit the home to inspect it. During the inspection, our technicians check whether the pool has structural flaws and whether it meets local safety regulations. Among the elements we check are such as the safety glass on windows located five feet or below from the edge of the water, a pool cover capable of holding stable when children walk onto it, and an alarm that activates after a person touches the pool water.
We also check the interior finish, which is referred to as plaster to ensure that it’s of the highest durability and aesthetic quality. Besides, the pool tiles are checked to assess the condition of the mortar, grout, and paste material between the tiles. Chips and corners with deteriorating grout as well as exposed sharp angles are other things to examine during the inspection.
You also want to ensure the decking is in good condition by looking at the surface, color, and overall state of the pavers, wood, concrete, stone or other materials used to build the decking. Additionally, the deck’s position should be pitched properly to allow rainwater and pool-water splash-outs to travel away from the pool to the proper drainage area.
Our pool inspectors will also turn on all the pool systems to see how they are functioning. This includes the pump, filters, and heaters. Top Home Inspection team will also examine the structural integrity of the pool to ensure that it hasn’t sunk or floated. The main drain covers, as well as other safety equipment like ladders and handrails, are inspected to see that they are in proper shape.
Wood Destroying Insects
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When selling a house, there are various checks you need to be carried out including wood-destroying insects. Some lending institutions will request potential home buyers to get a termite inspection on the homes they want to buy before they are granted a mortgage to finance the home purchase. It is best you get a report on wood-destroying insect inspection file on the property.
Your home may be susceptible to wood-destroying insects meaning you need to have an inspection to determine if the structure is in danger or not. When people hear of wood-destroying insects, they think of just termites. While termites pose a serious threat to home structures, they aren’t the only insects that damage wooden structures in homes. Insects destroy wood by chewing it to build nests or by eating it. Some insects prefer eating or chewing hardwoods while others opt for softwoods.
Top Home Inspectiontechnicians inspecting the insects will check all the locations easily accessible including major structural points in the building. Areas that are more vulnerable to attacks from the insects are critically checked to see if there may be signs of infestations. The technicians also examine the present as well as past evidence of insects’ activity. The evidence can be found in wood debris that has been left by the insects or in the building structure.
Our technicians will also inspect the home of other insects like powderpost beetles, carpenter ants, old house borers, and carpenter bees. The technicians check all permanently attached structures made of wood including porches and decks. Sometimes, the insects may be hiding in the walls and cracks, or beneath the carpets and floor covering. The homeowner needs to provide access to these areas for example, by lifting carpets.
Powderpost beetles eat hardwoods and you will find them attacking furniture. These pests bore out of wood creating small pinholes and leaving a fine dust powder behind. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood, however, they nest inside the damp and decaying wood to build their colonies. Signs of carpenter ants infestations include rustling sounds emanating from the walls or wood shaving found underneath wooden objects.
Termites are very destructive insects, they can quietly and quickly invade your home causing a lot of damage. These pests can make their way into the house through cracks and other openings. Unless you know how to identify the insects, you may have an infestation without your knowledge.
Private Water
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One of the main objectives of testing well water is to help with financing or refinancing. When you are financing a home purchase through some financial lenders, they may ask you to test the well water for microbes like coliform bacteria. Probably you are asking yourself, “How does water testing relate to refinancing and loans?” The answer is simple, the water from the well may contain substances that could impact on the structural integrity of the home like water hardness.
A coliform test can also involve finding out whether fecal coliform and e.coli bacteria are absent or present. Additional sampling may be required to test for lead and nitrates. Homeowners and home sellers need to confirm with their lenders or realtors about the requirements of the tests.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends homeowners to perform regular tests on private water supplies to ensure safe drinking water from those sources. A well that has shown a history of suffering from contamination may require more frequent tests. Our technicians will take the samples and have them tested and analyzed in a lab facility.
The technicians will help you review the test results so see that all the numbers make sense to you. Particular attention is paid to the bacteria and lead levels, and to say, there aren’t ‘safe’ levels for these kinds of materials or even nitrates. Even low levels can turn out dangerous to your family. Lead exposure tends to take place for an extended period of time, usually years, before an individual can have symptoms for a disease caused by the exposure. The earlier the substance is detected in a home, the earlier the protective measures are taken.
Nitrates are a concern for small children and infants. In small amounts nitrates can be harmless, however, high levels may impact people and animals.
Water testing for mortgage purposes may look for things like hardness and substances or elements that can cause damage to home structures including plumbing pipes. The EPA issues a nitrates maximum contamination limit of 10 parts per million. Our technicians will handle your private or well water testing process in a professional way to ensure you have reliable results to help make a concrete decision about the safety of the water to the family and the building structure.
Lead Paint Screening
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If the home you’re selling was built before 1978 chances are that there is some lead paint used in painting the house. Selling a home that has lead paint is likely to present challenges, but you can avoid the troubles by having a lead-paint screening for your home. Lead paint is the only federally obligated disclosure for home sellers. Lead is very toxic and can affect many organs of the body. Kids aged six years and below are the most vulnerable because their explorations subject them to the risk of consuming the paint.
Besides, lead can vaporize and allow people to inhale it. The lead substance in paints is capable of leaching into the paint that has no lead meaning that painting a non-lead-based paint over the lead-based paint doesn’t offer complete solution to the problem. The legislation orders that sellers of homes with lead-based paint ensure they disclose that substance before the sale. A seller needs to perform lead tests and present the results to the buyer or share it with realtors, and other parties involved in the home selling or buying process.
A lead-paint screening performed by the Top Home Inspection team will look for any signs that leaded paint could be a health hazard. If lead paint remains intact without chipping, cracking, or wearing, it is not likely to pose health risks. However, if the paint starts to peel, chip, and crack, it’s a red flag and you need to seek a remedy.
Our inspectors will check the areas that are susceptible to wear or areas that experience stress or mechanical impact exposing the underlying paint layers. For example, areas such as the window sills, banisters, railings, door frames, fences, and porches are examined of lead presence. Also, the inspectors check for the presence of lead dust that comes out of sanding painted surfaces or dry scraping. The soil within the surroundings of the home may also have lead, which is caused by flaking of exterior paint.
Our lead-screening technicians will help you determine the level of lead in and around your home. You can use the lead-paint screening report to help in the home selling and buying processes.
Mold Screening
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Having molds in a home can be scary. Mold infestations cause many health complications including respiratory diseases, allergies, asthma, and sneezing. These microbes can also result in damage to wooden structures and other organic materials like clothing, carpets, rugs, paints, and walls. Top Home Inspection team can reveal two things – first, it can detect if molds are really growing in the home and second, if there is water problem that could be causing molds to grow.
If you suspect there could be molds in the house, you can consider having an inspection. Even if you have seen the areas where mold is growing, you also need an inspection because visible mold growth can mean there is much more mold infesting locations out of view. Top Home Inspection technicians will look for signs of molds including allergic symptoms from family members or even the technicians themselves, the presence of mold smell, and water problems like leaking pipes, flooding, and leaky roofs.
Our inspectors will check areas such as the basement and attic which are prone to having moisture or water problems. Areas near water sources such as bathtubs, showers, pipes, sinks, and toilets are also assessed. Even when mold can’t be seen in a room, it can grow hidden from view. It can be behind walls, under the floors, above the ceiling, or inside the air conditioning ducts and out technicians know these things.
The technicians use different mold screening techniques including direct surface sampling and air quality sampling. In the former, the inspector will physically test active visible mold. If the technicians can physically see the mold, they will us direct surface sampling. When it comes to air quality sampling, our inspectors use special devices to trap and test the spore count present in the air.
Spores are seeds released by actively thriving molds and they are suspended in air where they remain constantly floating looking for surfaces to land and reproduce. A baseline test is performed outside the home and the other test is done in the house, especially in the areas suspected to have molds growth. If the spore count inside the house is higher than the count outside, it indicates there is active mold growth. Air quality sampling can be used when there is no visible mold growth.
