Another Raleigh Home Inspection completed along with Raleigh Radon Testing. Our home inspection company offers first quality service and expert advise. See Clear Choice Home Inspections web site at http://www.clearchoicehi.com
This is a letter I sent to my home inspection clients in Raleigh NC and surrounding areas:
Dear client,
There has been quite a buzz about the potential emission of radon gas from granite countertops. The EPA has been and continues to conduct studies on this issue. I have included a list of commonly asked questions with responses that the EPA has put together.
“Has EPA done studies on radon in granite countertops?
We are aware of a few studies that have conducted limited research on radon in granite countertops. EPA will continue to review this research. The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend that all homes be tested for radon in indoor air.
Are the levels of radon in granite dangerous to humans or animals?
While radon levels attributable to granite are not typically high, there are simply too many variables to generalize about the potential health risks inside a particular home that has granite countertops. It is prudent to limit your family’s exposure to radon whenever possible. EPA recommends that indoor air have a radon level as far below 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air as possible. There are easy ways to test the air in your home for radon, and high radon levels can be reduced with proven and inexpensive technology. EPA believes the most significant source of radon risk is soil gas. Regardless of source, all homes should be tested for radon.
While natural rocks such as granite may emit radon gas, the levels of radon attributable to such sources are not typically high. EPA believes the principal source of radon in homes is soil gas that is drawn indoors through a natural suction process. To reduce radon risk you should first test the air in your home to determine the radon level.
If your home has a high radon level, a level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air or more, there are ways to mitigate or reduce the radon level in almost any home. Contact your state radon office (www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html) just click on your state, or a professional radon testing and mitigation firm (www.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html) for assistance. A specially-trained and qualified professional may be equipped to test for lesser sources (such as granite or diffusion from drinking water) when evaluating the nature and source of your home’s radon problem. The key to reducing risk is to test your home for radon and then make decisions as appropriate.
Learn more about radon, read the Citizen’s Guide at www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html.
Does the EPA believe there is a danger of radon gas or associated radiation being emitted from granite countertops?
Granite is a naturally occurring igneous rock, meaning that it was formed by the cooling of molten rock. It is quarried and processed to produce commercial products such as countertops. It is possible for any granite sample to contain varying concentrations of uranium that can produce radon gas, a source of alpha and beta particles and gamma rays. Some granite used for countertops may contribute variably to indoor radon levels. At this time, however, EPA does not believe sufficient data exist to conclude that the types of granite commonly used in countertops are significantly increasing indoor radon levels. Some granite may emit gamma radiation above typical background levels. While radiation levels are not typically high, measurement of specific samples may reveal higher than expected levels on a case-by-case basis.
Does the EPA have plans to conduct a study on radon in granite countertops?
EPA will continue to monitor and analyze the evolving research on this issue and will update its recommendations as appropriate.”
The bottom line is the EPA recommends that we test all houses for radon (regardless of type of countertops) and they will continue to study this issue. Clear Choice Home Inspections will keep you informed of any significant updates and as always, we will continue to offer radon testing as one of our services. Feel free to call if you have questions and you may forward this email to your associates.
We have done quite a few home inspections in Wake Forest NC lately. Clear Choice Home Inspections is based out of Clayton NC but we travel all over Wake and Johnston Counties plus borders of the other counties. For more information about our home inspection services and radon testing, please visit our web site.
While doing a home inspection on a new home in Wake Forest NC, I discovered a major electrical hazard. My company, Clear Choice Home Inspections provides home inspection services in Raleigh NC and surrounding areas including Garner NC, Clayton NC, Cary NC, etc. The hazard dealt with the service entrance cable (main power supply cable to the home) that was rated at 150 amps while the breaker “protecting” this wire was rated at 200 amps. So, load up the circuit to say, 170 amps and the main breaker will not trip but the service entrance wire may melt and/or catch fire. Compounding this problem was the fact that several of the smoke detectors did not function properly. This Wake Forest NC home inspection paid for itself many times over.
This is the busy season and I’ve not had time to update my findings for Raleigh home inspections and home inspections in Clayton NC, Garner, Cary NC, etc. We’ve done a lot of radon testing in these areas as well with a few that have come up high. The new construction house I inspected today in Wake Forest NC was interesting. I found nearly 35 items, many small but several big ones: the worst was the main service entrance cable was sized for 150 amps but they had a 200 amp breaker protecting that little wire. This Wake Forest NC home inspection found this fire hazard and several defective smoke detectors - not a good combination there!
I was hired to do a pre-drywall home inspection in Wake Forest NC. Clear Choice Home Inspections offers this service for 30% off our standard home inspection prices. This is done just before the insulation and drywall are installed. I can check the framing, wiring, plumbing, windows, etc much better this way. I found a large gap (1″) between the sill plate and foundation wall in the garage. Could not believe they left it like this. As the house ages, this gap can decrease which will cause significant settling. I found other framing issues and a flashing detail at the front porch that could have allowed water to enter/wet the framing and sheathing. A gas line for the fireplace was too close to the drywall and could have been punctured by a nail by the home-owner (or builder). All-in-all, this Wake Forest home inspection turned out to be very beneficial to the buyers. For more info, see our site.
I was hired as a Durham NC home inspector to inspect a 1,800 sq ft house built in 2001. I found 27 issues for the summary page and a few of the larger ones were: 1. quite a bit of rotten exterior wood trim, 2. air conditioner did not cool properly, 3. gas heat short cycled - this is usually due to a limit switch malfunction. My client was very glad that he had his potentially new home in Durham NC inspected by Clear Choice Home Inspections. My client is having a radon test done as well - will have the results back next week.
As a home inspector in the Raleigh NC area, I always recommend radon testing with a home inspection. The fee is small compared with the cost of mitigation and the danger of radon is that it can cause lung cancer (2nd leading cause in the US - per the EPA). So, next time you need a Raleigh, Cary NC, Clayton NC, Durham NC home inspection, please use Clear Choice Home Inspections and have the house tested for radon.
House was small (1,200 sq ft) built in mid 90’s. To hit the highlights of the home inspection (near Raleigh NC), I found floor joists that were not resting on their ledger strips (appears to have caused cracks on both sides of an interior door due to excessive settlement). This home inspection in Clayton NC also revealed a floor under the bath that was saturated with water from a toilet leak - been going on for a while! Good thing these folks called Clear Choice Home Inspections.
My company, Clear Choice Home Inspections , inspected a 2,000 sq ft new home today in Wake Forest. The home inspection was done in this wonderful 95 degree heat! Found about 18 items including a loose shower head and bathtubs whose overflow drains did not work - wait till little kids leave the bathwater on!