The top three investments the average person will make in their lives are marriage, career, and home. There is no guarantee that any of these investments will work out, but their likelihood of lasting success increases when they are entered into with careful examination and expert advice.
If you are looking at buying a home, it is essential to get it inspected for environmental contaminants before you make a purchase or sign a lease. Finding these contaminants after the fact will put you and your family at risk and leave you with the financial burden of cleaning up the hazardous mess.
Common Household Environmental Contaminants
Lead
Lead Poisoning is an incredibly dangerous contamination because lead, in even the smallest amounts, can lead to permanent neurological damage. These tiny specks of lead are often found in dust, paint chips, contaminated water and soil, and other places as well. With proper inspection, however, this lead can be removed, making the home safe again.
Asbestos
This fibrous material is most often found in insulation and roofing tiles. It has been shown to cause cancer and significant respiratory health issues when people become exposed to even tiny fibers. Asbestos is often undetected at first, but when it becomes disturbed the consequences are swift, so early detection is vital for your safety.
Mold
Mold attacks you on two separate fronts. The presence of mold in your home causes various health issues such as asthma and allergic reactions. It also eats away at the material it grows on and can erode away the very structure of your home. This often requires rebuilding as well as cleaning the mold-infested areas.
Radon
Homes in the Northeast are more likely to have radon in them. This material has been linked to thousands of lung cancer deaths every year. Once it is identified though, it is easily removed by mitigation systems.
Water
Your access to water is essential for your home, but it can also be a source of contamination. Water can be the carrier of bacteria, toxic chemicals, pesticides, VOCs, and heavy metals. Some of these can be treated at your home while others must be addressed at the water source.
Indoor Air Quality
It may be a surprise for you to know that indoor air is often much more polluted than outdoor air. Exposure to many of these pollutants can cause serious health issues.
Get an Inspection
You can save your family the cost of cleaning these contaminants as well as the cost of their health with one simple act: Get an environmental inspection of the house before you purchase it. In the worst-case scenario, you will find yourself out a small amount of money, but have the peace of mind that your home is safe for you and your family.
Most of these issues are undetectable to the ordinary person without specialized equipment, and when they do become detectable, it is often too late. The damage to your health and home has already been done. If you are willing to spend the substantial investment of purchasing a new home, make the smaller investment of having it examined for contaminants so you can be sure it is worth your money and the life you intend to live in it.