Environmental Testing

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Phone 845-526-2499

ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING
SERVICES OFFERED
Mortgage Compliance Certifications offered for Termites, Well Water, Septic Systems etc.

Radon - There are so many VARIABLES present when testing for radon that the only way you can be sure of getting reliable testing results is to hire a United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) qualified Professional Radon tester. Nicholas C. Kuvach is a USEPA qualified, N.Y.S. Dept. of Health listed Professional Radon tester. One of only approximately FIFTY in New York State. For more information about qualified radon testing (from this web site) <CLICK HERE>. (For in-depth information, from the USEPA, on Radon see bottom of page)
Asbestos - a sample of suspect material can only be determined to be asbestos after careful laboratory analysis. Testing turn around time is 2 to 3 days.
Lead in paint - The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) states (in bulletin # EPA747-K-94-001) "Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. Some states stopped its use even earlier. Lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard. Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate attention." It should be assumed, therefore, that any paint purchased and/or applied prior to 1979 contains lead. Testing for lead content in surface paint is usually done on site with the results immediately available then and there. (For in-depth information from the USEPA on Lead see bottom of page)
Lead in water - A sample needs to be taken to the lab for analysis. Testing turn around time is 2 to 3 days.
Water testing (town or well) - THE N.Y.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH RECOMMENDS THAT ALL WELL WATER SHOULD BE TESTED FOR COLIFORM AND E-COLI BACTERIA! Water can be tested for many things including: coliform bacterium, e-coli bacteria, heavy metals (such as lead or cadmium), other metals (iron, copper, magnesium) affecting hardness and staining of plumbing fixtures, PH (acidity or alkalinity), turbidity, conductivity, suspended solids. Other testing should be considered optional and to be determined by various criteria, e.g. local presence of industrial sites, agricultural (or golf course) run off, leaking of subterranean fuel tanks etc.
Subterranean fuel tanks (usually home heating oil) - The New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) takes LEAKING subterranean fuel tanks very seriously. If a tank is found to be leaking state law requires ANYONE with the knowledge to report the leak to the NYSDEC. The NYSDEC then immediately serves notice to the property owner that the contamination must be cleaned up IMMEDIATELY, under NYSDEC supervision (with state police presence if necessary)! This can cost many thousands of dollars! If you are considering the purchase of a home with a subterranean fuel tank TEST IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT! Let the clean up be the seller's responsibility not yours. After you buy it, get an insurance policy against leaking. Testing subterranean fuel tanks for leakage is sometimes an all day process, because the leak can be very tiny. Tank testing can only be done by a NYSDEC licensed specialist. Reveal Home Inspections can make all the arrangements.
Septic systems - The SEPTIC DYE TEST is typically performed to determine if there is septic system failure. The industry standard protocol calls for tracer dye to be flushed through the system along with 50 gallons of water per bedroom. If water is found to be pooling or flooding the septic field, and/or water is found to be backing up into the house, it is considered to be a strong indication of septic system failure and a SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION may be in order. An INSPECTION involves opening, pumping and examining the septic tank, opening all the junction boxes out in the absorbtion (leach) fields and perhaps probing the leach pits (trenches) and even opening a section of pipe for examination (a lot of digging). This type of inspection, obviously very invasive, often takes an entire day and the work of at least two people and costs hundreds of dollars. This is why the septic dye TEST (at $55.) is typically the first course of action when examining the performance of a septic system. For more information (from this website) about Septic Systems their operation and maintenence <CLICK HERE>.
Certified Termite Inspections - Nick Kuvach is a NYSDEC licensed/certified Termite Inspector and performs Certified Termite Inspections. Mortgage lenders usually require the Certified Termite Inspection Report Document - it is their effort to protect their collateral. The Termite inspection is different than the standard whole house inspection in that it requires additional probing of the grounds around the house including digging of soil.
Soil testing - Rarely done, soil samples are most often taken to a lab for analysis when there is a concern that fuel leaking underground has traveled across property boundary lines or that a past or present fuel tank may be leaking and the contaminates are travelling through the sub-soil.

For in-depth information on RADON visit the EPA at <www.epa.gov/iedweb00/radon/puts/hmbyguid.html#Reliable>

For in-depth information on LEAD visit the EPA at <www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/leadpbed.htm>

If you have any further questions, or for in-depth information on any environmental issue contact Nick Kuvach via phone or fax.

Phone 845-526-2499