Inspector's Blog → Things That People Ignore While Performing The Home Inspection
When it comes to home inspection, there are several important things that most people ignore because they do not know that the home must be inspected for them. Following is the list of some of those things that are important and must be included in a thorough inspection of the home.
Radon Levels
Radon is a radioactive gas and a by-product of the decay of naturally occurring uranium deposits in certain underlying rock formations. The EPA has designated this as a carcinogenic agent. Moreover, corrective action is highly recommended when radon levels exceed 4 PiC/Liter in indoor air. It is very important to your health that you get the house tested for radon levels. Many people do not take this seriously and do not even include this in their list of objects to be inspected when they are performing home inspection. What is more, most of them are just oblivious to radon. Then it makes sense for you that when you are getting your home inspected, you get a radon level testing done as well.
Pump Test
If you are considering buying a house with a private well, you may need to make a water quantity, or flow test. Therefore, it is very important for you to include the pump test in the home inspection. It is highly recommended if the well flow has not been checked within the last one year or two. The FHA performance standard is that the water supply provides a minimum of 5 gallons per minute of flow over a four hour period for a total of at least 1200 gallons pumped without any significant drop in flow. Make sure that the home inspection report regarding the pump test passes on this standard. Most people do not like the idea of incorporating the pump test with the home inspection because they think it will make things more complicated. However, that the truth is it is not so complex. The pump test can easily be done during the home inspection with a qualified inspector performing it.
Termite Inspection
If you are buying a single or multi-family home, a townhouse, or a lower level garden style apartment, incorporating a termite inspection with the home inspection does make sense. It is important as well. You must remember that the eastern subterranean termite can do major damage to the structure of a home and can go undetected for years. Many home inspectors offer pest inspections in addition to the standard home inspection.
Overall, if you want compete satisfaction from the home inspection, you must include the above things with the regular checks for leaks etc. Do not ignore them as most people do.