Radon Testing - Should I have it done?

Radon is a radioactive gas that is released by Uranium decay products found in rock and soil and is present everywhere.  Outdoor levels are typically very low and present little risk.  Indoor levels tend to be higher due to the natural "stack effect" or suction that occurs as warm air rises through the home and out of the attic.  Well water can also be a contributing factor to indoor Radon levels.

Radon is considered the second leading cause of Lung Cancer next to smoking being the first and second hand smoking coming in at third.  The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Radon causes 21,000 deaths per year.  The EPA recommends that every house be tested and mitigated if the levels are above 4.0pCi/L.

From my own records over the last several hundred Radon tests that I have performed in the Lehigh Valley, 43% of homes have Radon levels at or above 4.0pCi/L. 

New Construction - Do I need a Home Inspection?

Many buyers will think that if they are purchasing a new construction home, then there will be nothing wrong with the home and skip the home inspection.  While it is true that we should expect to not find much wrong with a new construction home, things do occasionally get missed.   That is not to say that home builders are not building quality homes.  There are a lot of stages involved in building a home and multiple sub contractors are performing different tasks.  Even with a good construction manager or general contractor and municipal inspections things can be overlooked.  You can read examples of things I have found in new construction listed at the bottom of this post.

Outlet Adapters - Can I use them?

Two Prong Outlet Adapter

We have all seen and most likely used these adapters.  Here is the situation.  You live in an older home that has two-prong outlets and you need to plug in a cord that has three prongs.  What do you do?  Well, you could hire an electrician to change out or re-wire the outlet.  Then you go to your local big box home improvement store and see one of these little babies.  You say to yourself....Self, this thing is cheap and it solves my problem!

Is your problem solved?  

60+ yr Old House - Three-Prong Outlets

Three Prong Outlet

This post is about an electrical issue that is found all too often in older homes.  If a home is at least 60yrs old or so, then the wiring in the home is more than likely two wire conductor with no ground and the outlets should be a two-prong type.  This in itself is not necessarily an issue.  When I walk into an older home like this and I start seeing a more "modern" three-prong outlet, my suspicions begin.  Has the house been rewired or simply "upgraded" to a new outlet. Installing a three-prong outlet on a two wire system is a safety concern.  It creates the impression of ground protection when in fact there isn't.

Foundation Cracks

The foundation is cracked, should I be concerned?

Foundation cracking is very common and is often a topic of concern for buyer's.  Not every crack is necessarily a major issue.  Poured foundations will typically develop shrinkage cracks as the concrete cures.  These will often form on a long wall or from the corner of basement window openings.  This type of crack will always be vertical and usually less than 1/8" in width  This type of crack is likely not a structural concern; however, it should still be monitored for additional movement.  There are devices such as the "CrackMON" (http://www.builderswebsource.com/tools/crackmonitor/crackmon.htm) which can be adhered to the foundation wall to detect movement.