Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and under are most at risk because their bodies are growing quickly. AllCheck Inspections offers two different types of lead testing.

Our on-site lead inspection involves the use of impregnated screening pads that will detect lead in building material to as little five ppm (parts per million). Up to ten different locations throughout the structure will be tested and the test results will be provided at time of inspection.

AllCheck Inspections can also provide laboratory testing when requested. These tests will provide an exact measurement in parts per million for each sample. Soil, dust, or paint samples can be taken. Typically, multiple samples are taken so an overall understanding of the entire premise can be documented. Lab tests for lead are billed per sample taken and generally take three to five days to return from the laboratory. Results will be emailed when received.

For more information see Lead.

Mold spores are invisible to the naked eye and circulate in the air. Mold is beneficial in the outdoors. It travels and degrades plant material naturally. Indoor mold, on the other hand, is hazardous to one's health and can cause respiratory problems, allergic reactions, nausea, and headaches.

Mold can grow in any home if mold spores are exposed to the right conditions. Spores thrive in warm, damp environments—kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms are especially prone to growth. Mold frequently grows in places where it is not visible, such as inside walls. If a pipe has a minor leak inside your wall, you may be unaware of it for some time. Water can cause extensive damage.

Recent medical studies also show that mold is one of the most common causes of allergy symptoms. Certain types of mold can even cause fatal disorders. The presence of mold, fungus, and mildew can create health hazards, so homes should be tested to determine the type of mold growing in a home. So, how can you tell if you have mold in your home? A professional mold inspection is the best way to find out if you have mold.

Inspectors can perform swab, air, and carpet samples to determine the type of mold and the amount of mold growing in the home. Samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis and the results are generally available in five business days. It is also important to understand why mold is growing in a home. Inspectors can tell you possible reasons for mold growth and what repairs are needed to eliminate the problem. Often, simple and inexpensive repairs can eliminate the moisture issues that create an environment for mold growth.

For more information on mold and what you can do to protect your home, please see Mold.

When having a rural property inspected, it is important not to forget about the septic system. The septic system is one of the least thought about systems in a home today, but is also one of the most important. 

Septic systems must be inspected on a regular basis, even if they appear to be in good working order. Inspections assess the current and future performance of an existing sewage system, and the fact that a system appears to be in good working order now does not guarantee that it will continue to function in the future.

While your toilets may flush, your drains may still function, and there is no evidence of sewage drainfield surfacing, your system must still be inspected on a regular basis. Septic systems should be inspected by a professional at least once every one to three years and pumped as recommended by the inspector every three to five years.

Septic systems require routine monitoring and maintenance to ensure that they function properly and do not pose a risk to human health or the environment due to pollutants in household wastewater. In order to prevent the spread of infection and disease, have your septic system inspected.

Sewage from septic systems can contaminate drinking water and cause infectious diseases such as eye and ear infections, gastrointestinal illness, and even hepatitis. When a system or soil absorption reaches its maximum capacity, sewage can back up into the basement or the soil's surface.

AllCheck Inspections will test the septic system to insure that everything is flowing properly and to verify there are no apparent leaks or stops in the finger system. We advise that, when purchasing a home with a septic system, the septic tank be cleaned by a reputable company and that you use a bacterial agent on a regular basis.

For more information see Septic Systems.

Radon is a deadly gas emitted from decaying Uranium and enters a house through small cracks and openings. We are continually striving to make homes more energy efficient by reducing the loss of conditioned air. Unfortunately the "tighter" we make the homes the more naturally occurring radon gas becomes trapped inside. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends radon testing on the sale of all new and existing homes and testing again every two years. Indiana is in the highest risk EPA category for radon.

Our Certified Radon Technician will place a Sun Nuclear Model 1028 Continuous Radon Monitor (CRM) on the lowest livable floor of the home for a 48 hour time period. The home should be under "Closed House Conditions" for the entire time. Occupants may still enter and exit the home but keeping open doors and windows to a minimum. Your radon test results will be appended to your Home Inspection Report.

If radon levels are tested to be too high for safe occupancy of your home, it will need to be reduced. Radon mitigation is a fairly simple process of installing a vent pipe from underneath the concrete slab or crawlspace to outside the home. The harmful gas then dissipates into the air becoming harmless.

More detailed information about Radon may be found on our Radon Information Page.