INSPECTION OVERVIEW HOME     Home Inspection Basics Pennsylvania Home Inspection Law defines a Home Inspection as "A noninvasive visual examination of some combination of the mechanical, electrical or plumbing systems or the structural and essential components of a residential dwelling designed to identify material defects in those systems and components and performed for a fee in connection with or in preparation for a proposed or possible residential real estate transfer….."                         The American Society of Home Inspectors, ASHI®, takes this generalized description of a home inspection and makes it much more specific and expansive.   For ASHI® membership, included in a home inspection is an "inspection of readily accessible, visually observable, installed systems and components as listed in the Standards of Practice.  The list in the Standards includes inspection of:                        Structural Conditions Exterior Roof Plumbing Electrical Heating Air Conditioning Interior Insulation Ventilation Fireplaces Specific descriptions can be found in the ASHI Standards of Practice A Home Inspection also includes a Report.  A good home inspector will not just have the ability to visually see and discuss home deficiencies, he will also have the ability to write a concise, accurate and complete report.  (Checkbox reports are usually of no real value.) Supplemental Work The testing and inspections described below are not part of a Home Inspection but most can be included as additional work: Radon Levels Radon is an odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that is produced when radioactive rocks within the earth disintegrate.  In the open air radon is almost always at very low levels, but within our homes the gas enters through foundation areas and can build up to dangerous levels. The radioactive radon breaks down and the extremely small particles produced enter your lungs and may eventually cause lung cancer.  Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer (smoking is number one), causing approximately 14,000 deaths annually.  Radon is a very serious and dangerous hazard. The good news is that radon is easy and inexpensive to test for, and if the test levels are higher than those recommended by the U. S Environmental Protection Agency, it is almost always possibly to reduce the levels to an acceptable amount. Residential Inspections, LLC provides certified radon testing.  We predominately use continuous  radon monitors to measure the quantity of radon in a home over a two day time period and provide you with a report of the results and recommendations.  We do not do the corrective work if the levels are high.  This should be done by an independent radon mitigation company.  Septic Condition The condition of a septic system is not as simple as some would suggest.  Currently there are no licenses or formal training requirements for testing septic systems and although there is a lot of pretense from various inspectors regarding their abilities,  I am skeptical that most home inspectors can test such a specialized system properly.  Rather than do our own cursory inspection similar to most other inspectors, we choose to work with one or more of the well established septic companies who have far more expertise to evaluate septic systems fully.  Often, this more thorough service will not even cost you more. Water Purity Coming Soon! Termite Presence Termites or other wood-destroying organisms: These pests can cause serious damage to wooden structures and can also attack stored food, household furniture, and books. In the wild, though, they play a positive role in recycling wood and plant material.  Most banks, in making home mortgage loans, require a termite inspection to determine if the home is free of these insects.  Even when not required by the bank, a termite inspection provides valuable information Residential Inspections provides termite inspection services and completes reports as may be required for your home loan.  We do not provide exterminating services but can make quality recommendations if a problem is found. Mold  We do not inspect for mold, but in some homes a mold inspection is essential.  This highly specialized area requires expertise that, like us, most home inspectors simply do not have.  An expert in mold inspection should be hired if you do require this service.  While most mold is benign (except for allergy problems) a certain few molds are toxic. This field is new, not well regulated, and there are many unscrupulous "mold experts" that overemphasize the danger of mold and charge exorbitant prices to remove it.