Maryland Home Inspections in Baltimore, DC, and Virginia by Aaron Farrare

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a home inspection?
2. What do your home inspections include?
3. What is Radon and why should I get tested for it?
4. What is mold and why should I get tested for it?
5. Why should get I tested for Lead Paint?
6. What is NAHI? Why is it important?

A home inspection is a visual inspetion of the structure and components of a home to find items that are not performing correctly or items that are unsafe. If a problem or a symptom of a problem is found, Aaron's Home Inspections will include a description of the problem in a written report and may recommend further evaluation on the date of the inspection.

Aaron's Home Inspections include evaluations of the following:

• Site:
  Land contour, drainage, driveways, walkways, porches, decks, retaining walls, parking structures, and evidence of abandoned oil tanks.
• Foundation:
  Cracks, settlement, deterioration, moisture influx, and piers.
• Exterior:
  Siding, trim, entry doors, garage doors, windows, and chimneys.
• Structure:
  Framing of sub-floors, stairs, walls, ceilings, and roofs.
• Roofing:
  Roof coverings, flashings, skylights, gutters, downspouts, eaves, and soffits.
• Plumbing:
  Water pressure, piping, fixtures, faucets, drains, vents, and water heaters.
• Electrical:
  Service conductors, main and sub-panels, breakers and fuses, grounding, switches, receptacles, fixtures, fans, smoke detectors, GFI furnciton, etc.
• Heating:
  Furnace or boiler, udcts, radiators, registers, woodstoves, and central air conditioning.
• Insulation:
  Attic, ceiling, wall and floor insulation, and vapor barriers.
• Ventilation:
  Attic, crawlspace, kitchen, bath and laundry ventilation
• Interior:
  Walls, floors, ceilings, doors, woodwork, cabinets, bathroom finish, fireplaces, etc.
• Built-In Appliances:
  Ranges, ovens, microwaves, disposals, dishwashers, and trash compactors.
• Pest and Dry Rot

Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that you are not able to see, smell, or taste. By breathing in air containing radon, you increase your chances of getting lung cancer. The Surgeon General of the United States has also warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US.

Radon problems can be found and fixed. Aaron's Home Inspections is experienced and qualified in identifying the existence of radon and recommending methods of removing it.

Molds are fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors. No one knows how many species of fungi exist but estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps three hundred thousand or more. Molds grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores. Mold spores can survive harsh environmental conditions, such as dry conditions, that do not support normal mold growth.

Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs (CDC).

Aaron's Home Inspections can find molds and recommend methods of eliminating them in your new or exisitng home/property.

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 6 years old and under are most at risk, because their bodies are growing quickly (EPA).

Research suggests that the primary sources of lead exposure for most children are:

• deteriorating lead-based paint,
• lead contaminated dust, and
• lead contaminated residential soil.

More information about lead paint and what Aaron's Home Inspection's can help with is available after a home inspection.

NAHI is the National Association of Home Inspectors. It requires that it's memebers (Aaron's Home Inspections is a member!) follow a Standard of Procedures and a Code of Ethics when performing home inspections.

NAHI Home Inspectors are usually the best choice for a quality home inspection. We are a NAHI member, so call or write us today!

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