Included
With
Your Home Inspection
This is "The Guide" to operate
your home.Over 400 drawings and simple explanations
that describe the operation of the structural, electrical, and mechanical
systems in your home. Hundreds of solutions to common problems. This 300+
page book will give you the information you need to effectively operate
and maintain your home
Independent
Home Inspectors
of North America
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Choosing a water
test that's right for you!
If you are thinking of buying a house with a private water
supply system, i.e., a well, water quality testing is an important component
to the home inspection. It is important to choose the right test given
the construction of the well itself and any known environmental influences
or pre-sale conditions that could affect the quality of your water. I've
presented a table below that will help you decipher the complexities of
choosing an appropriate water testing program. The table below is intended
to give you an approximate idea of what you should consider. It is recommended
that you also consult with the local health department or a qualified
environmental scientist on what test is right for you. Please note that
the test descriptions are specific to the water testing laboratory that
I use. They are not general standardized testing names used by every testing
laboratory.
Type of Water Quality Test
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Is it right for you?
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Standard Scan- Test includes total
coliform bacteria, fecal/e. coli, lead, sodium, potassium, copper,
iron, manganese, magnesium, calcium, arsenic, ph, turbidity, color,
odor, conductivity, total dissolved solids (tds), sediment, alkalinity,
chlorine, chloride, hardness, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, sulfate.
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The standard test was sufficient in the
old days when there was very little problems with ground water pollution.
Nowadays it should only be used in very remote areas where there are
no documented problems with industrial pollutants and radon gas. In
Massachusetts and surrounding states, my professional opinion as an
environmental scientist is that it should only be used to check specific
parameters with respect to water treatment efficiency and not as a
comprehensive indication of water quality. |
Comprehensive scan- Test includes
total coliform bacteria, lead, nitrate, nitrite, radon, calcium, copper,
iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, chloride, chlorine,
color, hardness, ph, total dissolved solids, sulfate, ammonia plus:
fecal/e. coli, alkalinity, odor, conductivity, sediment, turbidity,
arsenic and 61 volatile organic compounds. |
Tests for 61 volatile organic compounds
(including MTBE) as well as the common causes of unhealthy and low
quality water. For deep wells, this is the minimum and most common
testing scheme I recommend for determining general water quality in
today's world. |
Health Scan- Test includes total
coliform bacteria, lead, nitrate, nitrite, radon, calcium, copper,
iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, chloride, chlorine,
color, hardness, ph, total dissolved solids, sulfate, ammonia plus:
fecal/e. coli, alkalinity, odor, conductivity, sediment, turbidity,
arsenic and 61 volatile organic compounds. Identification of microorganisms
to the genus and species level. |
This test is the above comprehensive
scan plus additional analyses for microorganisms other than coliform
bacteria. Choose this test of you have an inland shallow or dug well,
which are more susceptible to surface contamination than deep wells.
Shallow wells are more susceptible to microorganisms such a giardia
lamblia or Cryptosporidium, which are protozoal parasites that can
cause health problems. Also choose this test if there are known problems
with respect to bacterial contamination or with a sulfur smell in
a deep well. |
Comprehensive plus Pesticides-
Test includes : total coliform, fecal/e. coli, calcium, copper, iron,
magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, alkalinity, chloride, chlorine,
color, conductivity, hardness, nitrate, nitrite, odor, ph, sediment,
total dissolved solids, sulfate, turbidity, arsenic, lead, ammonia,
radon, 61 volatile organics compounds (including mtbe) plus the following
pesticides: aldrin, a-bhc, b-bhc, d-bhc, g-bhc, chlordane, 4,4'-ddd,
4,4'-dde, 4,4'-ddt, dieldrin, endosulfan i, endosulfan sulfate, endrin,
endrin aldehyde, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, methoxychlor, toxaphene. |
Includes everything in the Comprehensive
Scan and adds 17 pesticides to the analysis. I recommend this test
if you have a house with an inland deep well that is located near
a farm or was built on an old farm or fruit orchard. Also recommended
if inappropriate use of pesticides in the surrounding neighborhood
is suspected. |
Health Scan plus Pesticides- Test
includes total coliform bacteria, lead, nitrate, nitrite, radon, calcium,
copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, chloride, chlorine,
color, hardness, ph, total dissolved solids, sulfate, ammonia plus:
fecal/e. coli, alkalinity, odor, conductivity, sediment, turbidity,
arsenic and 61 volatile organic compounds compounds (including mtbe)
plus the following pesticides: aldrin, a-bhc, b-bhc, d-bhc, g-bhc,
chlordane, 4,4'-ddd, 4,4'-dde, 4,4'-ddt, dieldrin, endosulfan i, endosulfan
sulfate, endrin, endrin aldehyde, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide,
methoxychlor, toxaphene. Identification of microorganisms to the genus
and species level. |
Includes everything in the Health Scan
and adds 17 pesticides to the analysis. I recommend this test if you
have a house with a shallow or dug well that is located near a farm
or was built on an old farm or orchard, or is nearby a recreational
lake, and may be drawing water from the lake via underground formations.
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Total Environmental Scan- Test
includes: total coliform, fecal/e. coli bacteria, lead, nitrate, nitrite,
radon, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium,
chloride, chlorine, color, hardness, ph, total dissolved solids, sulfate,
ammonia, alkalinity, odor, conductivity, sediment, turbidity, arsenic
and 61 volatile organic compounds (including mtbe) as well as a standard
plate count (spc), fluoride, tannins, 3 herbicides and 19 pesticides
including pcb's, the heavy metals antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium,
mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium and zinc, as well as total
petroleum hydrocarbons (tph), methylene blue active substances (mbas),
hydrogen sulfide, o-phosphorus and t-phosphorus. |
A very inclusive test. Consider this
test if you're concerned about industrial /agricultural pollution
from either a nearby industry or a landfill or dump. Unauthorized
dumping anytime in the past can pollute your water. |
Advanced Environmental Health Scan-
Test includes: total coliform, fecal/e. coli bacteria, lead, nitrate,
nitrite, radon, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium,
sodium, chloride, chlorine, color, hardness, ph, total dissolved solids,
sulfate, ammonia, alkalinity, odor, conductivity, sediment, turbidity,
arsenic and 61 volatile organic compounds (including mtbe) as well
as a standard plate count (spc), fluoride, tannins, 3 herbicides and
19 pesticides including pcb's, the heavy metals antimony, beryllium,
cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium and
zinc, as well as total petroleum hydrocarbons (tph), methylene blue
active substances (mbas), hydrogen sulfide, o-phosphorus and t-phosphorus.
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This is one of the most thorough water
quality scans available today. The scan includes a microanalysis and
analysis for semi-volatile organic compounds. Consider this test if
you're concerned about industrial / agricultural pollution from either
a nearby industry or a landfill or dump. Unauthorized dumping anytime
in the past can pollute your water. |
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Service Area
We perform home inspections in the following
cities and towns in Middlesex, Norfolk, and Worcester Counties of Massachusetts:
Acton, Allston, Andover, Arlington,
Ashland, Ashburnham, Auburn, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Berlin, Billerica,
Bolton, Boston suburbs, Boylston, Boxboro,Boxborough, Brighton, Brookline,
Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Dedham, Dunstable,
Fitchburg, Framingham, Franklin, Gardner, Grafton, Groton, Harvard,
Holden, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Jamaica Plain, Lancaster,
Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Marlboro, Marlborough, Maynard,
Medway, Mendon, MetroWest, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Newton,
Northboro, Northborough, Norwood, Pepperell, Shrewsbury, Somerville,
Southboro, Stoneham, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Tewksbury, Townsend,
Tyngsborough, Upton, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Westboro,
Westborough, Westford, West Roxbury, Weston, Westwood, Winchester, Woburn,
Worcester, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, Millbury, Princeton, Shirley,
Sterling, West Boylston.
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Harmony Home Inspection of MA
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