Andy Tabler

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.

Radon gas rises up from underground and can enter any home, old or new. When your family breathes it, it can damage the lungs. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and for non-smokers, it is the leading cause of lung cancer, period. Because you can't see, smell, or taste radon, only testing can confirm whether this dangerous gas is collecting in your house.

Buying or Selling have your home tested for Radon

Licensed under the State of Ohio as a Radon Specialist (RS218) and Radon Mitigation Contractor (RC118) under the company name of; Radon & Mold Solutions of Ohio, we are able to provide all your Radon testing and mitigation needs.

Radon and Cancer. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That's because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to EPA's 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

You should test for radon. Testing is the only way to find out about your home's radon level. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing of all homes below the third floor for radon.

You can schedule a radon test with us along with your home inspection, or as an independent test

You can fix a radon problem. If you find that you have high radon levels, there are ways to fix a radon problem. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.

If you are buying a home. EPA recommends that you obtain the radon level in the home you are considering buying. An EPA publication "The Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide"

What is Radon?

Radon-222 is a radioactive gas released during the natural decay of thorium and uranium, which are common, naturally occurring elements found in varying amounts in rock and soil. Odorless, invisible, and without taste, radon cannot be detected with the human senses.

Radon-222 decays into radioactive elements, two of which -- polonium-218 and polonium-214 -- emit alpha particles, which are highly effective in damaging lung tissues. These alpha-emitting radon decay products have been implicated in a causal relationship with lung cancer in humans.

Radon and Real Estate in Ohio

Introduction

This fact sheet provides recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) on how to address radon concerns that may arise during real estate transactions. Its intent is to assist buyers and sellers in making informed decisions about radon. Radon levels are not regulated in Ohio, so it is up to homeowners themselves to decide how much radon is acceptable in their homes. Handling radon issues during the sale of a home is open to negotiation between the buyer and seller. Since a radon problem can be easily identified and fixed, there is no health-based reason why it should be a "deal breaker".

These recommendations reflect unique aspects of the radon leve ls typical in Ohio. These levels are affected by many factors such as climate, geology and the fact that many basements are used as living space. These recommendations may differ slightly from the advice given by some others such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Why is radon important in Ohio?
Ohio's soils contain concentrations of uranium and radium that supply a constant source of radon. Many of our houses are built and operated in ways that increase the likelihood of radon entry in homes. The ODH estimates that almost one in two (1/2) Ohio homes have radon levels that may pose a large risk to health over many years of exposure. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers in the United States.

What is radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that enters buildings from the surrounding soil. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless and radioactive.

How can I find out if a home has a radon problem?
Test results from nearby homes cannot be relied upon to predict the radon level in your home. A properly performed radon test within the house is the only way to find out if a radon problem exists. Performing such a test on your own is easy, inexpensive, and can be done privately. Such tests also can be conducted by a Licensed Radon Tester prior to a purchase or by the buyer after moving in when they become the home owner.

A Licensed Radon Tester may be used when an unbiased third party is desired. Under Ohio law, only the homeowner may test; any other tester must be an Ohio Licensed Radon Tester. Although tests by Licensed Testers should be of high quality, they are still subject to the uncertainties related to the timing and duration of the test (see ODH fact sheet, Radon Testing and Use of Test Results, available by calling 1-800-523-4439).

You may contact the ODH Radon Program at 1-800-523-4439 for more information on where to obtain low cost radon test kits, the types of test kits available, how to test your home properly and how to use the results.

How do you test properly?
The goal of radon testing should be to estimate the annual average radon concentration. Since occupant activities, house operations and weather patterns (daily, short-term and seasonal variations) can greatly influence the radon level over short periods of time, the best way to test a house and evaluate the health risk from radon is to perform a long-term test.

The amount of time available until the closing may place practical constraints on the ability to measure radon effectively. Short-term testing, which is typically done for a period of 48 hours to 7 days, is less useful than long-term testing.

• Short-term tests offer a quick and inexpensive way to "screen" for radon in a home. Short-term tests cannot measure the annual average level of radon. Decisions on whether or not to mitigate a home should not be based solely on the results of one short-term test.
  
• Long-term tests more accurately reflect the average amount of radon in the home during the year. The best way to estimate a year-round average is to test for a full year. If a year-long test can't be done, the test period should include both heating and cooling seasons. Results from long-term radon tests can reasonably be used to decide whether or not to mitigate a home.

What do the test results mean?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a recommended action level for radon at 4.0 picoCuries/liter (pCi/L) as advice to the public on how to understand their test results. To use the recommended action level correctly, it should be compared to the annual average level of radon measured in a home. If the annual average level of radon in a home is above this action level, EPA and ODH recommend that steps be taken to lower it. See the ODH fact sheet, Radon Testing and Use of Test Results, available by calling 1-800-523-4439, for more detailed advice on the use of test results.

We provide all of your professional real estate inspection needs with one call. Home, inspection, termite inspection, mold, and well inspection radon testing and more.

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) is the current rating for furnace filter standards, MERV follows a scale of 0-20. The higher the number the better the ability for the filter to remove particles 1-12 microns in size.

The dust in your home is more than dust. It is composed of pollen, mold spores, plant spores, lint, bacteria, pet dander, skin cells and many other contaminants. Dusting, vacuuming and cooking indoors, can actually increase particulate concentrations. Can you imagine how much dust is currently flying about around you, without you even knowing it? This is what makes having an effective furnace filter so important. Proper filtration is the best way to remove dust, dirt and mold particles from the air. There are a number of different types of furnace filters that you can use to accomplish this. Many furnace filters are disposable but there are also variations that are reusable or refillable in nature. Furnace filters also come in a variety of different materials, including natural fibers, manmade fibers, metal and fiberglass. The purpose of a furnace filter is to protect air-handling equipment, meaning that it is important that they are maintained or replaced exactly how the manufacturer recommends.

If you do not maintain or replace them as recommended by the manufacturer then they can become dangerous by restricting airflow and causing fires, carbon monoxide leaks, or worse. Maintenance truly is key when it comes to getting the most out of your furnace filter. When filters become loaded with particles, there is less air flow capacity which cuts down on the efficiency of the filter and causes the rest of the machinery to work extra hard to operate.

Make sure to keep the manufacturer's instructions handy so you always know how to maintain and repair your furnace filter and other important furnace equipment. Our Home Inspection covers over 400 components including providing you with information, as to where the furnace filter is located and how to replace it.

If your home is on the market for sale, changing the furnace filter is one of the 23-tips we recommend prior to having a Home Inspection for a complete list call us or visit us on the web at www.arsinspections.com

Termites 101 - Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies these colonies may contain thousands of termites. Termite colony members are dispersed throughout the soil and can extend underground tunnels (shelter tubes) hundreds of feet to reach feeding sites. Each termite colony contains three forms or castes, which are the workers, soldiers, and reproductive termites. These castes are physically distinct and perform different tasks in the termite society. Workers are about 1/8 inch long and are blind, wingless, soft-bodied, creamy white to grayish-white with a round head. Workers are the most numerous individuals in a termite colony, and they are the termite caste that actually eats the wood. These sterile individuals forage for food and water, construct and repair shelter tubes, feed and groom other termites, care for eggs and young, and participate in colony defense. Soldiers are also wingless and resemble workers except that they have a large, rectangular, yellowish-brown head with large mandibles (jaws). The soldiers' primary function is colony defense. Male and female reproductive termites can be winged or wingless. Each can produce new offspring. The eastern subterranean termite is the most common termite in Ohio and its alates are black and about 0.4 inch long, with pale or grayish, translucent wings.In the United States, subterranean termites are found in every state except Alaska. They are most abundant in warmer climates, where structural infestations are common. Subterranean termites are the most economically important wood-destroying pests in the United States. They are, however, important components of natural forest ecosystems, where they break down cellulose. Unfortunately, when land is cleared for human habitation the termites present may eventually pose a threat to the wood used in construction because their natural food resources have been removed.

Beetles: Powder Post Beetles- small beetles whose larvae feed in hard wood such as oak. Old House Borers whose larvae feed in soft wood timbers. Only the larvae feed on wood. They generally prefer wood in cool locations with moisture levels above 14 percent. Powder Post Beetles are the most common beetles infesting crawl spaces and outbuildings. Female beetles usually lay fewer than fifty eggs under wood splinters, in cracks, or in old exit holes. When the larvae change into adults, they chew round exit holes between 1/16 of an inch in diameter. The male and female emerge together and mate, and the female deposits her eggs. Though the females fly well and can lay eggs at new locations, they are most likely to lay their eggs on the wood from which they emerged. These beetles take 2 to 3 years to complete their development.

Carpenter Bees: Common nesting sites include eaves, window trim, fascia boards, siding, wooden shakes, decks and outdoor furniture. Carpenter bees tunnel into the wood and lay their eggs. You will notice perfectly round and smooth holes in wood which most often make a 90 degree turn, making long interior tunnels, and with the grain of the wood to develop their larvae. The entrance hole is usually. Carpenter Bees prefer untreated wood or well-weathered wood. Look for piles of sawdust under the holes. You will often see them going in and out.

Carpenter Ants: Possible when moisture is common in the area. These ants set up colonies and galley in moist wood in trees, firewood, and fence posts, but they don't eat the wood. Inside, they build colonies in wall voids, foam insulation, eaves, crawl spaces behind siding, in attic insulation and many other places. They forage at night during summer, however they often invade structures in spring and fall looking for food sources. Many times you can find these ants swarming inside, especially around lights and windows.