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Radon Testing Protocols
Does your radon tester follow the EPA guidelines? In a real estate transaction most radon tests are performed by the home inspector. There is nothing wrong with that, but there is the assumption that they are doing it ‘right’. This may or may not be true. The proper...
Controlling Radon Gas
In Existing Homes: After testing for radon and if the level exceeds 4.0 picocuries, the next step is to begin mitigation. You should look for a ‘certified mitigation contractor’. They will have completed the EPA required training and testing. In a nutshell mitigation...
No More Debate…Radon Kills
Radon mitigation is part of the MN State Building Code. What does it mean when the MN State Building Code is modified to include radon mitigation methods as a requirement to build a house? Building codes are ‘minimum’ safety standards for construction. This says a...
Radon Gas is a Proven Danger
January is National Radon Awareness Month. Radon gas and real estate don’t mix well. The more energy efficient we make our houses the greater the risk of developing radon induced lung cancer. The radon gas health concern is no longer debatable; it is the #1 cause of...
Wet Where and Wet When
What Makes My Window Panes Wet? Problem: The window is wet on the room side of the glass for a few weeks in fall. Solution: Moisture has accumulated, over summer, in the structure of the house from cooking, showering, and even the family breathing. This can be...
There’s a Mouse in the House
Mice are colonizers…so it is very unlikely that you have only one mouse! If you give a lonely mouse the opportunity, through breeding, you will very soon have 100 mice. Controlling this problem begins with recognizing how you discovered this furry creature. Did...
The Essentials of Sump Pumps
Incorrect terminology puts a real estate agent or homeowner at high risk. When putting a home up for sale there are many details that are disclosed, sometimes, in a mandated seller disclosure report and other times for marketing promotions. If these features are...
3 Fire Proof Bypasses
Fire barriers are often compromised and the homeowner never knows it. Home fire barriers have been a part of the building code since about 1960. Homes built prior to that time were not required to have any fire protection and many different fire proofing methods have...
Sewer Backup
Old houses can have underground sewer problems. Recently, wise home inspectors and real estate agents have begun recommending that, in older homes, underground sewer pipes be videoed. Most of these old pipes are clay and have a high probability of failure....