Termite and Wood Boring Insect Inspection
Allied's inspectors are licensed by the State of Connecticut as "Commercial Applicator-Supervisory" (commonly referred to as a termite "S" license.) This license enables us to conduct any wood destroying insect inspection and to sign the National Pest Control Association Form NPCA-1 which is approved for FHA/VA, CHFA and DOH as well as conventional mortgages.

Our inspection and report includes wood boring insects found in our area such as: Eastern Subterranean Termites, Carpenter Ants, Powder Post Beetles and Carpenter Bees. During our inspection, we look for evidence in accessible areas of current or past infestation, evidence of any treatment that may have been performed, if destruction of wood framing has occurred and whether or not wood replacement or treatment is recommended.

Termites
Termites consume enough lumber to build 489 houses in a year in the United States. While there are very few houses on record that have been damaged to the point that they are considered unsafe, termites do cause enough damage so that wood consumed by them needs repair or replacement at a cost of $750 million each year. That's more than all the fires, storms and earthquakes combined.

The termite species that causes the most damage in the United States and the one that is prevalent in our area is the Eastern Subterranean Termite. Termites lead very secretive lives. They are not usually seen by the casual observer. Since they usually live in the ground and the workers never come out in the open, they are seldom noticed by the average homeowner until some damage has been done.

According to the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension Service, "Don't panic if you learn or suspect that termites may be attacking your home. Your house will not be ruined or collapse because termites are present. Termite control should be considered merely as another repair that may be necessary to maintain your house in sound structural condition."

Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ants are among the most common ants found in homes. They are the largest of our local ants and as you can guess, derive their name from the habit of tunneling and nesting in wood. They are the only ants that attack wood and probably rank second to termites as wood-destroying insects. Powder Post Beetles Powder Post Beetles are commonly found in very old or antiques homes constructed before the advent of kiln-dried lumber. While they may not have gained the notorious reputation of termites or carpenter ants, we have seen instances where structural damage has occurred requiring treatment and wood replacement.

Carpenter Bees
Carpenter Ants resemble bumble bees in appearance. The eastern species is probably the most destructive in the United States. They nest in wood by drilling ½" diameter holes to create their nests. While drilling from a few bees is slight, damage from numerous bees over many years can cause
considerable damage.

Radon Gas Detection
Radon is a radioactive gas and is a know carcinogen. It is a colorless, odorless product from the breakdown of uranium, frequently found in soil, rock and water under and surrounding buildings. It can diffuse through solid concrete, but enters easily through cracks and crevices in the basement floor and foundation walls and through sump pits, floor drains and any openings through the basement floor and walls. Radon can also enter a building through the water system if the building is supplied by an on-site well. Once radon enters a home, it can become trapped inside and build up to elevated levels.

When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of developing lung cancer. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. It is estimated to cause thousands of deaths each year. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of developing lung cancer is especially high. The Connecticut Department of Health and Addiction Services estimates that one in four houses in Connecticut has an elevated level of radon and along with the EPA and Surgeon General, recommends that all homes be tested for the gas at the time of purchase.

To ensure reliable test results, homes should be tested using only EPA qualified or state certified radon testers. Allied is both EPA and state listed for radon testing. Allied uses continuous electronic monitor testing devices which are approved by the EPA and we follow EPA protocols for testing during real estate transactions. These monitors take hourly readings of the radon levels over the duration of the test and automatically averages all readings which results in an EPA average reading which can be compared to the EPA "action level."

If elevated levels of radon are detected (4.0 pCi/ or higher), EPA recommends that action be taken to reduce the radon level. Radon levels can be reduced by sealing cracks in floors and walls and installing a system of pipes and fans (sub-slab depressurization systems). These systems are very effective in removing radon from below the basement floor before it can enter the home.

Radon gas can also enter the home through the water system. The gas is released into the air when water is used for showering and other household uses. This is usually a smaller source of radon as compared to radon in the soil, however, in some cases it can be significant. Allied can obtain water samples for laboratory analysis of radon in water.

Lead Paint Screening
Lead is a powerful neurotoxin. When consumed, it interferes with the developmental and functioning of virtually all body organs and systems. Even at low levels, lead effects the central nervous system and brain development. Children under the age of six are at greatest risk. According to the federal government, "'Lead poisoning is the No. 1 environmental health hazard facing children in the United States. One out of six children under the age of six is now suffering from lead poisoning, making lead poisoning the foremost preventable disease of childhood.

The overwhelming cause of childhood lead poisoning is lead-based paint and lead dust in homes. Lead was banned for use in new residential paint in 1978, however, it is estimated that approximately 50% of the housing stock in Connecticut contain some lead-based paint. Many people are mistaken in their belief that lead poisoning is only a problem for children who reside in "inner city" housing. It is now known that children who reside in older homes located in the suburbs and rural areas are also at risk. Additionally, it is not only children who eat paint chips who are at risk. It is now known that repeated exposure to small amounts of lead over an extended period of time, such as consuming dust that contains lead, is the most common cause of lead poisoning. Lead in dust is generated from the impact and friction of surfaces such as doors and windows and from weathered paint.

New federal regulations (Title X) now require real estate agents and sellers of dwellings built prior to 1978 to disclose their knowledge, if any, of> lead hazards and to provide purchasers with a copy of " Your Family From Lead in Your Home" or and EPA approved state version. This informative pamphlet discusses lead hazards, lead inspections and risk assessments, and how to remedy lead hazards.
Title X also gives the prospective purchaser a 10-day period during which time they may obtain a lead-based paint inspection or risk assessment at their own expense. The regulation does not require purchasers to investigate lead hazards and, if found, it does not require sellers or purchasers to taken any specific action. The regulation is designed to provide home buyers with more information on lead hazards and to give them the option of further investigating is lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards exist. Its mere presence does not necessarily considered a hazard. Properly maintained and managed lead-based paint poses little health risk.

Allied's inspectors are licensed by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health as "Lead Inspectors".

Water Quality Analysis
According to the State of Connecticut Department of Health and Addition Services, there are more than 1,200 contaminated wells in Connecticut that have the presence of bacteria or harmful chemicals, metals or other substances that adversely affect the quality of the water.

An analysis of your well water supply by a state approved laboratory is very important. We can sample the water and have it tested for the presence or absence of "total coliforms" and "fecal coliforms" If either is present, the water is unsafe for drinking purposes. This is also known as a "potability test". The water should also be sampled and tested for a "physical examination" which includes turbidity, color and odor and a "chemical examination" which tests for ph, hardness, nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, sodium, chloride, copper, iron, manganese and sulfate.

In addition, the water should also be sampled and tested for organic chemicals commonly referred to as a VOC ( organic compounds) test. VOCs include components of gasoline, solvents, and industrial cleaners, which can< cause many illnesses, including liver cancer and leukemia.

In the event that the nitrate is at or greater than 5 milligrams per liter, the water should also be tested for alachlor, atrazine, dicamba, ethylene dibromide (EDB), metolachlor, simazine, and 2,4-D. These chemicals are included in the SOC (synthetic organic compound) test. SOCs include man-made organics, such as pesticides, that are carried into groundwater by rain and irrigation. Consuming these chemicals has been linked to circulatory, respiratory and nerve disorders.

Included with your copy of the report is an interpretive guide which explains what each item is, what the contaminant level is, how water quality is affected and recommendations are made for reducing the contaminant level.

Well Water Quantity Test
Allied conducts two types of well water quantity test: a flow test and a yield test. A flow test takes about 1½ hours and determines the flow of water from the well taken at five minute intervals. This test includes an inspection and testing of the pump/well water system which includes the pump type and size, and the pump cycle. This test determines if there may be a problem with the well producing an adequate quantity of water for the house being tested.

A yield test takes approximately 1½ to 3 hours or more to complete and is a more definitive test. This test is conducted by a Sate of Connecticut licensed plumber/well service technician. more detailed test and examination is conducted on the pump/well water system and includes, among other information, pressure tank draw down, pump recovery of draw down, flow rate with open discharge, pump recovery after open flow test, time of open flow discharge and amp draw down on the pump motor. We also provide conclusions and recommendations in easily understood language. Sometimes minor repairs and adjustments are made at no additional charge. This test will determine if the well is producing water in adequate quantities for the house being tested.

Septic System Dye Test
Before you purchase a home with an on-site sewage disposal system, it is important for you to know if the system is functioning properly or if there are any problems. In Connecticut, the Department of Environmental Protection estimates that approximately 14,000 homeowners face the unpleasant problem of a failed septic tank. A failed septic system or one that requires major repair or rebuilding can be the most expensive repair that a homeowner can make. A conventional septic system has two major components; a septic tank and a drainfield. We recommend that you have the septic tank cleaned and inspected at least every three years. Allied can perform the test on the drainfield or whatever type of system exists after the septic tank (drywells, galleries, etc). The older a home is, the more potential there is for problems and the more important it is to conduct a test.

Our dye test will not stain plumbing fixtures or harm septic systems and does not involve digging or opening the septic tank or any other part of the system and is not destructive to any of the surrounding ground area.

Asbestos Inspection
Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It has been added to many materials to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. Breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity and Asbestosis occurs when the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue. We are all exposed to small amounts of asbestos in our daily lives and most of us do not develop these health problems. However, if asbestos containing material is disturbed, the tiny fibers can be released and, once inhaled, these fibers increase our risk of developing a disease.

As part of our basic pre-purchase home inspection, we perform a visual examination and look for asbestos containing materials commonly found in boilers, furnaces, steam and hot water piping, as well as air ducts. For an additional fee, our optional asbestos inspection is a more detailed inspection in which samples are taken of material that we suspect contains asbestos fibers. These samples are brought to a state approved laboratory where an analysis determines if asbestos fibers are present, what type of asbestos fiber it is and at what percentage of the total material contains this fiber. We also will assess the condition of he material and can advise you with regard to advantages and disadvantages of the various corrective actions that may be recommended (encapsulation, covering or removal). If the asbestos containing material is in good condition and it will not be disturbed because of remodeling work or boiler/furnace replacement, the recommendation of the Environmental Protection Agency is to do nothing. There is no danger with asbestos unless the fibers are released and inhaled into the lungs.

Electromagnetic Field (EMF)
The federal EPA has stated that EMFs are a "possible, but not proven, cause of cancer in humans." Epidemiological studies have repeatedly shown a link between EMF exposure and certain forms of cancer. There is growing scientific data that high tension lines, secondary power lines, power transformers and household wiring are emitting high EMF levels that can lead to an increase in leukemia, learning disabilities, stress and miscarriages. Some studies found a doubling of leukemia cases in children living in homes with high EMF levels, as compared with other homes. These homes were not all near high tension lines. Florida has adopted a standard for magnetic fields and several other states have set limits for the strength of EMF along power line paths. Although, as yet, there is no standard for EMF, government reports claim that 2 milligauss is the level at which cancer may occur in children.

Formaldehyde Gas
Urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) is an insulation that was first installed in homes in 1970 because of its excellent insulation value and relative ease of installation as a retrofit material. It was pumped into the wall cavity of a building where it hardened to form a layer of insulation material. There are approximately 13,000 homes in Connecticut that have UFFI pumped into the walls.

Problems were evident in a number of homes where formaldehyde gas was being emitted from the insulation. It was found to cause or aggravate asthma and other types of lung diseases as well as eye, upper respiratory and skin irritations.

The presence of the insulation does not automatically mean there is a health risk. As the insulation ages, it emits less and less gas and it is widely believed that the insulation is no longer a health threat. Formaldehyde gas can also be present in some homes because of the presence of other building materials and furnishings which contain formaldehyde and which can emit gas and become a problem to people who are particularly sensitive to it. The U.S. Product Safety Commission and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has determined that concentrations exceeding .10 ppm (parts per million) in residential dwellings requires attention.