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A traditional residential waste-water system, or otherwise known as a “Septic System” is a single, separate waste-water treatment system. The “Septic System” uses the onsite soil to treat small waste water flows. Most times “Septic Systems” are found where public sewers are not available, such as rural areas, However, “Septic Systems” can be found in residential areas serviced by public sewers, where the public sewers were installed after the home was originally built. While each “Septic System” is individual system designed for the specific site, they are mostly based upon the same principles. See more information on Septic Tanks.

Radon is a by-product of the breakdown of uranium deposits in the earth. It is present at various levels throughout New York State. Negative air pressure in the home from indoor/outdoor temperature variations, fireplaces, furnaces, dryers as well as bathroom fans venting indoor air causes Radon Gas to be pulled into the home through the basement or slab.
Radon can also be found in private well water, or public water supply systems which use ground water. Radon Gas mitigation systems cost in excess of $1000.  See more information on Radon Gas.

There are three types of private drinking water wells.

• Dug/Bored wells are holes in the ground dug by shovel or backhoe. They are lined (cased) with stones, brick, tile, or other material to prevent collapse. Dug wells have a large diameter, are shallow (approximately 10 to 30 feet deep) and are not cased continuously.

• Driven wells  are constructed by driving pipe into the ground. Driven wells are cased continuously and shallow (approximately 30 to 50 feet deep). Though driven wells are cased, they can be contaminated easily because they draw water from aquifers near the surface. These wells draw water from aquifers near the surface.

• Drilled wells  are constructed by percussion or rotary-drilling machines. Drilled wells can be thousands of feet deep and require the installation of casing. Drilled wells have a lower risk of contamination due to their depth and use of continuous casing. Soils surrounding shore wells provide minimal filtration. The risk of contamination of these water sources can be similar to those of surface water sources.

Click here for more information on private wells.

Top 10 Issues Home Inspectors Find:

From time to time I’ll discover an issue in the home I am inspecting and the buyer standing next to me will say “ Do you see this problem often?” It got me thinking that a “Top 10 List of common Home Inspection issues” might be valuable to both current and potential homeowners to help put things in perspective. So here goes….

Every home can be broken down into the following component systems:

• Roof

• Exterior

• Structure

• Electrical

• Heating

• Cooling

• Insulation and Ventilation

• Plumbing

• Interior

This top 10 list represents a consolidation of resource materials from surveys performed by House & Garden, MSN Real Estate, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and Realtor Mag. The top Ten list ranks issues found in home inspections, from the less frequent, (starting at 10) to the most frequent at #1. Issues which were common in more than one survey were ranked lower than other issues occurring less frequently.
For Home Buyers: If you run across any of these items during your home inspection, don’t worry. These are common issues and they all have fixes. Many are relatively quick and inexpensive to repair.
For Home Owners: If your home doesn’t have any of these issues, don’t feel left out… NO HOME IS PERFECT ,(not even New homes), and I’m sure there is an issue or two lurking about your home waiting to be uncovered.

Asbestos is a mineral has been used in building materials and may be in your home. It is important to understand how asbestos can be harmful to your family. See more information on Asbestos.