Residential and Commercial Property Inspections in Southern New Jersey
Blower Door Testing: A Must-Have for Your Home Inspection
As a homeowner in southern New Jersey, you want your property to be energy-efficient and free from air leaks. One way to ensure this is to get a blower door test. This diagnostic tool can help you identify areas of air leakage and make improvements to increase your home’s energy efficiency. Andrews Property Inspections offers this valuable service to help you keep your home comfortable, safe, and energy-efficient.
What is a Blower Door Test?
A blower door test is a diagnostic tool that measures the airtightness of your home. It involves mounting a powerful fan onto an exterior door frame and using it to depressurize the house. By doing this, the fan can measure how much air leaks into or out of your home. In addition, this test can help identify areas that need improvement, such as leaky windows, doors, and ductwork.
How Does a Blower Door Test Work?
At Andrews Property Inspections, our blower door test consists of several steps:
We will seal all exterior openings, such as windows and doors, except for one designated “test” door.
We will install a fan onto the exterior test door and seal it in place.
The fan will then blow air out of the house, creating a lower pressure inside your home than outside.
We will measure the airflow rate of the fan and use this information to determine the airtightness of your home.
We will also use thermal imaging to identify areas of your home where air leaks.
Why is Blower Door Testing Important?
Blower door testing is crucial for identifying energy efficiency issues in your home. By identifying areas where the air is leaking, you can take steps to address those issues, such as sealing leaks with caulk or weatherstripping or adding insulation. This insight can help reduce energy consumption and lower energy bills. Additionally, identifying areas of air leakage can prevent moisture buildup that can lead to mold and other health hazards.
Blower door testing is especially important in areas with extreme weather conditions, like southern New Jersey. By ensuring your home is properly sealed, you can avoid costly repairs from water damage or mold growth caused by moisture buildup.
How We Can Help
Andrews Property Inspection is an established residential and commercial inspection company in southern New Jersey. We understand the importance of a well-sealed home. Our experienced inspector Richard Andrews uses state-of-the-art equipment to accurately measure the airtightness of your home and identify areas where the air leaks. We provide a detailed report of our findings, including recommendations for improving your home’s energy efficiency. With our help, you can take steps to improve your home’s energy efficiency and save money on energy bills.
Andrews Property Inspections Residential Inspections for Southern New Jersey
Home Inspection Tips for First-Time Home Buyers in Southern New Jersey
First-time buyer in Southern New Jersey and feeling overwhelmed? Need effective tips for buying your first home? Get a home inspection! With so much on the line, contracting with a certified home inspector should be among a South Jersey’s buyer’s first steps when buying a house.
Home inspectors in South Jersey, as elsewhere, work with first-time buyers to ensure they get all the relevant information they need. The goal is to see potential purchasers have the knowledge required to make a fully-informed decision about a real-estate purchase. After all, buying a home is one of the most substantial investments many people ever make.
What to Expect When You’re Inspecting
While home inspections are not mandatory, they really are a critical part of buying a home. It is the buyer’s responsibility to arrange for a home inspection. It’s a good idea for the potential homeowner to attend any inspection. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn a lot about any house under consideration.
A home inspection analyzes and documents the house’s physical and mechanical systems to cover:
The condition of the exterior and overall structure
Any recommended repairs, replacements or improvements.
The condition of the interior which includes all the working elements:
electrical
heating
cooling
insulation
ventilation
plumbing
interior finishes
A home inspection usually takes a minimum of several hours to complete. Contrary to popular belief, a home doesn’t get a passing or failing grade. Instead, the inspector will issue a comprehensive report documenting their findings.
Essentially the report will confirm if the home:
is in good condition
will require immediate significant maintenance
will need major future upkeep
will need substantial repairs or replacements.
This detailed information can potentially save a first-time buyer thousands of dollars in pricey repairs.
First-time buyers in South Jersey should also be aware of specific environmental hazards. Testing for these elements may incur nominal extra costs but the expense is well worth it. Testing should include:
Radon Tests – One in six New Jersey homes has elevated levels according to a 2017 New Jersey Department of Health release. Radon can cause serious adverse health effects but mitigation is relatively straightforward.
Oil Tank Sweep. Underground heating oil tanks were commonly used in New Jersey. If they leaked, the soil and groundwater may be contaminated. Testing older homes is particularly important.
The Case for Home Inspections
These new home buyer tips will maximize the benefit of a home inspection for first-time home buyers in South Jersey.
Knowledge is always power! Collaborate with a licensed and insured home inspection company with a solid reputation in the communities they serve. Tap into their expertise.
Get the facts! A home inspection is an inexpensive but highly effective way to determine the overall condition of a dwelling. Depending on what’s revealed, this information may assist when it comes time to negotiate the closing.
Get ongoing support! Quality home inspection companies will go the extra mile for clients and answer any additional inspection-related questions for as long as the buyer owns the home.
Remember, buying a first home can be a stressful and overwhelming undertaking! A professional home inspection conducted by a licensed inspector gives buyers informed peace of mind if they choose to make an offer.
How Can We Help
Andrews Property Inspection is an established residential and commercial inspection company located in Southern New Jersey. Richard Andrews is the highly-experienced owner/operator and a certified inspector. Richard delivers high-value commercial and residential inspections in Atlantic and Cape May counties.
Andrew’s Property Inspection partners with first-time home buyers throughout so as to simplify the purchase process. Andrews Property Inspection holds a well-earned spot among the best home inspectors in South Jersey. Richard is dedicated to serving as valued resource for his clients during and even after purchase. Committed to exceeding client expectations, Andrews Property Inspection takes great pride in delivering a quality experience for South Jersey first time home buyers from start to finish and beyond.
Andrews Property Inspections Residential Inspections for Southern New Jersey
Purchasing or even maintaining home can be stressful and costly. So many aspects are competing for attention and dollars. It’s easy to push any concern about the presence of radon in the home to the bottom of the very long list. But skipping a radon inspection to save money or time is actually not a great idea!
Radioactive radon gas is extremely toxic if you are exposed to it over the long term. Arranging for a certified radon testing company to determine a home’s radon readings should be on every home buyer/owner’s Must-Do List!
Radon FAQ’s
What is radon gas? It’s a colorless, odorless and tasteless radioactive gas that results from the breakdown of naturally occurring uranium in soil and rocks.
Where does radon come from? As uranium decays, it turns into radium which in turn breaks down into radon. Radon gas leaves the soil and becomes part of the air and water.
How do you get radon in your home? The radioactive gas accumulates in places where there is inadequate ventilation like the basement level of a home. It seeps in through openings in contact with the ground. This includes things such as cracks in the foundation, small gaps around pipes and even sump basins.
Is radon dangerous? Radon is part of the natural environment and generally isn’t harmful as its usually dispersed in very small amounts and dissipates. However, breathing in radon over an extended period allows it to get into the lining of the lungs. Once ingested, it gives off radiation. The resulting cell damage significantly elevates the risk of developing lung cancer within 5 to 25 years. In the United States, there are approximately 15,000 to 21,000 radon lung cancer deaths each year. According to the American Cancer Society, radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer behind only cigarette smoking. Smokers who are exposed to high levels of radon are at even greater risk.
Is radon testing necessary? Simply put, yes! Radon is extremely difficult to detect. The only way to know if levels in your home/building falls within established guidelines it to professionally test for it. DIY tests are available but they are considered less effective. Findings indicate radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise the majority of the time. Hence, the best way to determine radon levels in a home or building is to contract with a certified professional. FYI, if you need test results for a real estate transaction, professional testing is mandatory.
Why Test:
Only a professional test administered by a certified inspector can confirm a home/building is radon free.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recommends that all homeowners test their homes for radon, and mitigate (fix) their home if tests reveal levels of 4 pCi/L or more.
Radon mitigation costs are relatively affordable. A number of factors including the location, design and size of the home and the type of foundation determine the cost. Nationwide, mitigation averages roughly $1000.00 with the usual range between $780.00 and $1,200. It may cost more for larger homes.
Even homes that have radon mitigation measures in place should repeat testing over time to confirm these measures are working
In New Jersey law (N.J.A.C. 26:2D-73) requires-at the time of contract of sale-the seller to provide the buyer with a copy of the results of any radon testing and information on any radon remediation conducted in the home.
How We Can Help
Andrews Property Inspection is a highly regarded residential and commercial inspection company located in Southern New Jersey. Richard Andrews is the owner/operator and a certified inspector. Richard delivers high-value commercial and residential inspections in Atlantic and Cape May counties.
The company is also a recognized industry leader in radon testing services in the area. Highly-regarded for their professionalism, Andrews Property Inspection is also known for its thoroughness and transparency. Radon inspection is offered as a component of a total home inspection or as a stand-alone service. Home or commercial property owners requiring radon testing who partner with Richard will definitely benefit from his deep expertise.
Andrews Property Inspections Residential Inspections for Southern New Jersey
Commercial Indoor Air Quality Testing (IAQ) For Better Health
When purchasing or maintaining a commercial property, building safety will clearly be the first priority. Managing safety involves balancing many diverse elements. These include ensuring the indoor air quality (IAQ) is healthy and free of harmful contaminants.
Savvy buyers and current owners recognize that commercial indoor air quality testing allows them to be totally familiar with a critical aspect of a property. Air quality testing before purchase or during continued use helps maintain or increase the commercial property’s value.
How Indoor Air Quality Effects Health
For decades medical experts have sounded the alarm about how inferior indoor air quality (IAQ) can make you sick! How does air quality affect health? Studies reveal long-term exposure to polluted air is one of the most widespread negative exposures affecting employees. It’s been proven to cause a wide range of harmful outcomes, including:
Lung cancer
Cardiovascular disease
Respiratory diseases such as emphysema and asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Environmental cancers (asbestos and radon can lead to cancer years after exposure)
Along with these undesirable conditions, poor air quality causes headaches. It is also linked to fatigue, impaired concentration, and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
A substantial body of science-based research confirms that people generally function better in spaces with healthy IAQ. These are owners, operators, employees, clients, customers and tenants. Several of the key benefits include:
Improved productivity
Fewer adverse health issues
Reduced health care costs
Less absenteeism and lower turnover rates
Increased comfort and motivation
Addressing Poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Many factors can impact IAQ, and there’s rarely a quick fix. In a best-case scenario, commercial facility owners and management would draft a mitigation plan that will:
Detect potential contaminants impacting the IAQ in a facility or property
Identify methods to remediate and remove harmful substances
Outline methods for preventing future issues, such as scheduling routine IAQ testing to maintain safe levels.
The logical first step to beginning this comprehensive process is to contract an indoor air quality testing company. They should be experienced in delivering indoor air quality testing services for commercial properties. A licensed professional will undertake specific air contamination testing to determine which IAQ issues a commercial property may have.
A certified air quality inspector tests for specific airborne contaminants using indoor air quality samplings. These samplings are sent to a lab for analysis. The results will determine how safe the air is in a given facility. The results also detail which noxious substances are present in the indoor environment.
New Jersey is one of only two states that regulate standards for indoor air quality in existing buildings. These are buildings occupied by public employees during their regular working hours. And, falls under the New Jersey Indoor Air Quality standard, NJAC 12:100-13 (2007). Indoor air quality testing is generally focused on detecting:
mold
motor oil
chemicals
environmental issues including radon and asbestos
An air quality inspection will reveal conditions that are negatively impacting the IAQ. And, by extension, the health of those using the building regularity. Then, steps can be taken to remediate.
An improved IAQ means a safer, healthier indoor environment in a business setting, office building, or rental property.Commercial properties that would potentially benefit from Indoor Air Quality testing services include:
medical buildings
office buildings
mixed-use buildings
campgrounds
storefronts
strip malls
warehouses and factories
How we can help
Andrews Property Inspection is a recognized industry leader in air quality testing services in Southern New Jersey. They provide commercial and residential inspections in Atlantic and Cape May counties. Andrews Property Inspection takes justifiable pride in its professionalism and has a well-earned reputation for honesty and thoroughness.
Tap into Richard’s in-depth knowledge. For example, he can discover potential environmental conditions that can negatively impact a commercial property or a residence.
Andrews Property Inspection will partner with owners and management to provide air contamination testing. See your commercial property or home on the path towards a cleaner, healthier indoor environment. And then everyone can breathe easier.
Andrews Property Inspections Commercial Building Inspections for New Jersey
