Air & Water Quality, Inc. services

Test the air for radon and test the well water prior to listing the property because: Nearly all buyers will direct a home inspector to perform these tests. Many health-related drinking water standards have recently changed. A "good" test from ten years ago may not be "good" today.Well water can change. Road work, a new well on adjacent property and other factors can cause the well water to change. Again, a test result from a few years ago is not a valid indicator of current well water quality.Identifying problems early means the seller can research solutions carefully and fix them prior to listing OR prepare to negotiate with a buyer to resolve the issue.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency sets a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for contaminants in public drinking water. The MCL is the maximum concentration that is allowed for public water supplies. For arsenic, the MCL is 10 ug/L (which is the same as 0.01 mg/L). While the EPA does not regulate private well water quality, home owners are advised to test and, when necessary, treat their well water for the contaminants regulated by the EPA.Naturally-occurring arsenic is commonly found in Maine well water. Contamination from non-natural sources of arsenic is xtremely rare in Maine. Naturally-occuring arsenic exists in two forms, trivalent arsenic (also known as As (III) and "arsenite") and pentavalent arsenic (also known as As (V) and "arsenate"). As (V) is the most common form found in Maine well water and is also the most easily removed from well water.

Hard water is the result of the dissolved minerals Ca (calcium) and Mg (magnesium). These minerals become less soluble at high temperatures and form a white precipitate (solid). This characteristic is what causes most of the problems with hardness. Probably the most recognizable symptoms of hard water are soap scum in the tub and shower, and hard water spots on faucets and fixtures. Hardness minerals react with soaps and detergents to form an insoluble, sticky residue that"s difficult to rinse from bathtubs, sinks, faucets and fixtures. The same soap residue is often left on hair, skin and clothing, too. Although not highly visible in these instances, it can cause your skin to dry and itch, and clothing to fade and wear prematurely.

If you are buying or selling a house, it is good to remember a few facts about testing for radon as part of real estate transactions. If water or air has been tested for radon gas in the two years prior to the real estate transaction, the seller is required to disclose the test results to the buyer or potential buyer. Perhaps even more important, the buyer should have the water and air tested or re-tested as part of the home inspection by a person registered with the State of Maine. Re-testing ensures that the sampling and testing is done properly. Maine law requires that radon testing performed as part of a real estate transaction be conducted by a person registered to conduct radon testing with the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services (per Title 22, chapter 165).
The house tested positive – now what do we do?