We have State of Missouri certified well inspectors

$60 | Water Analysis for Bacteria – This is the most common analysis for homes. We perform a visual inspection of the above ground well components and pressure equipment, and then take a sample of water in a sterile container. The sample should be taken from an exterior cold water valve only. The laboratory then tests the water for a class of enteric bacteria called coliforms. This test takes 24 hours to complete and if no bacteria show, then the sample is considered satisfactory for drinking. However, if bacteria do show, the growth is subjected to an additional 24 hours to determine if it is E. coli bacteria.

$120 | Water Analysis for Chemicals – This test is required for FHA and VA loans and includes taking a sample of water for testing lead, nitrate and nitrite concentrations.

Water tapped by a private well, is often of the highest quality. However, there are many sources of contaminants that can contribute to poor quality conditions. In many cases the homeowner isn’t aware of quality problems because they may increase slowly over time without noticeable change in taste or odor.

When buying a home with a private well, your home inspection should include a well system check up to ensure the well is in good working order and the quality of the water produced meets health standards.

We are familiar with the typical sources of contaminants in the Springfield and South Western Missouri area. Should your well inspection spot a problem we can make recommendations to mitigate contamination.

Our inspectors are Missouri licensed pest control applicators, however we do not apply chemicals and are not affiliated with any pest control company. We strive to give you a professional and unbiased insect infestation report.

Wood Destroying Infestation (WDI) Inspection – A thorough examination of all accessible areas of the house and surrounding area, including inspection for structural damage related to infestations – $50

Ant or termite, can you tell the difference?

Carpenter ants swarm just like termites. In fact, it’s very hard to tell them apart. Although carpenter ants bore and nest in wood, they don’t eat wood. Get this…they can actually eat termites! Either way, we can identify the difference and recommend the proper treatment.

Some interesting facts about Termites…

Workers represent the majority of the colony population and are responsible for caring for eggs, constructing and maintaining tunnels, foraging for food and feeding and grooming of other caste members. They are white and soft bodied.

Soldiers are responsible for defending the colony. They are white, soft bodied with an enlarged, hardened head containing two large jaws, or mandibles, which are used as a weapon against predators.

Winged reproductives produce the offspring in the colony and swarm at certain times of the year. Colonies can have both primary reproductives (one king and one queen), and hundreds of secondary reproductives to assist in egg laying and colony growth.

The King termite assists the queen in creating and attending to the colony during its initial formation. He will continue to mate throughout his life to help increase the colony size.

The Queen termite creates the colony by laying eggs and tending to the colony until enough workers and nymphs are produced to care for the colony. She can live for more than ten years and produce hundreds of eggs each year. Colonies can each several million termites with the help of secondary queens who also produce eggs.

Very little can be determined about the condition of your system without getting into the tank itself, which almost always requires digging. This is due to the large amount of stone in this area of the country. When septics fail in SW Missouri the sewage goes down into the rock – not up. Therefore we offer only invasive septic inspections.

Invasive Septic Inspection – State approved inspection requiring water system flush, internal tank inspection, sludge layer measurements and report – $150 *

* Price does not include site preparation, which is usually the responsibility of the seller in the Springfield, MO area. Tank access must be made available prior to the inspector’s arrival. Pumping ports will not provide the required access to most tanks. Tank cover removal is necessary.

Septic Myths

You don’t have to pump your tank unless there’s something wrong with it.

Sludge is formed by the natural action of bacteria digestion within the tank. As sludge layers build up there is less room in the tank for the bacteria to work. Tanks should be checked and pumped periodically to ensure the most efficient system.

I’ve been in this house for 20 years, the tank has never been pumped and the system works fine.

Either there is a leak in the system or no room left in the tank due to sludge, and effluent is pouring through directly to the leach field without treatment. This condition can be nearly impossible to detect without an invasive inspection.

The tank pumping port is good enough access to inspect, so we don’t have to dig.

It is rare that the pumping port is wide enough to allow a State Certified inspection. Many modern systems have a green domed lid that is roughly 2 feet in diameter for inspection access. If your tank has this lid, you will not need to dig anything, as we can unscrew the lid to gain inspection access to the tank.

We can fix it by putting additives down the system.

So far, according to the State of Missouri, no additive has been proven effective in a controlled scientific study. Many company’s make claims that their additives work, and may even be able to provide you with a brochure that says they have been laboratory tested and proven, but it has not been recognized by the State of Missouri.

The #1 naturally occurring cause of lung cancer in America!

Radon Gas Inspections – $125
2 detectors are placed in the lowest living level of the home.

Minimum test length is 48 hours, however we prefer 72 hours. The home should be closed for 12 hours before the start of the test, as in winter use. Doors can be opened for normal access but closed immediately. The laboratory requires 1 business day after the detectors are received to provide results.

We use EPA certified laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment

This ensures accurate and reliable test results. Springfield is very inconsistent with respect to radon gas test results. EPA figures are derived from averaging all tests collected from this area, which is no guarantee for a specific property. There are sections of Springfield that consistently measure in the 12′s and above, which is 3 times the high limit*. This is why a CLOSER look home inspections highly recommends testing every property for the presence of radon gas. You can read an article about how radon can affect you on our blog.

High Risk >4 pCi/L*
Moderate 2-4 pCi/L
Low Risk <2 pCi/L

*4 pico-curries per liter is the EPA limit

Image source The US Environmental Protection Agency

Radon gas can be reduced to below 4 pCi/L

for about $1,000 to $1,500 on average

Even in some of the worst cases the procedure is simple. It’s about the same as installing a sump pump for water removal. A 3.5″ hole is drilled into the foundation slab (on basement and slab homes) and a 3″ PVC pipe is placed into the hole and sealed. This pipe extends either inside the house into the attic or is routed to the exterior. Either in the attic or on the outside, a special radon mitigation fan is installed which will run 24 hours a day (don’t worry – they are very quite). Then the pipe is extended past up to the roof line on the outside or through the roof from the attic. What happens then is that when radon gas percolates up from the ground under the slab of the house – the fan sucks it through the gravel layer directly under the slab, through the pipe and out of the house. Radon remediation systems are rarely more complicated than this, but there are other types available for certain property construction issues.

More information can be accessed at:

http://www.epa.gov/radon

We understand molds, spores and organisms that could interfere with your air quality. Just because someone finds some fuzzy stuff in your crawlspace doesn’t mean you should panic. Mold is in our air, everywhere. Just leave some bread out on the counter for a few days! The important information is the type and amount of spores in the habitable areas of the house.

We provide 2 levels of mold inspection service:

Mold Risk Assessment – Investigation and report of potential mold risks

BY ITSELF OR WITH BASIC HOME INSPECTION – $175

WITH PREMIER HOME INSPECTION – FREE!

Mold Analysis – As above, including air sampling, specimen sampling and laboratory analysis

BY ITSELF OR WITH BASIC HOME INSPECTION – $350

WITH PREMIER HOME INSPECTION – $300

We use state-of-the-art equipment and certified labs to ensure reliable results

a CLOSER look home inspections – (417) 890-8500

Call to set up your inspection today!

For quality-conscious buyers on any size of property

Our premier home inspections include a 250-point inspection of every major system in the home including: structural, heating and air, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and wood burning systems. Plus we add a full interior living space inspection including built-in kitchen appliances, and exterior inspections including site landscaping and drainage. The average inspection time is 1 1/2 to 2 hours, and includes a mold risk assessment by our in-house Microbiologist!

In addition, our premier home inspections include the following at no additional charge (a $230 value):

• Mold risk assessment for possible health hazards ($175 value)
• Custom written consulting report containing our professional opinions about material defects as well as recommended maintenance, including pictures ($10 value)
• Inspection report stored on our secure web site for 5 years and emailed for your convenience ($45 value)

Follow this link to find out what a home inspection is and why you should get one.

a CLOSER look home inspections – (417) 890-8500

Call to set up your inspection today!