Heath concerns over lead levels in water have recently become a widespread focus in the US. If consumed, lead in water (or paint) can be very dangerous to humans but also to pets. The EPA states that; “Young children, infants, and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead” and that “low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells.” Because of this, the EPA has established that lead levels above 15 parts per billion in the home water supply constitutes a serious danger to families.
Home Inspectors are not currently testing for lead or other metal contaminants (ex. Copper, Arsenic, Uranium or Radium) in a typical home review. When required by a buyer, Home Inspectors are forced to utilize an outside testing lab which typically takes weeks to provide results, and is quite expensive with no real profit potential for the Inspector.
Utilizing the ANDalyze water testing system, Home Inspectors can now provide an effective and accurate measurement of lead levels in a home, with results generated immediately during the inspection itself. The test results can be included in the Home Inspectors overall evaluation of a property thus offering peace of mind to both buyer and seller alike…. and will generate an additional source of revenue.
Test Results
The tests are easy to execute at each of the interior water supply sources in a home, taking just minutes to complete. Within seconds, the test results are shown on the hand-held fluorometer and recorded for inclusion in the Home Inspector’s report. Results can also be downloaded from the fluorometer to the Inspectors laptop for future reference.
In the past, water tests for lead and other metals could run a homemaker anywhere from $100 – $300, and take weeks to process. The Home Inspector would be forced to turn in his home visit recap in advance of knowing the full picture on the home’s condition.
Lead Facts
The EPA recommends that homes built before 1985 should all be inspected for potential lead particles in their water supply. While the city water provided to the residential site may be fine, these older homes can develop lead content due to a number of scenarios:
Because of this, each interior faucet in the home should be tested regularly to confirm its not releasing hazardous lead concentrations. In addition municipal water supplies are only required to test for lead once a year (or less) so they can include unsafe metal contaminants unexpectedly. The disastrous situation in Flint Michigan in 2016-17 is testament to a potential region-wide safety concern.
Simple Testing
The AND1100 fluorometer is ruggedly constructed, able to perform and store thousands of tests. The fluorometer is a handheld device with a color display which can download results to a laptop or computer. Each sensor kit contains material for (25) tests and/or calibrations. The sensors and testing materials are small, color-coded and disposable, safely disposed of in any home’s trash container.
The ANDalyze in-home water test is fast and simple to execute. Simply fill the included sample tube with water to the 5ml mark and mix. Place a new cuvette into the chamber in the AND1100 and a new sensor on the cuvette. Take 1mL of buffered water into a syringe and place it onto the sensor. Push the water through the sensor into the cuvette then remove the syringe and sensor, close the lid and press Start. Result appears within seconds.
For most accurate results, we recommend calibrating the fluorometer at each home. This AND1100-directed method simply requires two tests, one containing a known amount of lead, and will provide a test result when complete as well. This can be done at the initial faucet with subsequent tests utilizing that calibration factor. After the calibration, the Home Inspector could throw away the sensor, syringe, cuvette, buffer vial and move to the next faucet, eventually completing the entire home’s test.
Download Documents
Lead Test Form of Home Inspectors
Marketing Guidebook – Contact Us
Flint Michigan Case Study
Home Inspector Fact Sheet – Contact Us
Research on Water Quality in US
ROI Calculator – Contact Us
Lead Water Testing as an Ancillary Service
ANDalyze Resources
Lead in the Water Article
ASHI National Water Quality Month
Others
The costs of the ANDalyze water testing system are related to the two essential components, the sensors and the fluorometer. An average home will need approximately seven sensors to complete the test, including the calibration of the fluorometer. The sensors are packed 25 to a kit, often enough for multiple home inspections.
The fluorometers are designed to last for many years. Only one fluorometer is required for an individual home inspector. The units are rechargeable via USB cable, and each charge will last for hundreds of tests. A home inspector would only need to conduct testing at a few homes to cover the initial investment in the fluorometer.
For up-to-date pricing on the sensors and fluorometer please contact us.
Benefits
Each Home Inspector can now verify for both buyer and seller that the water being delivered to the inhabitants is safe for consumption and free of dangerous, cancer causing lead.
The results of the tests are immediately available, and can be included in the Home Inspectors final report to the customer.
The water test option is a strong competitive advantage over other Home Inspectors in the region, and a marketing differentiator in a crowded service field.
The ANDalyze Water Testing System is an incremental revenue and profit opportunity for the Home Inspector, with a strong profit margin and a very complimentary add-on service.
Added Business Opportunity
Water testing using the ANDalyze System can become a business opportunity in and of itself. During slow time periods for the Home Inspector, they can reach out to past customers who have not yet had their water tested and targeted for a test for their current home to achieve “peace of mind” as to the safety of their own family’s water supply.
The typical Home Inspector may have a contact list in the thousands from previous work with either sellers or buyers. If these individuals are not in the market for a new home or to sell an existing home, they are basically inactive clients. The ANDalyze water test can provide a great value to them, and an incremental revenue and profit generator for the Inspector.