Although lead-based materials are used in a few products, the real risk lies in lead hidden in your dream house’s paint, water, and soil. Lead is a highly dangerous substance, making its identification critical to preventing any unforeseen danger.
Read this blog to understand the easiest ways for lead detection in your house. By the end of this blog, you’ll have valuable information that can help ensure the safety of your home and loved ones.
Understanding the Dangers of Lead Contamination
Lead is a heavy metal that can cause several health issues, especially in children. It can be found in old paint boxes, soil, dust, water, plumbing, and various consumer products. Finding lead as soon as possible helps prevent future mishaps and minimize risks.
The following techniques offer practical ways to verify and check for lead presence in your house.
Home Testing Kits
Home testing kits are one of the basic and most simple methods for detecting lead in your house. These lead home testing kits can be easily found in hardware shops and are available for testing paint, water, soil, and other substances.
Lead Paint Test Kits
- Usage: These useful kits are generally available at hardware shops. They come with swabs that change color when they come into contact with lead particles. You need to rub the swab on the painted surface, and the swab’s color will change if any lead is present.
- Advantages: It is very easy to use and shows results in seconds. Moreover, it’s inexpensive. It is mainly used in old houses where the chance of lead presence is quite high compared to newer houses.
Lead Water Test Kits
- Usage: These lead water test kits have a test strip that you need to check by dipping it into water. These test strips give quick results.
- Advantages: This method is relatively cheap and can be done by anyone.
Soil Lead Test Kits
- Usage: To test soil, you must collect a sample and send it to a lab for further analysis. Some kits have on-the-spot testing features similar to those of water test kits.
- Advantages: It is advantageous to gardeners. It is affordable, and gardeners need this soil lead test kit to produce vegetables.
Also Read: Common Mistakes to Avoid in DIY Lead Abatement.
Professional Testing Services
Some home testing kits are easy to use and can be found at stores, but a professional testing service from a certified lead inspection company offers more accurate results. Though it takes a few days, its results are 100% correct.
Environmental Testing Labs
- Process: Expert and certified labs use modern techniques and equipment, such as absorption anatomic spectroscopy (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, to determine the presence of high-quality lead.
- Advantages: It gives accurate results and is perfect for big projects such as industrial sites, government and public buildings, etc.
Certified Inspectors
- Process: Lead-certified and licensed inspectors use an X-ray fluorescence tool to analyze and detect lead in soil, paint, and water without destroying the sample. This method is quite accurate and reliable.
- Advantages: Quick and accurate results
DIY Techniques for Initial Screening
Those who like to apply DIY methods before approaching and opting for professional services by experts can try the methods below.
Visual Inspection
- Usage: You might get some ideas by looking for flaking paint in older homes. Lead-based paint is more likely found in American homes constructed before 1978.
- Advantages: Easy and free of cost.
Water Quality Indicators
- Usage: Following signs of deterioration in pipes, such as rust or bruises, can indicate the possibility of lead contamination, primarily in older plumbing systems.
- Advantages: Easy to watch but requires testing for verification.
Also Read: 7 Reasons Why Lead Water Testing Is Essential.
In Search of a Professional Lead Inspection Company?
Scanning for lead materials can be done using home testing kits, professional services, and DIY methods. Home kits offer quick screening, while professional services provide the most accurate results. Manhattan Lead Inspection in NYC uses modern tools and experienced experts to detect lead in water, paint, and soil. Their mission is to eliminate lead contamination in New York City and surrounding areas.
Schedule a meeting with one of their representatives and make your home free from lead.
