Sometimes an emergency inspection is needed for your home. Learn which issues require immediate attention.
Owning a home is exciting, but sometimes unexpected problems occur. Your tap drips brown water, a strange smell permeates your home, insect activity appears near your window sills. You may be tempted to put off addressing these problems until a few months down the line, but sometimes serious emergencies are actually disguised as seemingly minor issues.
When Do Issues Become an Emergency?
Procrastinating on inspecting issues can lead to a lot of wasted time and money. Yet it can be hard to decipher if a problem really requires an emergency inspection. The following table lists commonly ignored problems that need to be addressed with an emergency inspection immediately.
| Issue | What Could It Mean? | Type Of Emergency Inspection Needed |
| Everyone in your household is experiencing nausea, dizziness, chest pains, and headaches | Carbon monoxide leak | Carbon Monoxide Inspection |
| Your water looks, tastes or smells different. Even with a filter | Water contamination | Well Water Testing or Water Bacteria Testing |
| Slow, backed up or overflowing drains | Sewer line issues | Sewer Scope Inspection |
| You haven’t tested for Radon in your home before | Potential radon exposure | Radon Testing & Inspections |
To avoid costly repairs or medical bills, schedule an emergency inspection with a certified inspector as soon as possible. The following section will give you an in-depth look at essential inspections.
Protect Your Health With These Five Specialty Inspections
Your home is your safe space. It should not expose you to harmful living conditions. If you feel something is not working correctly in your home, it’s vital to get a qualified inspection immediately. Certified home inspectors are part of the AmeriSpec roster. We connect you with a skilled and experienced inspector who advises you on the appropriate inspection needed for your home. Here are five of the most commonly requested specialty inspections:
Carbon Monoxide Testing
Regular testing is important for detecting harmful carbon monoxide levels in your home. Some homeowners purchase a portable electric detector to test for carbon monoxide. While this is perfectly fine, it’s better to have a certified professional do a reading for you. The detectors used by certified AmeriSpec inspectors are more sensitive and calibrated to detect trace amounts of carbon monoxide, giving you a more accurate reading than store-bought detectors.
After your inspector completes the inspection (10-15 minutes per appliance) you’ll be given a detailed report and recommendations for the next steps.
Termite & Wood-Destroying Organism Inspections
AmeriSpec termite and wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspectors receive special training in inspecting your home’s interior and exterior environment. They can identify clear warning signs of possible termite damage to your home. After a thorough examination, your inspector can answer your questions and help you find a treatment partner.
Well Water Quality Testing
If you need to check your water for contamination and impurities, a well water quality test will help. The process involves an AmeriSpec inspector collecting a sterile sample from two water sources such as a well or tap. This allows for an accurate comparison as well as an understanding of where potential contamination is occurring. Samples are sent to a lab. Results are reported within three to five business days. Your inspector will review results with you and advise on an effective treatment plan.
Sewer Scope Inspection
Armed with a camera and high-tech reels, an AmeriSpec inspector will do a detailed sewer scope inspection of your sewer line. They'll look for common signs of sewer line problems such as cracks or roots in your cogs or line. Based on the results, your inspector will discuss the best course of action for you.
Radon Testing & Inspections
Like carbon monoxide, radon is a colorless gas, and long-term exposure leads to serious medical diseases such as lung cancer. It’s important to get at least one professional radon test of the levels in your home every two to three years. This involves putting small inspection devices in your home and then measuring to confirm levels are within a safe range.
Find an Inspector Near You
You’re in safe and qualified hands with AmeriSpec. We know it’s stressful when unforeseen problems start happening in your home. We take time to completely understand the issue and go the extra mile to help resolve it quickly. With more than 150 locations across North America, there’s an AmeriSpec inspector near you. Contact us today to schedule your home inspection or learn more about our services.