When you’re buying a home, the home inspection is one of the most crucial parts of the entire process. Most inspection companies are reliable and give you the basics, but here at TLC Home Inspections, we believe in going above and beyond . That’s why we also offer specialty inspections, which include testing the water quality. You never know what’s lurking in a home’s tap water, especially if it’s an older home with older pipes. In addition to sediments and heavy metals, our water quality inspection might also find three toxic chemicals.

1. Arsenic

Arsenic is a difficult chemical to keep out of the water supply since it occurs naturally in the soil. If your potential new home comes with a well, you’re even at greater risk of consuming arsenic. Exposure to the chemical for long periods of time can increase your chances of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Furthermore, some studies have linked arsenic to brain development issues in children.

2. Radioactive Substances

Here in Texas, the oil and natural gas industry is a big part of our economy. Yet, they’re also a big part of the water contamination around the state. Radioactive substances like radium, uranium, thorium, and radon in tap water can all be linked to oil drilling and construction around natural gas deposits. While these elements occur naturally, the disruption of the soil for these projects has allowed some of the radioactive material to seep into Texas water supplies. Exposure to these elements can cause a variety of cancers, including bone, liver, kidney, and lung.

3. PFOAs

If you asked clean-water advocate Erin Brockovich what her biggest water quality concern was, she would likely have told you perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). You might be familiar with this substance, as it’s the main ingredient for Teflon, which is the coating used on non-stick pans and utensils. While Teflon is fairly new compared to other toxic chemicals in our water, its presence in tap water should be alarming. Consuming too much PFOA can lead to kidney and testicular cancers, as well as early menopause and colon ulcers.

Test Your Water Quality

While having a water quality test done before buying a new home could keep you and your family safe, you don’t have to buy a home to schedule an appointment. At TLC Home Inspections, you can easily find out what’s lurking in your home’s tap water. We can also do a termite inspection or a mold inspection, so you can keep your family safe. If you live in the Austin, TX, area, it’s time to schedule an appointment by calling (512) 515-3686.