Why Should I Get A Water Test Before Purchasing A Home?

Before moving into a new home is the best time to perform a water quality test. During your purchase process, you are likely already performing a home inspection and possibly other tests as well. Having a water test done during this time is ideal since you are already in the learning and mitigating process.

Moving to a new area likely means you also will have a new public water supply as well. There is a lot of information on each public water distributor. However, testing the water right at the tap is fast and easy, and it gives you a clear picture of that home’s water quality. Occasionally, during a home inspection, we can’t always see items, like lead supply pipes, that may affect the quality of the home’s tap water. This would likely be uncovered with a water test.

Another good reason for performing a water test as part of the inspection is to allow for any mitigation costs into your negotiations. If elevated levels of a contaminant are found in your water supply,  something will likely need to be done. Luckily, most water issues can be mitigated in some form or another, but many of these systems require installation or specialized equipment. Occasionally, you can negotiate these costs into your contract since it can be a health-related item. Inquire with your real estate professional for a better understanding of this process, and how these issues are typically addressed.

If you have further questions on water quality or would like more information about our specific Water Quality Test, feel free to leave a comment below or send us an email.

Why does water quality matter to me?

Roughly half of all Americans don’t fully trust drinking their tap water. This is because of many contaminants that have been found in the public water system. This ranges from lead to chlorine to pH imbalances, or nitrates in some areas. Some of these contaminants are harmful and some are not. Some are safe but can cause the water to taste differently. The most important thing is to be aware of what you are drinking and be able to make educated decisions as to whether or not to take action.

The most asked about and most dangerous substance that is found in local tap water is lead. This is one of the contaminants that we test for. Lead can cause adverse side effects in humans as it is a toxin to the brain. Young children are especially susceptible to lead poisoning, which can cause learning disabilities and life-long brain functionality issues. Because of this, it makes sense that mitigation of lead in water is a high priority.