ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING

Environmental concerns aren’t always visible during a home inspection. Orgova offers environmental testing and sampling services that provide additional information about water quality, indoor air, and other conditions that may benefit from laboratory analysis.

Services include mold sampling, water quality testing, FHA and VA water analysis, expanded laboratory water testing, and Advanced Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) testing, which provides broader laboratory analysis of airborne particles, mold spores, and other indoor pollutants. Specialized material sampling may also be available in limited situations when appropriate.

Environmental testing can be scheduled based on the specific service needed or added to a comprehensive home inspection when it makes sense to combine the services. Whether you’re buying a home, investigating a specific concern, or simply want more information about your property, Orgova can help you select the testing that best fits your needs.

The quality of a home’s water isn’t something you can determine by appearance, taste, or odor alone. Laboratory water testing provides measurable information about specific contaminants and water-quality characteristics and can be especially important for homes supplied by a private well.

Orgova collects water samples using the appropriate sampling procedures and submits them to a laboratory for analysis. Water testing can be scheduled as a standalone service or performed along with a comprehensive home inspection.

Our standard FHA/VA water analysis tests for total coliform and E. coli bacteria, lead, nitrates, and nitrites. This testing is also available to homeowners and buyers who simply want laboratory information about these common water-quality concerns, regardless of the type of financing involved.

For clients looking for a broader picture of their water quality, an expanded water analysis is also available. In addition to the standard testing above, the expanded analysis includes chloride, color, copper, hardness, alkalinity, pH, iron, and turbidity.

FHA and VA loans may require water-quality testing when a home is served by a private well or other non-public water source. The exact testing requirements can vary based on the loan program, lender, property, and applicable local or state requirements.

Orgova offers water sampling and laboratory analysis commonly requested for FHA and VA financing, including testing for total coliform and E. coli bacteria, lead, nitrates, and nitrites.

We collect the water samples, submit them for laboratory analysis, and provide the completed results for use during the financing and underwriting process.

Mold isn’t always obvious from a visual inspection alone. When conditions or concerns warrant further investigation, Orgova can collect air and surface samples for laboratory analysis to help identify mold spores that may be present in the sampled areas.

Depending on the property and the reason for testing, sampling may include indoor air samples, an outdoor comparison sample, and surface samples from specific areas of concern. Samples are submitted to a laboratory for analysis, with the results identifying the types and concentrations of mold detected in the samples collected.

Mold sampling can be particularly useful when there are visible suspect areas, evidence of past or current moisture intrusion, unusual indoor conditions, or when a buyer or homeowner wants additional information about the indoor environment.

For clients who want to look beyond conventional mold sampling, Orgova also offers Advanced Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) testing through laboratory analysis. This expanded testing provides additional information about airborne particles and other indoor environmental conditions that may not be addressed through standard mold sampling alone.

Advanced IAQ testing can be useful when there are ongoing indoor-air concerns or when a client wants a broader evaluation of the indoor environment. Orgova can help determine whether standard mold sampling or the expanded Advanced IAQ testing option is the better fit for the information you’re looking for.

Some properties contain materials that may warrant laboratory testing for specific environmental concerns. In limited situations, Orgova can assist with the collection and laboratory testing of suspect building materials, including materials that may contain lead.

When collection requires cutting, scraping, or otherwise disturbing a building material, authorization from the property owner or seller must be obtained before the sample is collected. Because the appropriate testing method depends on the material and the concern being investigated, these services are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Environmental testing can be a valuable addition to a comprehensive home inspection when you want more information than a visual inspection alone can provide. Mold sampling, water-quality testing, and other laboratory services can often be coordinated with the home inspection so the necessary sampling can be completed during the same property visit.

Not every property needs the same testing. Orgova can help you determine which available testing options make sense based on the property, your concerns, and any testing requirements associated with your transaction.