Home Inspectors in New Hampshire

New Hampshire has a high proportion of older housing: much of the stock in Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and the small mill towns throughout the state dates to the early and mid-twentieth century, and pre-1940 construction is common. Oil heat is the dominant fuel source, and the condition of the boiler, oil storage tank, and fuel delivery system is a standard inspection focus. Knob-and-tube wiring and two-prong ungrounded outlets are common in older homes, and some insurers in the state have stopped writing new policies on homes with active knob-and-tube. New Hampshire requires home inspectors to be licensed. Radon levels are elevated across much of the state due to granite bedrock, and the state's own public health data show a high percentage of tested homes exceeding the EPA action level. The freeze-thaw cycle is severe, and ice damming, chimney deterioration, and concrete foundation cracking from frost heave are routine findings. Arsenic in private well water is a concern in the Lakes Region and parts of the Merrimack Valley that buyers relying on well water should test for.