I grew up in an older home and my father Ed Levitch MHRIP was an Architect and remodeling contractor in and around Berkeley California and the surrounding cities since 1958. Growing up I learned so many things from him, he taught me the value of family, respect and everything I know today about remodeling homes safely.
I remember a time at Levco Builders when I received a call from a man who shared a personal story about lead poisoning. He thanked me for advocating for the rule. I assured him of my commitment to safety. I was an early supporter of the EPA’s RRP rule, and I’m still a strong advocate today for ensuring people are safe in their homes.
What is a Healthy Home?
We all believe our homes are healthy places but all too often the opposite is true. As a remodeling contractor too, I deal with it every day. From the materials we use to how they are installed and the environment we create within the envelope of your home is unbelievably important. The CDC describes a healthy home as “One that is designed, built, and maintained to support our health” I couldn’t agree more. The other pivotal moment in my quest to promote healthy homes was a document written by the then Surgeon General, Steven Galson in 2009 who articulated the need for a healthy housing stock. This blog is dedicated to all things related to healthy homes with an emphasis on lead, lead detection as well as protection of humans and pets.
Promoting Healthy Homes Is An Endless Undertaking
I grew up in an older home and my father Ed Levitch MHRIP was an Architect and remodeling contractor in and around Berkeley California and the surrounding cities since 1958. I was a bit of a pioneer when the EPA's RRP rule was coming into play. At Levco Builders in...
Lead Testing Without The Normal Tools
As we step lightly into the future of remodeling pre-1978 homes in a post-3M lead test swab era, we find ourselves hoarding swabs and stretching the most out of them. If we could make them last, then we can avoid the inevitable disappointment of the Old Mother Hubbard...
Your Copper Plumbing Pipes are Shot, NOT
I recently had an interesting conversation with a client that had contacted a local plumbing outfit to fix a broken tub faucet. After looking in the crawl space he made it clear that the copper plumbing pipes need to be replaced because he saw evidence of corrosion at...
A Visit To The Crawl Space
Nobody really wants to admit that they have one especially if you haven't been down there for a while or ever. I just bought a new to me 1988 home and what I found told a story. Fortunately, I had a prepurchase inspection and so there was not much shocking to deal...
Whole House Water Filters
Nothing gives a guy a warm fuzzy feeling than knowing that your home is protected by a whole house water filter. I took it one further and added a secondary filter beneath the sink that provides water to a drinking spigot and the ice maker in my fridge. All is good...
I Bought A Cool Tool
I recently replaced a Garbage Disposal for a friend and struggled to get the darn thing attached to the collar. Then once installed, I realized that I had not installed the little protective rubber piece that keeps big things from falling in and pieces from shooting...
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We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Programing
Excitement is brewing as the Lumetallix Instant Lead Test kits are discovered in America. Things are happening that will amaze and dazzle as the product begins a wave of recognition. I Saw It Right Off: We Will Save Kids' Lives! There are nay-sayers and believers....
What Is The Lumetallix Solution?
Great question. The answer is a double entendre. On the one hand, it is a solution (a chemical in a bottle). It is also a solution to reveal where lead lurks in our ecosystem. The results will amaze you. The solution is called Lumetallix. It is a transparent liquid...
Light Reading On Leaded Children
I was captivated by an investigative piece published by Reuters in 2016. It essentially says we have an epidemic when it comes to lead, and lead testing in America has gone to hell in a handbasket. Comon Sense Is Not That Comon You tend to duck and cover when...
Crash Reconstruction Findings
Years ago, I had an incident flying into a backcountry airstrip as a Flight Paramedic, and that reminded me of what is happening with Lead in the USA. I was sitting in the co-pilot seat, and it was pitch black. We had just done a hot refuel at the back pad and, at the...