Is Lead Hiding in Your Older Home?
Lead is one of the few household hazards that’s both extremely common and almost entirely invisible. If your home was built before 1978 — the year lead-based paint was banned for residential use — there’s a real chance lead is present somewhere in it.
For families with young children or anyone who is pregnant, that’s worth taking seriously: lead exposure is linked to developmental and neurological harm, and there is no known safe level.
Where lead hides
Lead can turn up in more places than most people expect:
- Paint — intact lead paint is relatively stable, but as it ages it chips and degrades.
- Dust — this is the big one. As lead paint deteriorates (or is disturbed during renovation), it creates fine lead dust that settles on floors, sills and surfaces where children play.
- Water — lead can leach into drinking water from old pipes, solder and fixtures, even in newer homes.
What to test
Different risks call for different tests:
- Lead in paint & dust testing identifies degrading paint and the hazardous dust it creates — the most common exposure route for children.
- Lead surface testing spot-checks specific painted or coated surfaces before you sand, scrape or renovate them.
- Lead in water testing tells you whether your tap water is safe to drink.
For a fuller picture of your water, a complete water analysis tests lead alongside bacteria, pesticides, hardness, pH and other key markers.
Before you renovate
This is the moment lead matters most. Sanding or demolishing surfaces that contain lead paint can release a burst of hazardous dust throughout your home. Testing before the work starts lets you plan safely — and it’s far cheaper than dealing with contamination afterward.
If your home predates 1978, don’t guess. Schedule lead testing and know exactly what you’re living with.