A house built in the 1970s
The 1970s span the aluminum-wiring years, the end of residential lead paint (1978) and the federal safety-glazing standard (1977).
For a 1970s house, check 11 things: aluminum branch-circuit wiring is possible; lead-based paint is possible; asbestos-containing materials are possible; lead solder on copper pipes is possible; vermiculite attic insulation may contain asbestos; renovation work falls under epa’s lead-safe rule; sellers must disclose known lead paint; glass in doors may not be safety glass; the garage door opener may predate entrapment protection; the ac may use r-22 refrigerant; test for radon, whatever the age. A decade says what is possible, not what your house has.
Aluminum branch-circuit wiring is possible
CPSC: "Homes built before 1965 are unlikely to have aluminum branch circuit wiring. Electrical cables installed between 1965 and the mid 1970s… may contain aluminum wiring." Aluminum connections can overheat at outlets and switches.
How to check: Look at cable jackets in the basement or attic for "AL" or "ALUMINUM", and ask a licensed electrician about CPSC-recommended repair methods. Warm cover plates or flickering lights are a call-the-electrician sign.
Lead-based paint is possible
EPA: "If your home was built before 1978, it is more likely to have lead-based paint." The federal government banned consumer lead-based paint for residential use in 1978. Dust and chips from old paint are among the most common sources of lead exposure at home.
How to check: Before sanding, scraping or replacing windows, use an EPA lead-safe certified renovator (required for paid work in pre-1978 homes under the RRP rule) or test the surfaces.
Asbestos-containing materials are possible
EPA lists places asbestos may be found in older homes, such as some floor tiles, roofing and siding shingles, textured paints and patching compounds, pipe and boiler insulation, and some vermiculite insulation. Material in good condition that is left alone is generally not a hazard.
How to check: Before demolition or remodeling, have suspect materials sampled by an accredited professional; do not sand, cut or scrape them yourself.
Lead solder on copper pipes is possible
Before the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments, copper plumbing was commonly joined with lead solder; "lead free" then meant no more than 0.2% lead in solder and 8% in pipe, and since 2014 means a 0.25% weighted average for pipes, fittings and fixtures.
How to check: Run the cold tap before drinking if water has sat for hours, use cold water for cooking, and test the tap water.
Vermiculite attic insulation may contain asbestos
EPA: a mine near Libby, Montana supplied over 70% of all vermiculite sold in the US from 1919 to 1990, and it was contaminated with asbestos; it was often sold as Zonolite. EPA advises assuming vermiculite insulation may be contaminated.
How to check: If the attic has loose, pebble-like gray-brown or gold insulation, do not disturb it; do not store things in that attic; hire a trained, accredited asbestos professional if work is needed.
Renovation work falls under EPA’s lead-safe rule
Paid renovation, repair and painting that disturbs paint in housing built before 1978 must be done by firms certified under EPA’s RRP program using lead-safe practices.
How to check: Ask every contractor for their EPA RRP firm certification before work that disturbs paint.
Sellers must disclose known lead paint
Federal law requires sellers and landlords of housing built before 1978 to disclose known lead-based paint and hazards and give buyers an EPA pamphlet; buyers get a 10-day window for an inspection unless they waive it.
How to check: Keep the lead disclosure form from your purchase with your house records.
Glass in doors may not be safety glass
CPSC’s safety standard for architectural glazing (16 CFR 1201) took effect in 1977 and requires safety glazing in storm doors, patio doors and similar locations.
How to check: Look for a permanent etched label in the corner of glass doors and large panels near doors; replace unlabeled annealed glass in high-traffic spots.
The garage door opener may predate entrapment protection
Federal rules (16 CFR 1211) require automatic residential garage door openers made after January 1, 1993 to include entrapment protection, such as an auto-reverse and photo-eye or edge sensor.
How to check: Test the auto-reverse with a 2x4 laid under the door. An opener without photo-eyes near the floor is due for replacement.
The AC may use R-22 refrigerant
EPA: production and import of HCFC-22 (R-22) ended on January 1, 2020; systems can still be serviced with recovered, recycled or stockpiled R-22, which is scarce and costly. New systems for R-22 stopped being manufactured in 2010.
How to check: Read the outdoor unit’s nameplate. On an R-22 system with a leak, ask for a repair-versus-replace comparison in writing.
Test for radon, whatever the age
EPA recommends testing every home for radon. House age does not predict it; soil and construction details do.
How to check: Test every two years and after renovations that change the lowest level.
Information, not an inspection. Testing and abatement of lead or asbestos should be done by certified professionals.