Cleveland Lead Safe Certification. Video 3: Dust Wipe Samples

If you're a Cleveland landlord you are likely trying to understand the Cleveland Lead Safe Certification process. When do you need to get your properties tested? Does Cleveland send out their lead testers? As the landlord, what are your requirements, costs and deadlines? As a certified Cleveland lead clearance technician, we aim to answer your questions quickly and simply in a short 3 video series.

Lead Safe Certification: Brief Overview Videos

Mike Vakos, owner and head home inspector of Tri-County Inspections, is also a landlord and a Cleveland lead tester. Before becoming a certified lead clearance technician even Mike, an experienced home inspector, was confused about the process. That's why he created these videos at a recent Cleveland property in order to help other landlords understand the Cleveland lead safe certification process.

• Video 1, covered in our post "What Is The Lead Clearance Test Process (CliffsNotes)" gives a brief explanation of what the Lead Clearance testing is and when you need it. https://youtu.be/s4EHCMZrTOU
• Video 2, explained in our post "Cleveland Lead Testing. Video 2: The Visual Inspection" shows you more about the first part of the Cleveland lead testing the process, the visual assessment. https://youtu.be/MUh3Vj7s_8g
• And Video 3 explains the interior swabbing process, or dust wipe samples, required to get your Cleveland Lead Safe Certificate. https://youtu.be/9JP9g045pGo

There are two parts to the Cleveland lead testing process. Part 1 is the visual assessment. Part 2 is the interior dust wipe samples.

Dust Wipe Samples:

• Dust samples are taken on interior window sills, window troughs and on the floor in front of windows. Windows and floors in front of windows should be thoroughly cleaned thoroughly. Lead testers can collect samples one hour after cleaning is performed. Keeping windows open after cleaning eliminates the need to open windows, which can generate more dust.
• Minimum of 12 dust wipe samples per unit are required to pass the Cleveland lead clearance certification.
• Dust wipe samples get sent to the lab for analysis. Usually 3 business days later the results are emailed to your Cleveland lead tester.
• The whole process is approximately 7 - 10 business days; from the time lead tester performs the inspection, collects the samples, receives results and processes the report.
• Once your property has the lead safe result, sending those to the City of Cleveland for your lead safe certificate is another 45 - 60 days.

See our frequently asked questions page for more details.

How Many Units Do I Need to Get Tested?

If you manage over 20 units in Cleveland, open our pdf: Minimum Number of Randomly Sampled Residential Units or Room Equivalents To Be Tested, to determine how many units to be tested in order to achieve 95% level of confidence. For example, if you own 35 units in Cleveland, 27 need to be tested.

Cleveland Lead Testing Schedule

Contact Mike Vakos, Cleveland home inspector and owner of Tri-County Inspections for your home inspection services:

• Lite Home Inspection for Investors
• Cleveland Lead Testing
• Commercial Inspection
• Full Home Inspection
• Pre-Listing Home Inspection
• Radon Inspection
• Mold Testing