New EPA rules on home repair

Replacing windows, doing jobs around the house, all that changed as of April 22. You have to follow the EPA's new rules, at the cost of fines of $3500 per window, for example. 

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimates the new law will increase home repair costs by between $500 and $1,500 per job.

Sean Lintow Sr., owner of SLS Construction, has already spent the money to become certified. He estimates one third of his jobs will be affected by the rule changes. He says he "will need to buy new equipment to comply with the rules, and I will always need someone certified on site." Lintow said he also expects cleanup will longer. For example, instead of throwing drywall into a dumpster, his workers will have to first remove any hardware (like nails and screws), wrap the drywall in plastic, and take it out of the house in trash bags. Then he'll have to wait at least an hour after cleaning to determine if any lead dust is present.

According to EPA sources fines for not following the new law could be as steep as $3,500.00 per occurrence. That means if a homeowner replaces 10 windows in a home incorrectly, he could end up with a $35,000 fine.