Why you need an EMF survey: Your FAQs answered

Feb 04, 2022

Mobile phones, laptops, Wi-Fi routers, smart meters, smart speakers, CCTV systems...with so much tech in and around the average modern house, it can be easy to feel inundated. But over-exposure to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by these electric and wireless devices can also lead to mental and physical health issues – from insomnia to anxiety, headaches and tinnitus.

If you're concerned about your exposure to electromagnetic frequencies – or want to get a better idea of any radiation hotspots in your house (and how to alleviate them), an EMF home inspection could be the solution. But you might be wondering what an EMF survey involves, how much it costs and what you'll get out of it? Discover the answers to all of these questions and more in our handy guide...

What is an EMF survey?

An EMF survey measures the levels of man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs)* in your home and identifies areas of geopathic stress**, all of which can be a burden on your body and may be linked to health issues.

A trained consultant will visit your home and use a combination of testing equipment to measure the following:

Electric Fields
Magnetic Fields
Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation
Dirty electricity
Geopathic Stress
Artificial light

An EMF survey will also check for any external factors affecting the EMFs inside a space, including wiring, pipework, mobile phone towers and smart street lamps.

What are the benefits of an EMF survey?

A survey and its findings allow us to identify and measure any areas of concern caused by internal and external activities. We can then provide analysis and bespoke solutions to help you reduce your exposure to EMFs, improve your living environment and optimise your health.

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How do you know if you need an EMF survey?

An EMF survey is an excellent way of checking your home for overexposure to man-made EMFs.

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that prolonged exposure to man-made electromagnetic radiation has a detrimental impact on health, with thousands of independent scientific studies published. So, how do you know if you (or someone in your household) are suffering the effects of excessive EMF exposure?

The health symptoms that might mean you need an EMF survey

According to registered charity Electrosensitivity UK, “Electrosensitivity (ES) and Electromagnetic-Hypersensitivity (EHS) are physical intolerances” that can “lead to environmental functional disabilities caused by Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) - e.g. mobile phones, cordless phones, masts, WiFi, Bluetooth, smart meters, Wifi baby alarms, Bluetooth hearing aids, fitbits, satellites, and Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) - e.g. dirty electricity, electric cars, house wiring, powerlines.”

Describing the condition as “multisystemic,” meaning it can affect “all neural pathways,” the charity lists the following symptoms as the most common:

Headaches
Skin/eye problems
Insomnia
Fatigue
Anxiety
memory loss
Confusion
Pain
Palpitation
Irritability
Nausea
Nosebleed
Chemical/light sensitivity
Imbalance
Vertigo
Tinnitus

Of course, these symptoms are so varied that it may be difficult to identify when they are caused or aggravated by EMFs. Having an EMF survey can provide a clearer picture of how much of an issue EMFs are in your property, helping you to understand whether they are likely to be the cause of your symptoms and whether you are electrosensitive.

If you have a health issue that you have tried everything to alleviate, but nothing is helping, assessing the EMFs in your living environment is a sensible next step.

What external factors might mean you need a survey?

What’s outside a building varies from location to location. Often, a property owner (or prospective owner) will commission an EMF survey when there is a mobile phone mast, smart street lighting, solar panel, or a substation near the house.

What internal factors might mean you need a survey?

Some internal factors that might trigger the need for an EMF survey include; extensive use of technology indoors, such as wireless devices, Wi-Fi boosters and home smart tech, 5G-enabled devices, smart meters, faulty wiring and EMFs entering the building via pipework.

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What will the EMF consultant do once they’re in your home?

The consultant will focus on the areas where you spend the most time: where you sit for long periods and where you sleep. Usually, this encompasses the bedroom, living room, kitchen, home office, and children’s play areas. Using professional meters, they will take measurements and readings in each room for magnetic and electric fields, high frequencies, dirty electricity and geopathic stress.

What equipment does an EMF surveyor use?

The types of meter used in an EMF survey varies, but the equipment our consultants currently use include:

Geovital HF Digimeter (Body Measurement)
Geovital LF Digimeter (Body Measurement)
Esmog Spion (5G) - The most sensitive meter we know of!
Esmog Spion Lux (with light meter)
DeTekta DE NFA1000 Electric & Magnetic LF (produces scans of the sleeping area)
Lecher Antenna (Geopathic Stress)

We update our testing equipment as soon as any new and improved models become available.

How long does a survey take?

Our EMF surveys usually take around 3.5 - 4.5 hours, but can take longer for a larger property.

Is there a 'best time' to have an EMF survey done?

Many people like to commission an EMF survey before moving into a new home. Alongside land and space clearing, having an EMF survey done before you live in a property ensures the best possible start to life in your new place, safe in the knowledge that any issues have been resolved or reduced as much as possible.

Some people also like to have an EMF survey done when preparing to put their property up for sale, increasing buyer confidence and speeding up the process. Or, you might have been living in a property for a while but feel like cumulative EMF exposure is causing you health problems and want an EMF survey to get to the bottom of it.

What do you receive at the end of the survey?

At the end of each survey, our consultants provide a detailed report with measurements, references, and hotspots, as well as recommendations and further information to help you understand any problem areas. These recommendations might include shielding (e.g. using EMF shielding paint and fabrics) to create safe living spaces.

You might also want an extra top-up consultation over video, where our consultant can discuss ways to improve digital hygiene and reduce dirty electricity, as well as small but affordable ways to adjust the amount of tech in the home so that it’s EMF safe. They can also discuss moving from wireless to wired, and nifty tips to reduce electric fields at computers and on your mobile.

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*EMFs are invisible radiation waves, produced by both natural sources – like sunlight – and man-made sources, like smartphones and phone masts. You can read more about the effects of EMF exposure and its impact on our health here.

**Geopathic stress is usually caused by a disturbance in the Earth’s electromagnetic field, such as a quarry, fault line or underground watercourse.