Month: October 2018

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Radon, Real Estate and The Reality Of It All

Radon, Real Estate and The Reality Of It All

Radon, a Class A carcinogen is a danger when the concentrations build to dangerous levels in a home.  Coupled with long term radon exposure and a serious health risk exists.

Radon is an issue whether a home is in the process of being purchased or if purchased years ago. Living in any home with elevated radon levels is a health hazard. The EPA recommends testing your home every 2+/- years. Homes go through settling over the years and new cracks and fissures in the foundation can occur allowing additional avenues for radon to enter the home. These factors contribute to changes in your radon levels.

The only way to know if your radon levels are elevated is to test. EPA action level is 4.0pCi/L yet there is significant concern when levels are between 2.0pCi/L and 4.0pCi/L. The World Health Organization recommends “fixing” your home if radon levels are 2.7pCi/L. If you test and your radon levels come back within the 2.0pCi/L – 4.0pCi/L, it is highly recommended you consider installing a radon mitigation system. Small money for peace of mind and elimination of this cancer causing threat.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!

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Radon…I’ve Never Tested

Radon…I’ve Never Tested!

OK, so you’ve never tested for radioactive radon gas in your home. With the increase of awareness, you want to and are concerned about the possible past exposure. We can’t go back in time even though it would be nice sometimes but we can be proactive going forward and that should be the mindset taken.

Radon gas is a Class A carcinogen that lurks in homes because it becomes trapped. Breathing radon decay products over a prolonged period of time can cause lung cancer and research is proving other organs can be affected as well.

The only way to know if you have a radon issue in your home is to test. There are multiple ways to test for radon gas and using a professional is highly recommended.  A homeowner with proper guidance following proper protocol can effectively test their home as well with an EPA approved test kit.

Most home testing is done on a short term basis lasting 2-7 days with either an electronic method or a passive method. The electronic method, which is performed by a professional radon measurement provider using a CRM or Continuous Radon Monitor is tamper proof, provides an hour by hour concentration reading and offers the most comprehensive report for short term testing. There are different types of short term passive testing with the most common being a 2-7 day test using Charcoal Liquid Scintillation or Activated Charcoal Adsorption which once the testing period is completed, is sent to a lab which reads the level of radioactivity for an overall average concentration. There are radon tests available which can be exposed for 1-12 months when long term testing is required.

There are some states in which it is required for radon testing to be done for real estate transactions and rentals yet many states who do not require it. If your state does not have any requirements, you MUST be proactive to test for this insidious gas for your own family and  home.

Test Your Home TODAY…Protect Your Family!

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Radon and Sellers

Radon and Sellers

Thinking of selling your home and moving on? There are many ways to present your home to the public for sale and it is a decision that should be made early on. Many buyers want a turn key property with each and every aspect of the home’s condition being near perfect. Then there are buyers who want the home that needs everything to add their own style and personal touch.

What about the hidden aspects not visible to the naked eye? Radon gas is the first that comes to mind because it is invisible, odorless, colorless, tasteless and radioactive. This insidious cancer causing threat to human life lurks in homes. The only way to know if a home has elevated radon levels is to test.

Sellers may choose to sell their home in an “as is” condition or they may be proactive correcting certain issues the home may have. This may include testing for radon and “fixing” the home if levels are at a dangerous level. EPA action level is 4.0pCi/L yet there is significant concern when levels are between 2.0 and 4.0pCi/L. If a buyer has an accepted offer on a home and the radon levels come back at 3.9pCi/L,  the buyer can request the seller to “fix” the home prior to closing however the seller can easily say no, it is not at EPA action level of 4.0pCi/L.

Should you buy the house? The process of installing a radon mitigation system with a professional mitigator is a straightforward one. Only the buyer will be able to decide if they want to buy the house with elevated radon levels. If the buyer installs the radon mitigation system post closing,  they can maintain full control of who performs the installation and retest. That being said, the buyer will also absorb the cost. A radon mitigation system is the one of most inexpensive home maintenance costs for the maximum benefits that can be done.

If a buyer wants the seller to install a radon mitigation system with levels above 4.0pCi/L, this can be a point of negotiation in the real estate transaction. It is highly recommended for sellers to have a pre-sale radon test and fix the home prior to marketing.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!

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The Why and How of Radon Exposure

The Why and How of Radon Exposure

Radon is the natural breakdown and decay of Uranium, Radium and Thorium in rock and soil; Radon is a radioactive gas. This is in our gardens soil, under and surrounding our homes, buildings, hospitals and schools. Radon is also in the air we breathe be it outside or inside. Outside, radon concentrations are very low and diluted. Inside, radon concentrations can build up to much higher dangerous levels because it has no exit unless windows and doors are open. When radon levels build up indoors to high concentrations, the potential risk for lung cancer is also higher. Long term exposure to elevated levels of radon gas has been proven to cause lung cancer and there is concern other organs in the body may be affected  as well.

Radon enters a home or building through cracks, fissures, sump pump openings, foundations and anywhere a gas can find it’s way in. Homes that are tightly sealed or heavily insulated can have higher indoor radon concentrations. New construction homes that are tightly sealed is an example. Properties built with surrounding soil that is rich in Uranium, Radium and Thorium may have higher radon concentrations indoors.

The only way to know if you have elevated radon concentrations is to test the property with an approved EPA method. Speak to a radon professional today to identify if your home is at risk.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!