Get a Radon Test For Your Family’s Health and Peace of Mind!

Radon is a transparent radioactive gas with no smell, taste or color. Radon is released when the uranium in soil and rocks decays over time. Radon is everywhere in the U.S. and is undetectable by the human senses.  Radon gas enters through cracks or openings in the foundation of structures. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) once the radon enters a structure, it attaches to dust particles. These particles are inhaled putting everyone at risk.

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Radon gas can enter homes through openings like these:

• Cracks in solid floors
• Construction joints
• Cracks in walls
• Gaps in Suspended floors
• Gaps around service pipes
• Cavities inside walls
• Water Supply

 

Radon is a serious health hazard.

Having a radon test can help keep your family healthy. The EPA states that any radon exposure has some risk of causing lung cancer. The Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.  If your home has high radon levels and you smoke, the risk of lung cancer is especially high. The EPA estimates that radon causes thousands of cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.   The lower the radon levels in your home, the lower your family’s risk of lung cancer.

 

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Include Radon Testing when Buying and/or Selling a Home

Having a home tested for Radon can be a positive selling point and put you ahead of the competition. The EPA recommends that you test your home before putting it on the market. Have the test results and any information about steps that were taken to fix any problem.  If radon levels are found to be high, there are ways to reduce it and make the home safer. Homes need to be tested every 2 years to stay current.

Realtors will recommend buyers to have radon testing done during the home inspection. It is important to have a qualified radon measurement professional perform the tests. HomeMD offers radon testing by certified inspectors.  If the homeowner offers a previous test, be sure it was conducted by a radon professional.  The test could change if there have been any structural changes, alterations or changes in the HVAC system of the house. These improvements can change radon levels. Be sure the homeowner’s test followed EPA and test manufacturers recommended protocol for deploying the test.

If the test result comes back high you can ask the seller to fix it or plan to fix it yourself after the sale is completed. Find a qualified contractor who can guarantee and warranty their results. Have bids to use for negotiations or to establish escrow funds that can be used to mitigate the house. Radon is mitigated by installing a system that will draw the radon-laden soil gas from beneath the foundation and exhaust it outside of the building.

Radon Testing

Only testing can tell you if radon is present in the home or if a mitigation system is properly installed and effective in lowering the radon levels.  Homes are tested for radon on the lowest level that is habitable. Therefore, in a home with a finished basement, the radon test would be placed there.   The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. Typically the radon test is a two-day process. Radon levels fluctuate constantly. After 48 hours, the average radon level is taken. If levels are found at or above 4.0 pCi/L, it is considered unsafe by the EPA. This can be remedied by a radon mitigation system.

The actual cost of the radon test itself is not expensive and well worth the health of your family. Home inspectors might give a discount if included in the home inspection package.

Give HomeMD a call today to schedule your home’s radon testing. HomeMD offers prompt, courteous and professional services.

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