Radon what you should know
Posted 05-16-2014 at 06:12 AM by EricB515
What Is Radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that is formed naturally by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless but can be easily measured with a radon detector.
Radon can enter a house any place it finds an opening where the house contacts the soil: cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes and support posts, floor drains and sumps, cavities inside walls, and the water supply.
The age of a house is not factor when it comes to whether high levels of radon are present in the dwelling.
Radon and Home Sales
More and more, home buyers and renters are asking about radon levels before they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is often little time to deal with radon and other issues. The best thing to do is to test for radon NOW and save the results in case the buyer is interested in them. Fix a problem if it exists so it won't complicate your home sale. If you are planning to move, read EPA's pamphlet "Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon," which addresses some common questions (see also Radon in Real Estate). You can also use the results of two short-term tests done side-by-side (four inches apart) to decide whether to fix your home.
During home sales:
Buyers often ask if a home has been tested, and if elevated levels were reduced.
Buyers frequently want tests made by someone who is not involved in the home sale. Your state radon office can assist you in identifying a qualified tester.
Buyers might want to know the radon levels in areas of the home (like a basement they plan to finish) that the seller might not otherwise test
Radon is a radioactive gas that is formed naturally by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless but can be easily measured with a radon detector.
Radon can enter a house any place it finds an opening where the house contacts the soil: cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes and support posts, floor drains and sumps, cavities inside walls, and the water supply.
The age of a house is not factor when it comes to whether high levels of radon are present in the dwelling.
Radon and Home Sales
More and more, home buyers and renters are asking about radon levels before they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is often little time to deal with radon and other issues. The best thing to do is to test for radon NOW and save the results in case the buyer is interested in them. Fix a problem if it exists so it won't complicate your home sale. If you are planning to move, read EPA's pamphlet "Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon," which addresses some common questions (see also Radon in Real Estate). You can also use the results of two short-term tests done side-by-side (four inches apart) to decide whether to fix your home.
During home sales:
Buyers often ask if a home has been tested, and if elevated levels were reduced.
Buyers frequently want tests made by someone who is not involved in the home sale. Your state radon office can assist you in identifying a qualified tester.
Buyers might want to know the radon levels in areas of the home (like a basement they plan to finish) that the seller might not otherwise test
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Comments
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There are two sides to the Radon Story, make sure you look at both. Much of the newer studies show there is a beneficial effect from low levels of Radon, up to the 4-7 pCi/L range, where the Zero Threshold models from 20 to 30 years ago predicted no safe level. Even the EPA contradicts themselves between "5,000 to 20,000 deaths per year" and "radon at typical indoor levels presents no risk for lung cancer". This is a $3Billion a year industry in the US, follow the money. OldNavy1 has some great posts here on Radon.Posted 02-23-2018 at 05:24 PM by Blackjack6
