One of the components of most general home inspections in Maine is to test for the presence of radon, a colorless, odorless gas that is a known carcinogen.
Radon gas seeps out of fissures in granite bedrock and can find its way into the basements and living areas of Maine homes. Because we have a lot of granite bedrock in Maine we often find varying levels of radon gas. If too much gas is found then the installation of a mitigation system is usually recommended that reduces the amount of the gas to an acceptable level.
Here is what the Department of Environmental Protection has to say about radon:
"Radon is an odorless, invisible gas known to be a human lung carcinogen. Millions of homes and buildings contain high levels of radon gas. The EPA's efforts are directed at locating homes with high levels and encouraging mitigation.
As a means of prevention, the EPA and the Office of the Surgeon General recommend that all homes below the third floor be tested for radon. Because radon is invisible, a simple test is the only way to determine if a home has high radon levels. The EPA recommends mitigating homes with high radon levels and there are straight-forward reduction techniques that will work in most any home.
Most homes will not have a radon problem, but there is a simple test to find out if you do or don't have high radon levels in your home. - The US Environmental Protection Agency's position on Radon."
Mitigating the problem generally involves the installation of a ventilation system in the basement of a house that simply draws the air from the basement and vents it to the outdoors.
Radon can also be present in a private water supply. The danger here is not from drinking the water, but from breathing the air from around a water source where radon is present, for example when taking a shower. Simple filtration systems can be installed to eliminate harmful concentration levels of radon in the water.
Mitigation systems for both air and water run in the $1000 to $1500 level depending on the situation.
To learn more about radon you can simply Google it and find many helpful websites. I found one that was pretty concise and helpful. Click here to take a look.
Mr. Lakefront's opinion is that radon is often a part of living in a Maine home and is something that requires your attention and the attention of a professional if you're buying a home in Maine. However, the presence of radon is a situation that is usually easy to mitigate and should pose no health threat to you or your family if properly addressed by a professional.
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