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Buying A House or Currently Own One Then Read About "Radon"

By
Real Estate Agent with The Bean Group

Radon gas is created when uranium in the soil decays. The gas then seeps through any access point into a house. Common entry points are cracks in the foundation, poorly sealed pipes , drainage or any other loose point. Once in the home, the gas can collect in certain areas- especially basements and other low lying , closed areas, and build up over time to dangerous levels. The Environmental Protection Agency has set a threshold of 4 pico curies per liter as the safe level. As humans are exposed to the gas over a period of years, it can have a significant and detrimental effect.

Radon has been found in homes in all 50 States. Certain areas are more susceptible than others. Concentrations of radon causing materials in the soil can be either natural or man made. Homes built near old mining operations may be at higher risk. The only way to tell for sure is to have a home tested.

Testing for radon comes in two forms: active and passive, Active devises constantly measure the levels of radon in a portion of the home and display those results. Passive devices collect samples over a period of time and then are taken and analyzed. Either method can help you determine your level. Do it yourself kits are available from a number of outlets, normally with passive devices. Over a period of days, the device is left in the lowest level of the home which is occupied. This eliminates crawl spaces under the house, but includes finished or unfinished basements. Then the results are analyzed by a professional. The other option is to engage a qualified professional to conduct the tests for you.

If high concentrations of radon are found in your home, you have several options. Since radon is only a problem when it is concentrated in high volume, improving the ventilation in an area is often sufficient to solve the problem. In other cases, it may be necessary to limit the amount of radon getting into the home by sealing or otherwise obstructing the access points. Once again I recommend that you engage a professional to ensure that radon is effectively taken care of.

If you are buying or own your home, radon can be a significant issue. Buyers should be aware of the radon risk in their area and determine whether a radon test is desirable (as a Realtor I always recommend one).When in doubt, the EPA always recommends testing. The cost of the test is well worth the money. Lastly, radon can also exist in water, so when getting a radon air test have the water tested to if you are on a well.

So whether the home is old or new, radon is a reality but it is one that we can live with. Proper testing and mitigation can eliminate radon as a health issue. If you want more information visit www.epa.gov/radon.

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