Is radon testing required to sell a home? Explained by FAQ Blog
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It is much easier and far less costly to prepare the subgrade and install pipe to improve soil gas flow before a foundation slab is cast. Radon mitigation — also known as radon abatement — is a system that reduces radon levels in your home. While it’s not possible to eliminate radon entirely, a radon mitigation system helps to expel the gas from your home to keep concentrations low. Often, the system consists of a pipe that is sunk through your basement floor and into the soil beneath your house. The pipe may continue upward through your home to an exit point on the roof, or it may exit the basement and continue upwards along the outside of the house.
Learn more about each testing option to determine which is best for your property. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Test your home again if you start living on a lower level . Once the test is completed, follow the directions on the test kit packaging to find out where to send the device to get the results. At the American Cancer Society, we’re on a mission to free the world from cancer.
STEP 3: Continuously test for radon with a monitor.
Most kits are very affordable and can be found for under $20. Some kits include the lab fee and others charge a separate fee. The most important thing to consider when choosing a kit is to make sure that the kit meets EPA standards.
The longer the test, the better the results will reflect your home and lifestyle. There are no widely available medical tests to measure whether you have been exposed to radon. But if you think that you might have been, talk with your doctor about whether you should get regular health checkups and tests to look for possible signs of lung cancer. Possible symptoms include shortness of breath , a new or worsening cough, pain or tightness in the chest, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing. If radon levels in your home are high, you can take steps to lower them. The most common method is to have a vent pipe system and fan installed, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside.
Conditions that Affect a Radon Test
Radon test kits come in different forms with instructions on how to use them. The EPA states, “Radon is a health hazard with a simple solution.” Once radon reduction measures are in place, home buyers need not worry about the quality of the air in the home. Since removing radon is relatively simple, your family will be safe in a home with a radon reduction system in place. You can't see it, smell it, or taste it, but radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, the presence of radon in your home doesn't have to be a deal breaker.
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication. If you are thinking of selling your home and you have already tested your home for radon, review the Radon Testing Checklist to make sure that the test was done correctly. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. If your drinking water comes from a reservoir, lake, or river, it is less likely for radon to be present in the water. Because these water sources are exposed to the air, the majority of the radon gets released into the atmosphere before the water enters your home.
Q. Should I hire a professional to conduct a radon test in my home?
Within approximately two weeks of buying the kit, you should be able to have results and be able to assess your next steps. To find out more about radon test kits, visit Radon Hotlines and Information Resourcesexternal icon or refer to the EPAexternal iconweb site on how to use a test kit. Sending the kit to appropriate sources to determine radon levelFollow the directions on the test kit packaging to find out where to send the device to get the results. Seal cracks in your foundation.Cracks in your foundation are where most of your home’s radon comes from. By sealing them up, you make it harder for radon to enter your house. Consider opening the window to improve the air circulation to be extra safe.
Because of this difference in air pressure, your house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings. Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the air in your home when water is used for showering and other household uses. In most cases, radon entering the home through water is a small risk compared with radon entering your home from the soil. When you get your radon test results, the measurement will be in picocuries (pCi/L). According to the EPA, any home with more than four picocuries of radon per liter of air should have radon mitigation performed to reduce dangerous gas levels. The World Health Organization recommends taking action at 2.7 picocuries.
How to find a radon testing professional
These levels have been deemed to be unsafe by the EPA, and prolonged exposure could pose serious health consequences, such as a higher chance of developing lung cancer. Even if your results are less than this limit, you may want to consider a radon mitigation system anyway to reduce any levels of radon which are showing up in your home. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General’s office estimate radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. Over time, these radioactive particles increase the risk of lung cancer. Measuring indoor radon levels will give you insight into an important aspect of a home’s air quality and let you know if your dream house has a radon problem.
You can even reduce radon by simply running ceiling fans and bathroom fans. Luckily, there are several ways that you can keep radon gas levels in your home safe. Each of these methods works to prevent radon from getting trapped and reaching dangerous levels. Let’s take a look at the easiest and most effective ways to pass a Radon gas test. Always test radon levels again after you’ve made any of these changes.
Radon, which is a by-product of radium, is one of many toxic compounds found in cigarette smoke. While it won’t totally skew your results, it can harm your readings to some extent. A good rule of thumb is that you should get radon remediation if you already failed a radon test once. In fact, many building codes might not allow you to get another radon testuntilyou get this issue fixed.
If you suspect serious radon levels in your home, don’t worry about passing the test. The easiest way to avoid radon trapping itself in your home is to bolster your home’s ventilation. Better airflow means that you have a better chance of having radon leave your home.
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