Radon Testing is necessary because it is dangerous to your health, but also because most homeowners do not have the recommended testing done every 2 years.
What is Radon?
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas that get’s into home from cracks in a homes foundation. The gas is formed by decay in soil and rock and enters through concrete cracks, wood and sheetrock. Overtime, radon gas builds up, making indoor air quality poor; leading to health issues.
Radon is a completely natural occurrence, but you don’t want it in your home. Breathing in too much, especially over time leads to lung cancer. The second highest cause of lung cancer is from radon in a home according to the EPA.
In Michigan, over 8,070 new lung and bronchus cancer cases were found in Michigan to be caused by radon and 5,410 deaths from lung and bronchus cancer occurred. (2019 data)
We will discuss Radon and what you can do about it; how it gets into homes and where it comes from. We will discuss ways to determine if a house has radon issues or is more prone to radon. All these questions and more will be answered.
If you are buying a home, it may have never been tested for radon gas; or it may have been to long ago to know it’s current radon levels. Getting a professional radon test with your home inspection protects you and your family from health issues commonly associated with radon gas build up in a home.
Which Radon Zone Do You Live In?
The EPA established the “map of radon zones in 1993 to identify areas of the U.S. with the greatest potential for elevated indoor radon levels based on indoor radon measurement data, geology, aerial radioactivity, soil parameters, and foundation types.”
Regional information from Radon zones for Michigan homes in Region 5 of the U.S. shows that many metro Detroit counties are in an orange zone indicating it’s important to follow guidelines having your home tested every 2 years. The results are based on radon testing of over 200,000 Michigan homes.
Conclusion: 1 in every 4 Michigan homes is expected to have Radon levels that exceed the recommended federal action level.
Radon testing is recommended every 2 years because homes settle and new cracks form in the foundation which causes radon levels to change. How long ago was the home your purchasing tested?
What radon test results are high levels of radon?
If your test results show radon levels at or above 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends installing a radon mitigation system. This system grabs the radon before it ever enters your home and will vent it outside. We can recommend mitigation systems should your testing return high levels of radon after your testing completes and is returned by the lab.
If your reading is between 2 and 4 pCi/L action may not be needed as immediate, but you should consider taking some steps to lower the levels and improve air quality. Radon mitigation involves several steps which we will explain below.
How long does a home inspection radon test take?
Top Floor Home Inspections radon testing is considered continuous radon testing. We conduct the test through our device that measures the concentration of radon over a period of time, typically 48 hrs. The device is strategically placed in the home and monitor’s the radon levels over it’s testing time period. After the test is complete the inspector collects the device and the device immediately emails test results to you and your real estate agent.
Top Floor Home Inspections offers a one stop solution where you can have your home tested at your inspection for Radon, Mold, Air Quality and Water Quality along with Mold Sampling and analysis at a certified lab.
What is Radon Mitigation and How Do I Get Rid of Radon in the Home?
If radon is found in the home, steps to take to reduce levels include a combination of repairs and mitigation systems. Repairs like sealing cracks in walls, floors, plaster or caulk to mitigate gas levels. There are radon mitigation systems you can install that use pipes and fans to remove the gas out from under the foundation before it enters the home. Costs for mitigation systems range greatly between $750-$1500 depending on the homes size, foundation, construction and climate conditions. We can recommend a few for you should this arise.
How Much Does Radon Testing Cost?
The cost can vary according to the home inspector company you go with, but Top Floor Home Inspections makes testing affordable. If you add on Radon testing to your home inspection it is $145 and includes lab analysis. As soon as testing by the machine is complete it electronically uploads the data to the lab for the analysis and the lab emails the homebuyer and buyers real estate agent the results.
Call Top Floor Home Inspections at 586.345.5299 to schedule a radon test or to include radon testing with your home inspection. Remember, to always be safe than sorry. Our job is to make homeowners aware of potential health issues and to ensure the homes they are buying are safe for them and their families.