Radon Gas:  Should We Test Our New Home?

There are cracks in the foundation. Nothing structural. Nothing that is going to threaten the stability of the home, but they are there. Nooks, crannies and holes through which radon gas can enter your home. Colorless, odorless and undetectable to humans, it is none the less a major contributor to the number of lung cancer patients diagnosed each year.

Radon gas ~ even the name sounds ominous, is naturally occuring and comes from the breakdown of uranium found in the soil. The gas then seeps through any access point into a home. Common entry points are cracks in the foundation, poorly sealed pipes, drain tiles or any other opening.   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 of the US Government 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.

How widespread is the problem? Radon has been found in homes in all 50 states. Certain areas are more susceptible than others (http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html), but no location is immune. Concentrations of radon-causing materials in the soil can be either natural or man-made. The only way to tell for sure is to have a home tested.

Testing for radon is done with CRM's (Continous Radon Monitors) to measure radon levels.  These monitors record data hourly and can detect any tampering.  The minimum time for monitoring is 48 hours. Test results are typically ready by the end of the day on which the survery was completed.

Data is gathered with CRM's in the lowest level of the liveable space.  This excludes crawl spaces under the house, but includes finished or unfinished basements.

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, a professional should be engaged to ensure that the radon is effectively blocked.

If you are buying or selling a 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. When in doubt, the EPA always recommends testing.  If test results already exist, make sure they are recent or that the home has not been significantly renovated since the test was performed. If in doubt, get a new test done. If you are selling a home, having a recent radon test is a great idea. By being proactive, you can assure potential buyers that there is no issue with radon.

So whether you have an old home or a new one, live in the city or in the country, radon gas is a reality. But it is a reality that we can live with. Proper testing and mitigation can eliminate radon as a health threat. For more information, visit the EPA web site on radon at http://www.epa.gov/radon.

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