Radon Gas in the Home You are Selling

Testing for radon gas can be done in the home with a low cost kit available online. Check with the authorities in your area to see whether this must be done before you put your house on the market.

St. Paul House Buyers: The newest hazard to homeowners is radon. Radon is a gas and comes from the ground and the rock within. It seeps into the house completely undetected as it has no odor and no immediate consequence. Rather, it can be detected by special tests designed to find it.

What that means to those who are selling their homes is that you can look for the EPA to mandate testing for it as they do for asbestos and lead. Each state will have it’s own rules and regulations in place for dealing with a radon contaminated home. Tests are available online and through businesses that sell test kits for various toxins and pollution at home. If you suspect that it is a possibility and test for it, you will need to be sure that you place the information you find in the full disclosure statement if one is required in your state.

The facts about radon are pretty scary!

The facts about radon are pretty scary, but it does take many years of exposure for it to actually cause you harm. Radon is a radioactive gas that is a byproduct of the breakdown of uranium. It can be present in your home’s air or in your water supply. It comes from igneous rock formation and soil that contains broken down rock. It makes its way into your house through the well, if you have one, or through concrete seams, sump pumps, or basement walls and floors. Another point of entry for radon gas is through rock foundations or even brick. Brick walls are also susceptible.

The figures related to this toxic gas as the EPA estimates shows that there may be as many as one out of every five existing homes that contain radon. They recommend levels of no more than 4 pCi/L. Even at that level, the average American family could be as many as 35 times more likely to contract radiation related illnesses. The death rates from radon at this lower level could be as much as 1 out of 100. That works out to be significantly higher than the other possible carcinogens that may be lurking in the home. Radon is now considered the second highest cause of lung cancer.

Knowing whether or not your house has radon gas may make a difference in the way you price your house. Check with your local health department or real estate board to see whether you must test for this toxic gas before selling your home.

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