Often talked about but not acted on is the odor-free potentially hazardous, invisible Radon gas. This cancer-causing radioactive harmful gas is often discovered during home inspections and a surprised to both seller and buyer.
Radon seeps into your home through floor cracks, construction joints, wall cracks, suspended floor gaps, openings around water pipes, cavities inside walls and even through your water supply.
Estimations put 1 out of every 15 U.S. homes has elevated radon levels. To find out if you and your family are at risk, the EPA recommends testing. With levels of 4 picocuries per liter or above, the EPA recommends you make repairs to the home or install a radon reduction system. But even a lower level can be a health risk.
The EPA provides an interactive map to find state and county information but maintains that all homes be tested for radon. The EPA provides “A Citizen’s Guide to Radon” where you can get more information about Radon gas.
If you would like to run a preliminary test yourself, check out your local home improvement store for inexpensive test kits. If you get a high level result, I suggest you contact a qualified Radon service professional to verify your results or to begin mitigation of your home. Help to identify a professional in your area is available at www.nrpp.info or www.nrsb.org.
If Radon gas test results is important in your next purchase, contact me for a list of Fairfax homes for sale that have been tested or if you are interested in a Fairfax home I can make inquiries about Radon testing for you.
Great warning for those that may be at risk. Best to play it safe and get your home tested.