There is an important step that you may not have heard about. The EPA recommends that you should test for radon gas when buying or selling a home. Many people do not know anything about radon, radon testing or why it should matter during the real estate process.
Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. It cannot be seen, smelled or tasted in the air but can still be present in your home. If your home has a radon problem, and you are breathing it in your risk of getting lung cancer increases. The Surgeon General actually stated that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US today – second only to smoking. And if you are a smoker living in a house with high radon, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Radon testing your home is the only way to find out if you have high radon levels. The EPA and Surgeon General recommend testing all homes. This is especially important in areas with historically high levels of radon. 1 in 3 homes in Utah have high levels of radon, which according to the EPA is over 4.0 pCi/L.
If a home is found to have high levels of radon, it can affordably be reduced with the installation of a radon mitigation system.
The EPA recommends that your home be tested for radon before you put it up for sale. And, if needed, install a mitigation system to lower your radon levels. This can save you from surprise expenses during closing and can also be used as a positive selling point to potential buyers.
The best part about this… testing doesn’t have to cost you one extra cent! Utah Radon Services offers free testing for any real estate transaction. We utilize certified testing units and can provide official documents showing results. You’ll want to make sure you save all documentation and information from this process.
Keep in mind that testing should be done every 2 years and should also be repeated if any major home renovations have been done.
Before you buy any home, the EPA recommends that you know what the indoor radon gas level is. If the home has been tested or has a radon-reduction system already in place, ask the seller for any information they have about the system.
If the home has not been tested, Utah Radon Services will test it for free. We know that timing is important during a real estate transaction so tests can usually be set up within 24 hours of your request, and we can have results back to you within 2-3 days. And if the home does come back with high levels of radon, we can install a mitigation system usually within a few days. This is at no additional cost to the buyer as sellers will most often pay for the system.
When testing for radon gas when buying or selling a home, you have a few choices. You can purchase a do it yourself it and send it to a lab for results, although this process can slow a real estate transaction down if you are waiting on the lab and you also run the risk of this not being official enough to satisfy the other parties in the transaction. A home inspector can also test for radon, although the average cost of this is between $120 and $170 just for testing.
Utah Radon Services offers free testing for both buyers and sellers! We will set and pick up the test, and read it for free. At the end of the process we will deliver official and certified results. If your home does have high radon levels, our high quality radon removal systems are competitively priced and can be completed in less than one day.
Because time is limited during a real estate transaction, we work with realtors to make sure your home is tested. If needed, a reduction system can be installed within the given timeline. Supra Key access means you don't have to schedule time to give us access to the home.
Our certified employees have been in the business for over 5 years and are fully licensed and insured. Our technicians have tested or installed systems in several thousand homes.
Whether you are a realtor, home buyer or seller, we have the experience and expertise that you can count on. Call us at 801-871-0715 to test for radon gas when buying or selling a home.
Why Test for Radon - Radon is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas that is released when naturally occurring uranium in soil decays. Not only is it radioactive, but 1 in 3 homes in Utah have high levels indoors. Radon accounts for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year and is the leading cause of lung […]
Home has a Radon Problem? - If you have heard of radon gas and the potential health risks that exposure may present, you may be wondering how to know if your home has high radon levels. Rest assured, we’re here to break down what radon is, what the risks of radon exposure are, and how […]
Radon is a radioactive gas that enters your home through cracks and pores in the foundation as uranium decays underground. Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, which means it requires specialized testing to protect your family. Side Effects of Radon Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United […]
