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When you are making a large investment such as purchasing a home, it’s important to do your due diligence. It may appear that you’ve found your dream house if nothing major is found during the inspection, but a home’s radon levels are often not checked during the inspection process. See Radon Mitigation Checklist below.
To help you feel confident about your purchase, we recommend following the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) radon guide for homeowners.
This odorless, invisible, radioactive gas is formed when uranium decays in soil. It then enters your home, and when breathed in for a prolonged period of time, it can cause lung disease. In fact, it is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in the United States.
Before you purchase a home, you should find out if the home has radon-resistant features such as an active or passive radon mitigation system.
An active radon mitigation system consists of pipes connected to a fan that pulls the radon from below the foundation and vents it out into the air above the home. A passive radon mitigation system has everything an active system has except for the fan that pulls the air out. These can be installed in the building process and may sometimes be enough to keep radon levels low.
Whether the home has a system or not, it should always be tested for radon before you sign on the dotted line. If a home does not have a system, you want to ensure the home’s radon levels are low. If they are high, a system should be installed before you move in.
During a real estate transaction, testing has to be completed by a certified radon company. They will set the test for you and pick it up after it is complete.
If your dream home has a passive radon system yet still tests high for radon, the system should be turned into an active radon system. After the system has been activated, test the home again to ensure the radon levels have been lowered to a safer level.
Click here to download the EPA’s radon guide for home buyers and sellers, then contact our specialists at Utah Radon Services for fast, simple, certified radon testing.
