Radon: All hype or should you be concerned?

I was young when I purchased my first home. I had a newborn baby to care for, and a career change in-between it all. My brain, at that time, was taking in so much new information that it was hard to make sense of it all. But thankfully, my mother, a real estate agent, was there to guide me through the home-buying process, (as well as my new role as a mom). I’m still not sure which was more stressful, buying a home or the newborn baby! (Just kidding!)

Throughout the home-buying process, I learned to pay attention to words that otherwise simply weren’t in my working vocabulary. Many of which had to do with identifying how structurally sound a house was or the current property condition. 

But, one word I paid close attention to was RADON. 

I have always been health-conscious, so the thought of breathing in a potentially dangerous gas in my home was unsettling. I had some questions. If the home had high radon levels, who is responsible for fixing the problem? Who would guide me through the remediation process? How expensive is radon testing?

I also wondered this: Is radon that much of a concern or is it all a bunch of hype? 

The answer: be concerned. 

Here are 5 things to know about radon:

What is radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. It forms when radium, uranium, and thorium break down in rocks, soil, or groundwater. People breathe in the gas through cracks and open passages in homes or buildings. 

Is Radon bad for my health?

Yes. Breathing in radon overtime is bad for your health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, radon is estimated to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, responsible for over 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year. 

How will I know the radon levels on my property?

1 out of every 15 homes is estimated to have higher than acceptable radon levels. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or more. Because there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, the EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.

You can identify radon levels effectively by testing your home. This can be done in a few ways. 

1. You could purchase a kit and test radon levels yourself. Be sure to do your homework and purchase a kit from a company that has a certified lab. It’s helpful to read consumer reviews or third-party reviews. 
2. Hire a professional, certified environmental consultant to perform tests and monitor radon levels (depending on the results). Radon testing typically costs around $150 – $300. 
3. Request a soil communication test to determine how easily air flows under the house foundation. This is a process by which a small amount of chemical smoke is used to find the source and direction of air movement. This technique helps a professional decide the most effective radon reduction system for a home. 

I have high radon levels: Now what?

This answer depends on your situation. I personally know homeowners who are aware of high radon levels and choose to do nothing. I don’t recommend acting passively in this situation. 

If you are purchasing a home and a radon test shows higher than acceptable levels, an agreement could be made with the seller to remediate. 

It is likely the home will need a radon reduction unit. It is wise to hire someone with the technical knowledge and equipment to test for radon. Then, install a mitigation unit to dramatically reduce gas exposure inside your home. Doing this incorrectly could result in higher radon levels. 

What other steps can help reduce radon exposure?

• Seal cracks in the foundation of your home or office building
• Install a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV), most effective when used to ventilate a basement
• Open windows and doors to increase ventilation inside the home (but know that radon levels inside return to previous values within 12 hours)
• Periodically clean your radon reduction unit by clearing debris (leaves, branches, etc.) from the area
• Have your home re-tested every two years (even homes built with radon-resistant features should be tested periodically)
• Contact an experienced, certified environmental consulting company to answer questions about radon and guide you through the testing process 

If you would like to learn about radon zones in the United States, click on The Map of Radon Zones for more information. 

Since radon isn’t something you can easily identify using your senses, take the simple step of testing your home first. From there, you can make informed decisions that will likely have long-lasting effects on the health of your family.