If you’re planning to buy or rent a new house, then radon gas testing is one of the things that you should consider during a property inspection. Radon could endanger the life of your loved ones and you should find a local company to set up a mitigation system for you. Here is a property inspection guideline that can help you know what to consider before performing radon testing.
What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that is odorless and tasteless. The gas originates from the breakdown of uranium in rocks, soil, and water. According to the EPA, radon is present at worrisome levels in one out of 15 American homes. It is a dangerous gas that can cause serious health problems if inhaled in large quantities.
On what part of your property will the test take place?
Radon tests are often conducted on the lowest levels of your property. The test is often conducted on all finished or unfinished levels that you will regularly use. Codes in every state define the basics of radon testing based on your property’s details. For instance, you typically don’t need to conduct radon tests in elevated crawl spaces.
What kind of radon test will be ideal for your property?
The charcoal canister test and the electronic monitor tests are the most used radon tests. The charcoal canister test is often used in real estate transactions and the canister is placed on your property for at least 72 hours. Afterward, these test kits get sent to the lab for analysis. The continuous electronic track offers the fastest test, which you can complete in 48 hours.
When should you conduct radon testing?
You should close the house you intend to buy or rent for at least 12 hours before the test. After setting up the test, you should close the house again for at least 12 hours. This means that you should close all the doors and windows. But you can open them for brief entry and exit.
How will you determine who pays for the radon test?
The issue of who will fund the test relies on a mutual agreement between the buyer and the seller. But if the seller is not interested, then there is no way to compel the seller to pay for the test because there are no rules or regulations about this issue. However, the buyer should consider paying the full amount if the seller doesn’t want to pay part of it. As a buyer, you have a more vested interest in ensuring that you buy a risk-free property.
Who will conduct the radon test?
There are many companies that can conduct radon testing. Oftentimes, these businesses double as a local sump pump installation company or crawl space vapor barrier installation companies. All you’ll need to do is sample a few local online listings. If you should find a local sump pump installation company, check to see if they can perform radon mitigation for you.
How do you get rid of radon if you find it on-site?
If the radon test shows high levels of radon gas, then the buyer should ask the seller to install a radon mitigation system before buying the home. But, if the buyer refuses to do so and you’re willing to go ahead and buy the home, then you can do it yourself. You can hire a local sump pump installation company that provides radon mitigation services to do the task for you.
Radon is a dangerous gas that can endanger the life of your family and friends. If you intend to buy a new home, then you should have it tested first. If the test comes out positive, then you should seek the services of a local company. The company can set up a radon mitigation and abatement system to reduce the risk of radon poisoning.
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