Radon In Maryland And Virginia

Remember when you were a little kid and you had to sleep with a nightlight because you were afraid of the monsters in your closet or under your bed? You couldn’t see the monsters, or hear them, but you had a feeling that they were there. What if I told you that that monster really does exist, and it could be in your home right now? This monster doesn’t look like what you thought it did as a child, but it could be very real. I’m talking about Radon – and just like those monsters from yesteryear, you can’t see it, or taste it, or even smell it – but it could be lurking in your home.

According to the EPA, Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. This gas can be found all over the US, and can seep into just about any type of building, whether it be your school, office or home through cracks in the foundation or walls, construction joints, and the water supply. Your exposure to Radon is typically highest where you spend the majority of your time – at your home, which traps the gas inside and can cause a build up. Any home, whether old or new, wood frame or modular, well-sealed or drafty, basement or none, can have a Radon problem.

Radon is natural, so low levels of the substance won’t hurt you. However, the monster comes out when Radon levels reach 4pCi/L or more; that’s because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leaded cause of lung cancer in the United States today (surpassed only by smoking). It’s important to note that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the US have elevated levels of Radon.

The only way to know if your current or future home has a Radon problem is to test for it. Luckily, this testing is easy, inexpensive and can be relatively quick. There are many kinds of low-cost do-it-yourself testing kits you can get at any hardware store or other retail outlet.. You can also hire a qualified tester to do the testing for you, which in the DMV area costs roughly $125-$165.

If your test results show that you have a Radon level of about 1/3 pCi/L you’re about average in the safe zone. However, if your living habits change, or you start hanging out more often in a lower level of your home (say that great furnished basement), you should retest your home on that level. It’s advisable to retest your home every so often as Radon levels can change with the seasons, environments and living conditions.

Not only is this information important for current homeowners, but for buyers, the Radon test is often a contingency included in the Contract of Sale. In this case, the Seller agrees that the Buyer will have an inspection for Radon levels, and if the test results show a high reading, the Seller will agree to have a Radon Remediation system installed prior to settlement. Remember though, all of these terms and conditions are negotiable.

If you do have high levels of radon in your current or future home, never fear! The problem can be reduced. There are several proven methods, but the one primarily used is a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls Radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. However, the right system for you really depends on the design of your home and other factors. The cost of this remediation depends on how your home was built and the extent of the radon problem.

So don’t let that monster under your bed invade your entire house. Radon-test your home, or insist that it’s done prior to signing the contract on your new purchase.

For more information on Radon, visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s site on the subject at http://www.epa.gov/radon/

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