Is Radon Lurking in Your Home?

 Is Radon Lurking in Your Home?

You may have heard the word radon….but what is it really? When you are making the biggest purchase of your life, you better know what it is.  Knowing your exposure level and how it could affect you and your family is imperative.

Radon is a radioactive gas. You can’t see, taste, smell, or feel it. It forms when uranium breaks down in the ground. Radon gas escapes the ground into the air and water. Usually very small amounts are in the air which is fine. However, you should be concerned when there are large amounts of radon exposure in your home. Breathing in radon over a long period of time is very toxic. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer amongst non-smokers (airthings.com). Symptoms of radon poisoning are delayed. After many years of being around high radon levels, health problems start. This is why it is important to have your future home tested for radon before you move in and unknowingly breathe in the gas for years to come. 

Radon tests are highly recommended by our agents here at Kima Real Estate Group. Usually the home inspector will put a radon monitoring machine in the home to read the levels of radon. This machine sits in the home for at least 48 hours to get an accurate reading. Radon is measured in a unit called picocuries. A level less than 4.0 pCi/L is ideal. Anything above 4.0 pCi/L needs to be remediated. Having this test done prior to closing is crucial. Radon remediation costs around $1,500….an expense that should be paid by the seller. High radon is a material fact and must be disclosed if known ahead of time. There are numerous companies in the Triangle that specialize in Radon Remediation. The cost for a radon test is around $150….not bad for peace of mind.

Not only is radon in the air, but it can also hang out in your water. If you are purchasing a home with a well, I would highly suggest getting the water tested for basic bacteria, lead, nitrates/nitrites, iron AND radon. Drinking radon in water can cause stomach & other internal organ cancers. The risk of contracting lung cancer by inhaling radon from well water is much greater. Radon gas escapes from well water each time you turn on a faucet, use the kitchen sprayer, shower, do laundry, or boil water.

I hear people say, “oh my neighbors don’t have high radon levels so I don’t either.” This is not true. I have seen homes next door to each other test completely opposite….one very high and one very low. Radon levels vary from one house to the next. Do not take your neighbor’s test to heart and assume you are fine. About 1 in every 15 homes has high levels of radon. The highest concentration of radon tends to be found in the basement or on the first floor of a home (healthline.com).

When purchasing a home, there are many options for inspections. Make sure radon is on the top of your list & ask your real estate agent about it if you have further questions. The professionals will know who to hire for testing and will guide you through the remediation process if need be. Don’t gamble on your life…..spend the $150 to ensure the safety of you and your family….now that is priceless.

Keri Nelson

ClientServices@PeterKima.com