If you are purchasing a new home in Champaign Illinois and wonder if you should have the property tested for radon during the inspection, the answer is always yes unless the seller can show the home was recently tested. Beyond having the home tested at purchase, it should also be tested on a regular basis.
What is Radon?
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that is produced with decaying uranium. Uranium is present in almost all soils and according to the American Cancer Society, there are low levels of radon found in the air we breathe every day.
While we are pretty much always exposed to some level of radon, serious health issues can result when radon is trapped in an indoor environment. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. This makes Radon gas the second largest cause of lung cancer in the country. The EPA has estimated that radon induced lung cancer kills around 21,000 people in the U.S. per year.
High levels of radon have been detected in every state and every type of home regardless of age and whether the home has a basement. According to the EPA two thirds of homes exceed the recommended safe levels of radon.
Additional: How to Limit Exposure to Radiation at Home
When Should Radon Testing Be Conducted?
Radon testing should always be performed during a home inspection when a new home is being purchased unless the seller can show proof testing was recently conducted. Radon testing is not generally included in a standard inspection, but is well worth the small extra cost to have it done.
Radon is constantly in motion and levels can vary with time, so it is also important to continue to get regular radon testing done. It is suggested that homeowners get testing done with a major shift in weather conditions or when there has been significant seismic activity in the ground. This can include an earthquake, or anytime there is major new construction or any time of ground work near your home.
The EPA advises that radon testing should be performed before you plan to do renovations to your basement as well. This can be anything from turning the area into a living space to putting in a new egress window. If the tests show problematic radon levels then radon-resistant measures should be added to renovation plans. The EPA also advises to test radon levels again when the work is complete.
Testing should be performed in all of the above special circumstances as well as every 2 to 3 years on a regular basis no matter the environmental factors or condition of your home. It is also a good idea to remember that no two houses will test the same so relying on your neighbor’s test results to see if you should get a test is not the best strategy.
For radon testing in a Champaign area home please contact us at any time. To hire an inspector in Champaign to help locate water damage and other issues in homes for sale please contact us any time. If you are looking for a reputable home inspector in Champaign or surrounding areas? Do you need a reputable home inspector in Champaign? Please contact us anytime we are highly trained and knowledgeable and will give you the best insight into your potential home purchase.
- 5 THINGS THAT CAN RUIN A HOME INSPECTION
- INSPECTOR TIPS ON COMMON FIXES TO MAKE BEFORE YOU MOVE IN
- HOW TO DECIPHER THE HOME INSPECTION REPORT
- MISTAKES TO AVOID DURING YOUR HOME INSPECTION
- 6 Questions to Ask a Home Inspector Before the Inspection
- 3 Questions about the cost of a home inspection
- 5 Things all homebuyers should check for themselves