“Buying a home without getting it tested for radon just doesn’t make sense.”
Greg Kemp, Owner, Kemp Home Inspections.
Per the U.S. Surgeon General: Indoor radon gas is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It’s important to know that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test, and fixed through well-established venting techniques.
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. You cannot see it, smell it or taste it. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. Testing is the only way to find out your home’s radon levels. If you find that you have high radon levels, there are ways to fix a radon problem. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels for around $1000.
Any home can have a radon problem, including new and old homes, homes with or without basements, whether you live in Maryland or DC. Do not rely on radon test results taken in other homes in the neighborhood to estimate the radon level in your home. Homes which are next to each other can have different radon levels. Testing is the only way to find out what your home’s radon level is.
If You are Selling a Home…
The EPA recommends that you test your home before putting it on the market and, if necessary, lower your radon levels. Save the test results and all information you have about steps that were taken to fix any problems. This could be a positive selling point.
If you are selling your house in Montgomery County, MD, a new law effective October 1, 2016 requires you to provide radon test results that are less than 1 year old prior to sale. We can help! We are certified by the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB). See our special pre-sale radon testing service for Montgomery County, MD residents.
If You are Buying a Home…
The EPA recommends that you know what the indoor radon level is in any home you are considering buying. Ask the seller for their radon test results. If the home has a radon-reduction system, ask the seller for information they have about the system. If the home has not yet been tested, you should have the house tested. If you are having a new home built, there are features that can be incorporated into your home during construction to reduce radon levels.
At Kemp Home Inspections we test for radon using continuous radon monitoring and charcoal canisters. Continuous radon monitoring offers several advantages. Not only do we get the fastest results possible, but we provide hourly results of radon levels during the course of the test, and our system is equipped with special safeguards to identify tampering so you get the most accurate results possible.
