August | 2014 | Real Estate Dirt

When I first started selling real estate, I thought that radon gas and the levels allowed in the home were purely arbitrary. Lead based paint, mold and asbestos were some other areas that my clients were skeptical about even testing because the cure for the condition to the home were so costly. They would just read an information booklet about it and, with lead paint for instance, would just make sure their children didn’t eat the window sills. Regarding mold, they just figured they would apply some Clorox and wash it down themselves and save themselves all that money. (Studies show Clorox can make mold worse…) Radon just seemed like another cause that gave remediators a new bandwagon – a way to make some money off of people’s fears. People weren’t persuaded that those things were really dangerous to their health as much as a disaster to their resale value if they didn’t take care of it. Many home deals just fell apart rather than either side paying for the prescribed remediation (correction or removal of the dangerous condition).

Radon, I learned early on, is a radioactive, odorless gas that is created from the breakdown of uranium in the soil. Radon gets into buildings through tiny cracks in floors, foundations, walls; it can also enter through well water supplies that contain radon. Regardless of how new or old a home or building is, it can contain radon gas. The EPA recommends that all homeowners use a radon test to determine indoor radon levels; any home with radon levels higher than 4 pCi/L should have radon mitigation equipment installed. One house on one block could have a safe reading of .2 pCi/L and a home on the other end of the block be 17 pCi/L. So every home should be tested. Click here for a detailed US radon map. Click on this link for the radon detail map of just Pennsylvania.

Since the knowledge of radon and it’s effects on your health has grown, the cost of remediation has come down. The systems have become more fine tuned and effective. They are installed in places that work the best but are not obtrusive. In our area of Pennsylvania, a remediation system for a 3000 sf home costs between $850 to $1500. Definitely worth the expense. Most remediation companies now will even give a 2 – 5 year warranty if the homeowner leaves the fan on the exhaust system running.

Take a look at this story about a local man’s experience with radon. As a result of his experience, he now runs a radon remediation business. You won’t believe what his radon reading was! Click here to read the Stan Watras story.

I am not a radon testing or even remediation expert. But I am a Realtor who will help you find or sell a home that is safe for your family to live in. Please feel free to leave comments and tell us your story about radon.

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