Radon is a concern in Connecticut, and I always recommend that home buyers have a radon test done. Radon gas can cause health issues, so it must be tested for and addressed if found. If radon is found in the home or the water, there are mitigation systems that will bring the radon levels to within governmental standards. Reuben Saltzman of Minnesota has written a great post on the myths about radon and radon testing. Thanks for an informative post, Reuben!
As a Minnesota home inspector who does a lot of radon testing, I hear a lot of myths about radon being repeated over and over again. I've actually heard other home inspectors perpetuate a few of these radon myths as well.
Myth: vacant houses have high levels of radon. The idea behind this myth is that radon will build up in a house while it's sitting vacant, so a radon test on a vacant house won't be accurate. This simply isn't true. Radon has a very short half-life; as radon particles die off, they're replaced with new ones. A radon test conducted on a vacant house will be just as accurate as a test conducted at an occupied home, all things being equal.
Myth: radon is mostly found in older houses. In reality, the radon doesn't care how old the house is. Both new and old houses can have radon problems; we have found zero correlation between radon levels and the age of the home.
The one bit of unintentional truth to this myth is that starting in June of 2009, Minnesota began requiring passive radon mitigation systems in all new construction homes. We've performed many radon tests on these new homes, and have yet to find a single new construction house with a high radon level.
Myth: opening the second story windows shouldn't affect the radon test, because the test is located in the basement. The problem with this myth is that houses act like chimneys. Opening the windows on the second floor might actually increase the radon levels in the home. For a valid test, the windows in the house need to be kept closed.
Myth: radon tests should always be placed in the lowest level of the home. If the home has a crawl space or a basement that nobody will be spending any time in, why in the world would you want to know what the radon level is down there? If you're testing your own home, put the test in the lowest level of the home that you use regularly. For a real estate transaction, the radon test should be placed in the lowest level of the home that could be used regularly.
Myth: radon tests aren't needed for homes with walkout basements. While we've found that radon levels in homes with walkout basements tend to generally be lower, this is certainly no guarantee that the radon levels will be low. The highest radon level we've found at a home with a walkout basement was nearly four times higher than the EPA action level.
Myth: granite countertops have an effect on radon levels in a home. This myth gained popularity in 2008 because of a media scare. You don't need to worry about granite countertops. They're fine. You can read more about this myth here - radon in granite.
Myth: you need to hire a professional to test for radon. The do-it-yourself radon test kits that you buy online or at a home improvement store will work just fine. It takes a little longer to get the results, but these kits are far less expensive than hiring a professional to test your home for radon.
Myth: holy water will keep radon from entering a home. Ok, I made that last one up. That concludes my list of the most common myths about radon.
Reuben Saltzman, Structure Tech Home Inspections - Email - Maple Grove Home Inspections
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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
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860-748-8900
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Let the buyer pay for whatever tests they want to run to feel safe.
Radon pockets are everywhere in southeastern Wisconsin...and testing is always done in the basement, used or not, presumably because that it as close to the source as can be tested....
Hi Edward - The radon test is a very small investment for peace of mind!
Hi Sally and David - The testing is done in the basement here as well, but then most houses have basements. But as Reuben points out, it should be done in the lowest part that could be used.
Thanks for the post. While we are in an area where tests should be done not many buyers ever have it done. We can only mention it and let them make the decision.
Hi Gary - In our area, most people choose to do a radon test once they realize that radon is dangerous and most of the time the cost of remediation is paid for by the seller.
Peggy I agree, radon testing should be done. The costs of not doing it can be far greater than the costs of doing it.
Absolutely right, George!
Radon is no joke. According to EPA estimates it causes more deaths per year than drunk driving! Buyers should check out the EPA's Citizen's Guide to Radon. Lots of great info in there.
Hi Jon - Thanks for the link--it is great information.
Peggy -- I have the same blog post targeted for a reblog from two weeks ago. Got lost in the shuffle. You and I are on the same wavelength! This is great information that buyers MUST be aware of.
Peggy, you did an excellent job posting valuable information to clarify the importance of Radon Testing. Even though I don't have a basement here in Texas, I lived in Illinois where everyone had basements and/or a crawlspace so I know how important it is to have it tested. Plus, even though I'm now in Texas, I still have family and friends in different parts of the United States who could benefit by my knowledge, thanks you you, I'm sharper now.
Hi Barbara - Reuben always does a great job as a home inspector and it's important to get the word out!
Hi Patricia - This information was written by Reuben Saltzman and I agree--he does a great job of posting valuable information!