Why Test For Radon

According to the US Surgeon General and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), every home should be tested for radon gas. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States .

Although less than 1 in 15 houses have excessive levels of radon, testing of each house is the only way to know if a problem exist. America ’s Home Checkers has state -of –the- art electronic testing equipment and can obtain the results in as little 48 hours.

What is radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless, invisible, and toxic radioactive gas. Its sources are earth rock beneath homes, well water and some building materials. In open air it dissipates to harmless levels. However, in enclosed structures such as homes, it can accumulate to dangerous levels. The EPA has determined that radon concentrations above 4 pCi/L (pico curries per liter of air) is considered hazardous and should be mitigated. As a comparison, the average concentration in most indoor environments is 1.3 pCi/l and the outdoor concentration is 0.4 pCi/l.

Are homes in the Triangle Area affected by radon?

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According to the EPA, much of the Triangle Area is located in either zone 2 (moderate potential) or zone 3 (lower potential). This does not mean that every home is affected; in fact radon levels can vary widely from one house to the next on the same street, in the same neighborhood. The government estimates that 1 out of 15 homes are affected, but the only way to tell is by conducting a radon test in your house.

How does America ’s Home Checkers test for radon?

All radon tests require a minimum of 48 hours and it must be located in the lowest inhabitable part of the house. Placement of the device can affect results.

WE use the latest state-of-the-art electronic monitoring radon test equipment that is lab calibrated yearly. Our instruments sample the radon levels each hour during the test period, and indicate any tampering that might skew the results. At end of the 48 hours minimum test period, we can generate the report immediately.

Other companies typically use charcoal canisters that may not give an accurate reading if test environment changes and cannot detect any tampering. In addition to the 48-hour minimum 48 hours test period, charcoal canisters require additional days to return the canisters to a testing lab before results can be obtained.

How do I schedule a radon test?

Typically, you can order a test when scheduling a home inspection or request it at time of inspection. It is also possible to order a test separately without a home inspection if you are concerned about radon levels in the home you are currently living in.

What happens if high levels of radon are found?

Mitigating radon levels does not have to be expensive. The most common solution is to install a vent pipe system and fan and does not require major changes to your home. The EPA estimates that the cost is comparable to other typical home repairs and can range from $800 to $2500 with an average of $1200 when performed by a certified contractor.

How can I find out more information about radon?

You can call our office to speak to one of our inspectors. In addition, we recommend that you review the following online information:

"A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting yourself and Your Family From Radon"

Homebuyer's and home seller's guide to radon

EPA web site section on radon.

NC Radon

We are members of the multiple listing services and have access to lock box combinations and have a MLS key. We can place the equipment and retrieve it without the assistance of a real estate agent.