You wouldn’t live in a uranium mine or on top of a radioactive waste dump yet many homes across North America and Colorado are more dangerous than any of these places. And without a radon gas test you have no way of knowing if your client’s new house is one of them. According to the EPA, fifty-two of the sixty-four counties in Colorado(81%) are considered Zone 1, “an area of High Concentration.” To see the EPA map go to www.pillartopost.com/environmental-inspection-radon.aspx
Recent news stories continue to inform the public about this risk. A story November 13th on CW 2 News even noted that some recent studies indicate a possible link between our high Multiple Sclerosis rates in Colorado and high Radon levels. See cw2.com and click on the Unit 2 Consumer alert link. Radon is a tasteless, odorless, colorless gas that is found everywhere and occurs naturally from the decay of uranium in the earth’s rocks and soil. When the gas decays further, some of its elements attach themselves to dust particles and lodge in our lungs. When these elements decay, they emit bursts of energy that can cause lung cancer.
Some 20,000 U.S. deaths a year are estimated from exposure to radon, the second highest cause of lung cancer behind smoking. If you are thinking that your client’s new neighborhood is not a concern, think again. Readings above 85 pCi/L have been found by Mr. Recke in South Aurora this past year alone.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Colorado Department of Health, and the Surgeon General recommend radon testing, whether you are buying a home or just living in it. Most radon tests are conducted when a house is for sale, usually as a precaution by the buyer, but more and more homeowners are having tests just for their own peace of mind. In an effort to cut fuel costs and to be energy efficient, many homes are over insulated and one result is that small amounts of radon gas can accumulate and grow to unsafe levels.
A radon test is easy and relatively inexpensive -- many home inspectors conduct the test for around $100-$150 depending on whether the test is performed in combination with a full home inspection or as a stand alone test. Conducting the test and awaiting results can take just 2-3 days if you hire an inspector that uses a Continuous Radon Monitor. He can give you immediate results after the 48 hour minimum test period. But a clean bill of health (from reassuring test results or actions taken as a result of alarming results) can give you peace of mind for decades to come. Almost all radon problems can be fixed without major expense. According to the EPA, 99% of high levels of radon can be solved for $800 to $3,500 -- comparable to having a hot water heater or furnace installed, or having the house professionally painted.
The conclusion is simple – just recommend a radon test for your client’s safety and for your own protection!
by guest author:
Thomas Recke owns the Pillar To Post® Professional Home Inspection franchise for the City of Aurora. He can be reached by e-mail at Thoma.Recke@pillartopost.com, on the web at www.pillartopost.com/aurora, or by calling 303-337-6713.
