There are no federal or state laws that require radon testing to sell your home. ... If those results show high levels of radon, you can be sure the buyer will ask for a substantial discount. To avoid that problem altogether, hire a professional radon inspector and have your home tested shortly before you list it.

Do I need a radon test to sell my house?

Radon testing is the only means with which you (and your potential buyers) can be sure of the levels of radon within your property. The best advice is to undertake radon testing in all households, whether you are selling or not.

Is it hard to sell a home with radon?

Fortunately, it's not hard to sell a house with radon, provided that you alert potential buyers and mitigate the problem, say Brian Thomas, a top real estate agent in the Denver, Colorado area, with 16 years of experience. “For as much fear and uncertainty as radon causes, there's an easy fix.”

Is radon a deal breaker?

You can't see it, smell it, or taste it, but radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, the presence of radon in your home doesn't have to be a deal breaker.

Is it OK to live in a house with radon?

The EPA states, “Radon is a health hazard with a simple solution.” Once radon reduction measures are in place, home buyers need not worry about the quality of the air in the home. ... Since removing radon is relatively simple, your family will be safe in a home with a radon reduction system in place.

Radon: What is it? How to Get Rid of It

Is radon testing necessary?

When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. ... If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. You Should Test for Radon. Testing is the only way to find out your home's radon levels.

Does radon decrease home value?

Having an active Radon mitigation system in one's house does not adversely affect the home's resale value and since Radon is so easily controlled once it's detected it is no reason not to buy the property if all other factors line up favorably for buying the house.

Does every house have radon gas?

The simple answer is “yes” – at least trace levels of radon will exist in every home. ... That will mean an old home, new home, drafty home, well insulated home and homes with and without basements. If any part of your foundation is in direct contact with the soil, it has the potential of having elevated levels.

Do all basements have radon?

Basements aren't the only place you can find radon. This is a common assumption since radon is most commonly found in basements. Unfortunately, it's also very wrong. Radon gas can be found anywhere in any home, not just in the basement.

What are the symptoms of radon in your home?

• Persistent cough.
• Hoarseness.
• Wheezing.
• Shortness of breath.
• Coughing up blood.
• Chest pain.
• Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Loss of appetite.

Where is radon most likely found?

Radon levels are usually higher in basements, cellars and living spaces in contact with the ground. However, considerable radon concentration can also be found above the ground floor.

Does insurance cover radon?

Radon mitigation is not covered under homeowner's insurance. However, sometimes, the seller will pay for this mitigation, although you may have to split the costs in other instances or pay for it entirely on your own.

Will opening windows lower radon levels?

Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. ... Running a window fan in a basement window reduces radon levels, but only if the fan blows air into the basement.

Can I test for radon myself?

You can get “do it yourself” radon test kits through online retail outlets or in some hardware stores and other home improvement stores. Radon test kits come in different forms with instructions on how to use them.

Does finishing a basement reduce radon?

Again, the only way to ensure you are removing radon from your home is with a mitigation system. Sealing the basement floor can help, but just sealing the cracks is unlikely to reduce your radon levels in the long term. Sealing all cracks and applying non-porous, thick epoxy coatings would be a better step.

Does rain make radon worse?

With rain comes pressure changes in the atmosphere and increased density in the soil, creating a change for expanding natural gasses. ... Increased soil moisture (especially in spring following snowmelt) increases radon concentration by 10-20%.

Do sump pumps increase radon?

Can radon come from the sump pump or pit? Yes. Radon is a gas that enters your building from the soil beneath and around your house. These gases can enter your home through the footing drain tile that is connected to the sump pump in your basement.

Can radon develop over time?

Radon levels are constantly changing – hourly, daily, and seasonal fluctuations are all common. ... Likewise, radon flows faster when there is a bigger difference in pressure between the high pressure soil and the low pressure air.

What is the normal range for radon in a home?

The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air.

How do you get rid of radon in your home?

Active subslab suction — also called subslab depressurization — is the most common and usually the most reliable radon reduction method. One or more suction pipes are inserted through the floor slab into the crushed rock or soil underneath. They also may be inserted below the concrete slab from outside the home.

Are home radon test kits accurate?

Findings show radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise up to 99 percent of the time. ... A new study finds the only reliable way to measure exposure to radon gas is with a long-term testing kit, 90 or more days. Researchers placed two test kits, a short term (five-day) and long term (90-day) in the same homes.

Does a dehumidifier help with radon?

No, buying a dehumidifier will not make radon go away. ... Radon must be removed by a remediation method like active soil depressurization (ASD), which ironically has been shown to be even more effective at removing humidity from a home than a dehumidifier in the same EPA study.

What state has the highest radon levels?

has the highest radon levels of 10.7 pCi/L.
...
Here are the 10 states with the highest Radon levels:

• Alaska (10.7)
• South Dakota (9.6)
• Pennsylvania (8.6)
• Ohio (7.8)
• Washington (7.5)
• Montana (7.4)
• Kentucky (7.4)
• Idaho (7.3)

How quickly can radon affect you?

If a person has been exposed to radon, 75% of the radon progeny in the lungs will become harmless lead particles after 44 years. When a particle damages a cell to make it cancerous, the onset of lung cancer takes at least five years, but often takes 15 to 25 years and even longer.