Before you make a decision it helps to know a little bit about it:
- What is radon?
Radon is a gas produced by the naturally occurring breakdown of uranium in rocks. It is not something that you can see, smell or taste. According to the Vermont Department of Health it is a class A carcinogen and a leading cause of lung cancer.
- How does radon get into a home?
Radon comes up from the ground. Houses act as a partial vacuum pulling gas from the soil. It can get into a home through dirt floors, cracks in a finished floor, gaps around service pipes, cracks in foundation walls.
- Are some Central Vermont homes more likely than others to have radon?
According to the Vermont Department of Health, a "radon problem cannot be predicted by a home's style, age, or location".
- How much radon is okay?
In Vermont it is recommended that radon be mitigated when levels in the air are equal to or greater than 4.0 pCi/L (picoCuries/Liter).
- How do you test for radon?
There are free kits available from the Vermont Department of Health that takes as little as 91 days and as long as one year to produce results. Visit their website to order one- http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/rad/radon.aspx The state will also provide a 2-7 day test for $25.00, which can be ordered from their website.
Most Central Vermont Home inspectors offer radon tests as part of their service. Prices vary. Give us a call if you would like a resources list of home inspectors.
- How do you mitigate elevated levels of radon?
Typically there is a pvc pipe installed from the basement through the roof with a fan to expel the gas. Whoever installs the system should be able to hide the pipe wherever possible through closets or on the outside of the house. The Vermont Department of Health has a list of contractors approved for radon mitigation on their website.
What is Radon and should I be worried about the levels in my house?
If you have questions about radon in homes, buying or selling a Central Vermont home. Give us a call!