Question:
I had my home tested when I purchased it and the levels were low. Should I be concerned enough to retest it?
Answer:
Yes, you should consider doing it again. There have been many studies that show great variability in radon readings from day to day, even hour to hour (click here to see the article on variability).
Further, you will never know if the seller was doing things deliberately or inadvertently during the short-term testing process. A long term test (that being over 90 days in duration) is the best indicator of prevailing radon levels in your home. So the small expense to have your home tested again is well worth the charge.
Question:
I am not planning to sell my home any time soon, should I still test for radon?
Answer:
Absolutely! In fact the EPA recommends that every home in the U.S. be tested for radon! Elevated levels of radon have been found in all 50 states! Exposure to radon is "accumulative". The sooner you know if you have elevated radon levels, the sooner you can do something about it! A lot also depends on the area of the country in which you are located.
The EPA risk maps show the areas that have been found to be "high risks" for elevated radon levels due to their underlying geology. It makes no difference whether someone is exposed to high radon levels of radon in a home each day OR for that same period of time in a business. Both are health risks!
Just because you have addressed a radon problem you may have had at home, that doesn't mean that radon is no longer a health risk to you! Encourage your company or your child’s school to also test their facility for radon, and mitigate as required. We recently installed a radon mitigation system in the corporate offices of a large chain store in the Colorado! The employees of the company were relieved to know that the health risks related to radon in their building had been minimized!
Question:
When is the best time to perform a radon test?
Answer:
The ideal time to test for radon is when you have plenty of time (versus a week or two before a real estate closing). If the test comes back high, you should perform another test to validate that the first was accurate before committing money to fix it! The most representative method for re-assessing high radon levels in a home is to initiate a long term test (90 days - 6 months) using a special detector.
Question:
Who should perform the test?
Answer:
There is more to testing a home for radon than simply deploying several "radon test kits". There are many things that can contribute to faulty radon test results. Only an individual trained in the proper EPA radon testing procedures should perform the test to ensure that the readings received are valid.
The EPA has developed a proficiency program/exam for people in the radon measurement field. Qualified professionals have received test measurement certification from either NEHA (National Environmental Health Association) or the NRSB (National Radon Safety Board).
Question:
What is a reasonable amount of radon?
Answer:
The U.S. EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General's office have established that people should not be exposed to more than 4.0 pCi/L of radon on a long term basis. However, all levels of radon have an associated risk factor.
Question:
Is this very expensive?
Answer:
The cost depends upon the size of the building, the levels of the radon reported and the kind of medium used to pour the foundation on and how "tight" the house is. The national average for installation cost is around $1,200 to $1,500 when installed by a contractor trained in proper mitigation standards.
