| RADON GAS
Radon is a naturally occurring cancer-causing, radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. Radon forms from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks, and water and can seep into homes from the ground through cracks in the foundation or holes around floor joints and pipes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and the No. 1 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Any home can have a radon gas problem. The only way to determine if your home is trapping radon is to test.
TESTING
Radon can be identified and measured using a variety of active and passive testing devices typically deployed and retrieved by a professional. Short-term (typically 48-96 hours) and long-term (90-365 days) testing options are available. The longer the test, the better the results will reflect your home and lifestyle. Specific EPA protocols regarding device placement and conditions of the home apply to short-term tests. Some passive devices need to be sent to a lab to obtain results (i.e. charcoal canisters, alpha track detectors, etc.).
REVIEW RESULTS
Radon is measured in units of picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. Radon is naturally found in outdoor air at very low levels and some radon will always be in your indoor air. According to the EPA, the average radon level in American homes is about 1.3 pCi/L. There is no known safe level of radon so you should always aim to have the lowest radon levels to reduce the risk of lung cancer.
MITIGATE
The EPA recommends contacting a licensed professional to install a radon mitigation system if your radon level is at or above 4 pCi/L of air. Radon mitigation systems use a fan to continuously pull air from the soil and vent it outdoors through a pipe. In addition, cracks and openings in the foundation should be sealed.
MYTH: Only homes with certain types of construction are at risk for radon.
FACT: Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with slab, crawl space or basement foundations.
MYTH: Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
FACT: Radon levels above the EPA action level have been found in every state. While radon issues do vary from area to area, the only way to know your radon level is to test.
RADON TESTING BY RELOOLOGY
ReloOlogy Inspection Management Services can coordinate and conduct radon testing. ReloOlogy maintains a nationwide network of licensed professionals with the proper knowledge and skillset to conduct radon tests and partners with a licensed radon lab to provide accurate and timely results.
RADON ASSURANCE PROGRAM BY RELOOLOGY
ReloOlogy Inspection Management Services provides a Radon Assurance Program (our “radon warranty”) to safeguard against the cost of remediating unexpected radon problems. ReloOlogy’s program eliminates the need for pre-sale radon testing by protecting while the property is in inventory and being actively marketed. Once the property is sold and closed, the coverage extends for an additional twelve (12) month coverage period. Testing can be performed within the coverage period and ReloOlogy will remediate, at our expense,* if the property test results reflect a radon level of 4.0pCi/L or higher. *Contact ReloOlogy at info@reloology.com for full program details, expense coverage, and limitations, and to learn more about our 3 levels of our Radon Assurance Program.
A downloadable information guide HERE: RADON GAS, ReloOlogy Inspections, January 2024.
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