Cardinal Complete
Home Inspections
RADON
The EPA recommends all homes be tested for Radon. Radon is an odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that can enter the house through the soil and foundation. It can be detected with a simple test and mitigated by various means.
We can test as part of a home inspection or on its’ own.
Are you buying or selling a home or do you work with people who are? Congratulations! Buying a new home is an important occasion and the perfect time to test for radon.
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About 1 out of 10 homes in South Dakota has high radon levels
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Test for radon before you buy. While radon testing is not required by law or regulated in South Dakota, we recommend testing for radon during real estate transactions to better understand radon levels and lung cancer risk. Luckily, testing a home for radon is easy and can put both the buyer’s and seller’s mind at ease. If a radon test is conducted, it should be done in the basement or lowest livable level of the home.
Typically, the year average of radon levels in basements is double the radon levels on the main floors of homes where residents spend most of their time. Thus, long-term, year-long measurements provide a more accurate estimate of radon exposure and lung cancer risks. However, we recognize the time constraints of real-estate transactions, and recommend that at least two-day, closed condition radon tests are conducted.
What is radon?
Radon is a cancer causing, radioactive gas. You can’t see, smell or taste it, but it may be a problem in your home. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks or other holes in the foundation, where your home traps the radon inside and it builds up. Each and every home is different and it may be present in a neighbor’s home, but not in yours. New or old homes with or without a basement. Radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and is estimated to contribute to about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. It is estimated that about 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States has elevated radon levels.
If you have radon in your home there are simple ways to fix the problem that are not too costly. Even high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels. Because radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season you may want to consider a short-term test first followed by a long-term test. (3 or more months to get a better average of your radon level)
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The only way to know if you have radon in your home is to test for it. Call a specialist like Cardinal Complete Home Inspections today to get proper testing done.
