Is it important to test for Radon?
Saratoga Springs Home Buyers Guide to Radon
By: House Detective
When buying a home in Saratoga Springs, one thing you should test for is Radon. Radon is a chemical element that is radioactive. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. It is a health hazard. By breathing it in, it can cause cancer. Radon can be a problem for home buyers in any home. This includes, new homes, old homes, and well sealed homes.
Concerns for a Home Buyer:
Radon is expected to cause more than 21,000 lung cancer related deaths, according to the Environmental Protection Agency Report in 2003. This is more deaths per year than drunk driving.
According to the Surgeon General Radon is the second leading factor to lung cancer in the United States. The Surgeon General testing below the third floor of all homes. This is because it comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, water, and then releases into the air. If you are a smoker this severely increases your chances of getting lung cancer.
EPA Recommendation for Home Buyers
If the home you are buying has already been tested: you may decide a radon inspection is unnecessary. Before you accept the sellers test please take the following information into consideration.
- The previous results
- Who preformed the test (was the person a professional)
- Where did the test take place, the most effective place is the lowest level of the home.
- Are there any structural changes to the home since the last test?
Was the area sealed at the time of testing?
If the home you are buying has not been tested: Please make sure to have a test preformed right away. This should be done by a professional at the lowest level of the home.
For more information contact House Detective at 1-888-692-2711or by email at info@housedetectiveinc.net.
