Radon in real estate: guide for homeowners and real estate agents

Whether you want to purchase or sell a real estate property - be it commercial or residential - checking for radon in real estate should be one of your top priorities.

Radon is a harmful gas suspended in the air that you can’t see, smell, or taste. If the radon levels get too high in your house, you can be at risk of contracting lung cancer. In fact, radon is the lung cancer’s second major cause in the US today.

In this article, we will explore what is radon in real estate and how Sunradon's products help keep your property safe.

Disclosure requirements of radon in real estate around the US

Radon testing is required to sell a house.

However, the testing and disclosure requirements for radon levels slightly differ for each State in the US. For example, testing isn’t required in Minnesota, but it’s highly encouraged. On the other hand, it’s important to disclose information about radon levels for properties in California, Florida, and Colorado.

Nevertheless, the general disclosures regarding radon in real estate applicable to all the States in the US are as follows:

• Description of radon concentrations and steps taken to mitigate the effect,
  

• Radon warning statement
  

• Current records of radon concentrations about a specific property
  

• Details of radon tests on the property, and
  

• A detailed description of the radon mitigation system if installed on the property.
  

Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommendations for radon levels

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that proper mitigation actions should be taken if the radon level is 4 pCi/L or more. 4 pCi/L is the general alarming limit, but it’s ideal to take action if the radon level exceeds 2 pCi/L.
EPA estimates that the overall average indoor radon concentration is around 1.3 pCi/L, while it's 0.4 pCi/L in outdoor air.

But do you know what is a concerning fact regarding the average level of indoor radon concentration?
Well, as per EPA, there were over 21,000 lung cancer deaths reported due to the presence of 1.3 pCi/L radon in real estate. So, it’s safe to say that radon is dangerous even if the levels are minimal.

Obligations for real estate buyers

If you’re looking forward to purchasing a home, ask the seller for a radon test report. In case the house isn’t tested for radon, you should get the test done before proceeding further. Similarly, if you’re constructing a new home for yourself, it’s better to set up a radon-reduction system in your home to keep the levels in check.
Several other important questions you can ask the seller are as follows:

• Was the test conducted by a trained professional?
  

• Where and when was the test conducted?
  

• Were there any structural changes or alterations done to the house before the test was taken?
  

Obligations for real estate sellers

If you’re selling a home, EPA recommends conducting a radon test before putting the house on the market for sale. It’s better to reduce the radon levels before the sale since it can turn out to be a positive selling point. Pro tip: Save the test results and document all the steps you have taken to fix radon issues in your home.

Radon gas testing for real estate purposes

Testing is the only way to detect your home’s radon levels. It’s ideal to conduct the testing at the lowermost level of the home since the radon concentration is high down there. Moreover, the testing should be done in a closed environment, which involves shutting all windows and exterior doors.

There are primarily two forms of radon testing: short-term and long-term.

• Short-term testing: It can range anywhere from 2 to 90 days in your home; the duration typically depends on the device’s type. 
  

• Long-term testing: It is conducted over a period of more than 90 days. Long-term tests can be useful since they tend to depict the year-round average radon level of your home.  

How is radon testing conducted?

Here are the different ways to detect radon levels in a home:

• Simultaneous short-term testing: It involves placing two devices 4 inches apart on a wall. The results are shared with a lab and are averaged to give an overall result.
  

• Continuous radon monitor: This is a sophisticated device that measures radon levels on an hourly basis. It’s placed for at least 48 hours and operated only by a skilled radon tester. The device reports hourly increments to detect unusual swings in the radon levels.
  

• Sequential testing: In sequential testing, two devices are placed, one after another, in the lowest occupiable place of the home for 48 hours. Finally, the average of both results is taken to formulate a decision.
  

• Passive Devices: Whether you’re using a charcoal canister, alpha-track detector, or an electret ion chamber detector, you need to place these devices in the area that needs to be tested and leave them undisturbed for a certain period of time. After the test is complete, pack the device and send it to a laboratory for analysis.
  

Importance of hiring a certified testing professional

Even though you can test for radon levels yourself, it’s important to hire a certified professional since they are well-versed with all the techniques required to execute a perfect test. A certified tester:

• Provides an independent test report free from biases
  

• Knows the essential conditions that are essential for accurate testing
  

• Recommends a suitable testing method after evaluating the property
  

• Analyzes the data and report accurate results
  

Professional recommendations for real estate sellers

If you’re a seller, the bare minimum you can do is provide the buyer with the radon test results. Several additional recommendations that you can follow to satisfy the buyer are as follows:

• If the radon concentration is high in the home, it’s better to install radon-resistant features beforehand
  

• Take mitigation steps to reduce radon levels before listing the property
  

• If the buyer asks for a retesting due to valid concerns, make sure to cooperate with them
  

Professional recommendations for real estate buyers

If you’re looking to purchase a home, here are several essential guidelines and suggestions to consider:

• Check for the radon level. Make sure it’s less than 4 pCi/L
  

• Be informed about the local state disclosures related to radon levels
  

• Do find out about the last date of the radon test
  

• Make sure to inquire about who did the test and the test duration
  

Keep your residential property radon-free with SunRadon

Whether you’re selling or purchasing a residential or commercial property, SunRadon - the leader in professional radon testing devices can help you!

Our professional and advanced testing equipment will ensure accurate results which will help you make an informed decision for mitigation strategy.