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What Is Radon?
Radon is a tasteless,
odorless, and invisible natural radioactive gas formed by decaying
uranium in the earth's soil. Radon moves up through the ground and
enters the building by seeping through cracks, etc. and then becomes
trapped in the home. Separate from the home inspection, homes are
often tested for Radon to make sure their levels are within a safe
range.
Why Does
A Home Buyer Need A Radon Test Anyway?
Research has linked radon
gas with lung cancer. When we breathe air containing radon we
increase our risk of getting lung cancer. And since testing is the
only way to determine radon levels in the home, the Surgeon General
and EPA recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.
Who Performs The Test?
ONLY a Licensed Radon Technician can perform the test. The buyer
does not yet own the house and is precluded from performing any
portion of a test as a "homeowner" (e.g. installing an
inexpensive--and less accurate--canister test, closing up the
canister and mailing it to a certified radon professional, etc.)
Can My Realtor Perform The Test?
No! ONLY a Licensed
Radon Technician can perform any portion of the test. A realtor
cannot perform any of these tasks.
Can The
Homeowner Perform The Test?
NO! ONLY a Licensed
Radon Technician can perform the test for real estate purposes.
Since the test is conducted for the buyer, the homeowner is also
precluded from performing any portion of the test including:
installation a canister, closing the canister, and mailing it for
analysis.
NOTE: A fine of
$750.00 for the first offense may be assessed to anyone that
does not follow these DEP standards.
How Is The Radon Test Conducted?
The common testing method
for real estate transactions is the placement of an electric radon monitor in a specific area of the home where it
will remain for a minimum of 48 hours and a maximum of 6 days. The
device must be placed and retrieved by a licensed radon technician
ONLY. Your realtor is not allowed to place or retrieve the device.
The test canister or monitor is then analyzed and calculated on the
amount of time it was in the home. The device must remain
undisturbed and cannot be touched or moved.
Are There Special Procedures A Home Seller Needs To Follow?
YES! The test must be
conducted in a closed house, so exterior doors, except for normal
entry and exit, and all windows on every level of the home
must remain closed 12 hours prior to the test and remain such for
the duration of the test. You may use an air conditioner; however,
you cannot use a whole house fan, window fan, or any appliance that
vents air out of the house.
Violations of Radon Test
procedures may result in a retest at your expense, so be sure that
you have read procedure information thoroughly and have discussed
any questions you may have with your realtor or U.S. Inspect staff.
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