With the recent focus on mould, it's easy to overlook other potential dangers in the home. However, radon isn't the only risk that buyers and sellers should be aware of. Soil, rock, and water all contain naturally occurring amounts of radon since it is a radioactive gas created from uranium decay. As it disperses via indoor air, it becomes a potential health hazard. The dirt can seep into the basement or the house itself if the foundation is a concrete slab. When using a well as your source of water, radon contamination is a distinct possibility. The EPA estimates that radon levels are too high in one out of every fifteen houses in the United States.

The main health risk from radon is lung cancer. There are two components that contribute to your overall risk. Both how much time you spend at home and current or past smoking status are significant factors. In this excerpt from his book, "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home," toronto radon removal services expert Mark Nash discusses radon. In closing, I'd want to remind readers that radon levels in houses are easily controllable.

Radon is a radioactive gas that can accumulate to dangerous levels in any type of building. Residences both old and new are included. homes with or without a basement, and those that are well-built or draughty.

Upstairs units in condos and coops are highly unlikely to have a radon issue. Once you get up off the ground, the radon levels drop off very rapidly.

Radon testing can be done with passive or active instruments. The gas radon is invisible, odourless, and tasteless. Find out if charcoal canisters or alpha-track detectors from the hardware store are what you need to do the job passively. Continuous radon monitors and continuous operating level monitors are just two examples of the kinds of active equipment that can only be used by qualified personnel.

The unfinished basement is an acceptable location for testing equipment in a home. The minimum height requirement for testing equipment is 20 inches. As a precaution, keep the testing equipment away from draughts, extreme temperatures, and humid environments, as well as outside walls. Seal all doors and windows an hour before the test begins. Four- to seven-day tests are considered short-term. Over ninety days is not the limit for long-term tests.

If your home's radon level is 4 pCi/L or greater, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises taking action to reduce it.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a registry of qualified radon testing companies; if you require their services, you can look up a company on their registry. Standards for RCPs to mitigate their effects are stringent and must be followed.

The price tag for reducing radon levels in a home may be higher or lower than you expect. Home testing kits are available for less than $50 at most major retailers. In most cases, the cost to hire a professional to deal with a radon issue ranges from $750 to $3000.