Is Your House Safe?

The Missouri State Radon office states that approximately 1/3 of all homes in the St. Louis Metro area are at risk of dangerous levels of radon. Radon can be found everywhere and in any home, new or old, well sealed or drafty, with or without a basement, and in a crawl space. Radon gas comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and it gets into the air we breathe. It can enter any type of building or home by moving through the soil and into the home through cracks in floors or walls, gaps around pipes, or other holes in the foundation or walls. Sealing visible cracks and openings can help but will not reduce the radon to safe levels.

How Is the Radon Test Done?

All testing is done with a Continuous Read Monitor for a period of 48-72 hours in the lowest livable level of the home. These monitors take hourly readings and a print out is available at the end of the testing period.

The EPA recommends fixing your home if the radon level is 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per Liter) or higher. There is no known safe level of radon. Due to normal radon level fluctuations, you should retest your home every two years.

Radon and Home Sales

More and more, home buyers and renters are asking about radon levels before they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is often little time to deal with radon and other issues. The best thing to do is to test for radon NOW and save the results in case the buyer is interested in them. Fix a problem if it exists so it won’t complicate your home sale.

Radon and Home Renovations

If you are planning any major structural renovation, such as converting an unfinished basement area into living space, it is especially important to test the area for radon before you begin the renovation. If your test results indicate a radon problem, radon-resistant techniques can be inexpensively included as part of the renovation. Because major renovations can change the level of radon in any home, always test again after work is completed.