Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas. According to the EPA, it's the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind only smoking.
If you're buying a home in Illinois or Indiana, radon deserves your attention. Much of our region is classified by the EPA as Zone 1, the highest radon potential category.
What Is Radon?
Radon is produced naturally when uranium in the soil and rock beneath your home breaks down. Outdoors, it dissipates harmlessly into the atmosphere. But when it seeps into a home through foundation cracks, sump pits, crawl spaces, and utility penetrations, it can build up to dangerous concentrations.
You can't see it, smell it, or taste it. The only way to know your home's radon level is to test.
Why Our Region Is at Higher Risk
The glacial soils across northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana contain naturally occurring uranium. As a result, homes in our area are more likely to have elevated radon levels than the national average.
A few important facts:
- Radon affects all foundation types: basements, crawl spaces, and slab-on-grade
- New homes can have radon problems just like old homes
- Two neighboring houses can have completely different radon levels
- Radon levels can change over time, even in the same house
How Radon Testing Works
During a real estate transaction, a radon test is typically conducted over a minimum of 48 hours using a continuous radon monitor placed in the lowest livable level of the home.
The EPA action level is 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). If the test result comes back at or above that level, the EPA recommends mitigation.
What If the Home Has High Radon?
Don't panic, and don't walk away from a home you love just because of a radon result.
Radon mitigation is a well-established, reliable fix. A typical mitigation system uses a fan and vent pipe to draw radon from beneath the foundation and exhaust it safely above the roofline. Most systems reduce radon levels significantly, often well below the action level.
A radon test result also gives you negotiating power. Many buyers ask the seller to install a mitigation system or credit the cost at closing.
Test Before You Buy
A radon test is a small investment compared to the cost of addressing it after you've moved in, and compared to the health risk of not knowing at all.
If you're buying a home in Momence, Kankakee, or surrounding communities, ask about adding radon testing to your home inspection.
Call or text (815) 278-3191 or email info@retrieverinspect.com to schedule your inspection.