Radon: Are You at Risk?
Understanding the Radon Threat: Protecting Your Home and Health
Maintenance on your property is paramount; it ensures you keep your biggest investment in its best condition and helps you avoid costly repairs. In this post, let’s highlight radon and its threat to your investment and your health.
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. It is odorless and colorless and is mostly concentrated in the lowest point in a home basement or crawl space. It comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. A family whose home has radon levels of 4 pCi/l is exposed to approximately 35 times as much radiation as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would allow if that family was standing next to the fence of a radioactive waste site. (25 mrem limit, 800 mrem exposure).
Many national and world health organizations recommend testing your home for radon because testing is the only way to know your home’s radon levels. There are no immediate symptoms to alert you to the presence of radon. It typically takes years of exposure before any problems surface.
Are you at risk? Here’s a map of the high-risk radon levels in Portland: Radon Risk Map
Testing is easy -ironically the most accurate test for radon is the cheapest! Just grab a self-test at your local home improvement store- it’s usually around $50, but it takes several months to accurately test.
If you have elevated levels of radon, a mitigation system can be easily installed, with little disturbance to your residence. The cost ranges between $1200-3500 depending on the particular construction of your house. (If the basement is finished, it can be more complicated to install a mitigation system.) Call or email me today. I’d be happy to provide you with a list of trusted providers.
Have more questions or want professional advice on buying or selling a home?
Contact us at [email protected] or (503) 926-5213. We’re here to address all your real estate needs!
