January is Kansas Radon Action Month

"Kansas Radon Action Month" is designed to educate residents about the dangers of radon exposure and encourage actions to identify and address radon problems in the home. The EPA has also designated January "National Radon Action Month". Radon gas is not a problem unique to houses in Kansas. Radon is a tasteless, odorless, colorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas found in nearly all soils which comes from the breakdown of uranium. Outdoors, radon is diluted to low concentrations, but once inside an enclosed space, radon can accumulate to significant levels.

About one out of every three radon measurements performed in Kansas are elevated, being above 4 pCi/l (picoCuries per liter). Some areas have higher levels than others, though elevated levels of radon have been detected in every county in the state. As many as one in 15 homes across the U.S. has elevated radon levels that often go undetected.

The best way to ascertain if your house, or the house you're looking to buy, has a radon problem is to have a certified radon professional, such as Miki Mertz of Complete Home Inspection, do a test for you. Complete Home Inspection uses a continuous radon monitor that takes samples over a period of two full days, with the test unit placed in the lowest livable level of the house. Windows are kept closed throughout the time of the test. The test results are then averaged into an overall number for your final report. As mentioned earlier, if the radon level is higher than 4.0piC/l, then it should be fixed, or "mitigated". All radon tests done as part of real estate transactions in Kansas must be handled by a state-certified radon tester, such as Miki Mertz of Complete Home Inspection.

Additional information about radon can be found on the Complete Home Inspection web site at http://www.completehomeinspectionkc.com/kansas_city_home_inspection_036.htm, at www.kansasradonprogram.org, and at www.epa.gov/radon.

Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.

Please, join me

For your Kansas City home inspection, it’s best if you follow me through the house during the inspection. Some home inspectors prefer that you show up at the end of the inspection, or not at all. I disagree. Having you with me allows you to see everything I’m seeing, to ask your questions as we go along, and to learn about all of the features of your potential new house. Simply reading the inspection report does not inform you as well as having you witness everything does. And if you follow along during the inspection, the written report will serve as a great reminder of what you’ve already seen and, perhaps, want to address in your negotiations.

My typical home inspection takes only about ninety minutes. If your schedule allows, it could be the most important ninety minutes you spend during your home-buying process. So, plan on it. Let’s go through your house together and see what we find. It’s educational. And, it can be a lot of fun.

Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.