Radon gas at home

The danger of radon gas really hit home recently. My regular calibration test of the radon monitors I use showed that my house had a higher level of radon than before. Perhaps last year's drought caused the increase. Regardless, radon gas has been linked to lung cancer. So, I had a radon gas mitigation system installed in my house.

My husband works and works out in our basement, spending most of his day there. Seeing that the air in the basement was no longer considered to be healthy for him to breathe, we needed to fix it. Fortunately, radon is a fixable problem. Now, a small suction fan, installed in a pipe that goes through the basement floor, sucks out the radon gas from under the house and vents it to the back of the house. The system is a permanent part of the house and uses about the same amount of electricity as a clock radio.

Statistically, in the Kansas City area, one of every three houses tested is found to have elevated radon levels. When you hire Complete Home Inspection to test the radon level in your house, whether it's the one you live in or one that you're looking to buy, I'll use a continuous radon monitor that takes samples over a period of two full days. The test unit will be 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. If the radon level is higher than 4.0piC/l, then it should be fixed, or "mitigated". And that's what happened at my house.

A Complete Home Inspection radon test costs $100. A radon mitigation system costs about $700-900 in the Kansas City area. If you are buying a house, test for radon as a part of your home inspection process.  If the test shows a high radon level, you might negotiate with the seller to correct it. If it comes in low, you have peace of mind knowing that you’re buying a healthier house.

In Kansas, radon testers and mitigation companies must be certified. I have been a certified radon tester for more than 20 years. And my husband is very grateful for that.

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 own Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.