What is Radon – Part 2

Posted by Debra Cribb Comments Off on What is Radon – Part 2 Radon

What is Radon – Part 2

If you find radon levels in your home in Lake of Ozarks, Missouri what to do.

Ok, it has been determined that the home you are looking to purchase, or perhaps the home you are living in has elevated radon levels.   Well, it happens here at the Lake of the Ozarks one in four homes I test. Areas out West were granite is prevalent, the ratios are even higher. So, folks, even granite countertops will excrete some level of radon – just not at huge numbers that we need to be concerned about. What we do need to be concerned about is the ground (soil and rocks) that is directly under our home (or our dome) which is capturing any molecules excreting from the earth beneath. Even very thick layers of concrete will not stop this silent killer from entering our homes. Case in point:

My personal office is built in our barn. The concrete slab beneath the office is between 6-8” thick. The radon levels within that building prior to remediation were a 21 pCi/L. Yes a 21! Over 5 times the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L. So what did I do? What anyone else in this circumstance does – I called a professional remediation company.

These professionals came to the office, determined if we had any cracks or anything within the floors (to which we did not – but if we did, they would seal them). They then drilled a 6” round hole through the floor all the way beneath the footings. In this case, another 30’ below grade. They then installed PVC piping with a special fan that draws any air beneath that foundation out through the PVC pipe prior to any barometric pressure change occurring within the office. (See Radon part one blog elsewhere on this website) This fan runs continuously 24 hours a day – 7 days a week. When the office was retested, our radon levels were barely a 2.0 which is about the same level as outside.

What does something like this cost? Well depending on what area you are in. My customers in the Springfield market can find a remediation company to remediate the average sized home for about $700.00. In our Lake of the Ozarks Market, there are fewer remediation companies that will service this area, and they charge a premium for the privilege of taking our money. My system cost $1,400.00.

If you are a buyer, and the radon levels are above that 4.0 pCi/L – we always recommend that you gather bids and then negotiate with the Seller a monetary compensation for a remediation system. You then after closing the home, contract with a professional yourself so that you establish a relationship with that service provider for future maintenance of the system.

Remember – radon is the second largest cause of lung cancer behind smoking. One in four homes we test have elevated radon levels (above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L). Radon is odorless, colorless and tasteless.

So, give us a call to provide you with the knowledge of your radon levels. I am an indoor air quality specialist who can help educate you about radon, mold and asbestos. I’d be delighted to share my knowledge and test your home.

To learn more about Radon inspections, contact our Pillar Premier Inspections today for more information.  Call Right Now To Schedule:  Lake of Ozarks – (573) 363-5511 or Springfield – (417) 893-0770