Radon is an invisible, odorless, radioactive gas created during the natural decay of uranium in the soil.  Radon is everywhere, and Colorado has higher concentrations than other regions.  Radon gas enters a home through cracks or openings in the basement crawl space or concrete slab.  Radon levels vary from house to house and have nothing to do with age, quality, or upkeep of the home

Radon is a concern because it has been shown to cause lung cancer in people who are exposed to elevated levels over a long period of time.  The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends action be taken when radon levels reach or exceed 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCI/L) A person who smokes and has an elevated radon level in their home is at especially high risk for lung cancer.  Government agencies rely upon the US EPA guidelines regarding acceptable levels of radon in the home

Recent studies show that three out of four homes in this area have radon levels of 4 pCI/L or above.  This does not mean that a buyer should walk away from a house that has high radon levels!  On the contrary, there are ways to effectively reduce radon levels in the home.  Of all the problems a house can have, radon is one of the easiest to identify and fix

A home with high radon levels can have a system installed to mitigate (make less harsh or severe) the radon.  This can be as simple as a plastic pipe connected to the soil below a slab or crawl spaceThe pipe is then extended to the outside of the house where the radon is harmlessly exhausted into the outside area.  This is called a passive ventilation system.  Other methods use a fan to continuously draw the gas out through the pipe and exhaust it outside

The best time to install a mitigation system is while a home is being constructed.  Then, the piping can be hidden inside the framing members.  This isn't always done though, and radon can be reduced just as easily and effectively in existing homes Radon mitigation can be done at any time and the desired results can be achieved.  The cost for these systems run between $750 and $2000.  There are many companies offering radon mitigation.   A home owner should talk to 2 or 3 before deciding on a contractor to do the work.

DOES ABOVE BOARD HOME INSPECTION TEST FOR RADON?

YES,  We use a computerized machine that is calibrated to test for radon in a home.  A radon tester is placed in the home at the time of inspection and the tester remains in the home for 48 hours.  The radon tester then gives a printout of the the levels of radon over the 48 hours  

WHY USE A COMPUTERIZED MACHINE INSTEAD OF ONE YOU CAN BUY AT A HARDWARE STORE?

The computerized machine is much more accurate in giving hourly readings as well as the machine is able to tell if there has been any tampering with the test.  Radon can fluctuate due to temperature and barometric pressure, open windows etc 

A canister or hardware store bought radon tester can result in inaccurate readings because they can be old or have not been sealed properly.  They also have to be sent to an outside lab to gain the results of the test which can take up time to meet your deadlines for closing

When scheduling your appointment for your inspection you can let us know if you would like to have a radon test done