You’re in the middle of a real estate deal as the buyer; in your inspection request, you want the house tested for radon gas, but you don’t know if you or the seller should pay for it. Since you want to keep costs as low as you can, you ask the seller to cover the radon gas test cost. I am not a real estate professional, but you can negotiate who pays for the radon test and add it to the contract. Your real estate agent can advise you on this issue.
Radon gas, amongst other contaminants, should be included as part of an overall home buying inspection. This gas is cancerous, and it is responsible for 21,000 deaths annually in the United States. Radon is formed inside the ground from uranium gas and slips through foundation cracks, and gets trapped inside your home. You can’t smell it, taste it, or see it.
How do radon tests work?
When you want to get a radon test, you will need to clear out and dedicate an area of the lowest living space in the home and prevent any outside air from getting in that space for at least 8 hours before taking the sample and for the entire duration of the test. No fans are allowed to run if they bring in outside air, but you can run a radon fan and keep all doors to the outside closed to prevent interference with the radon kit. A home radon kit typically includes one or two charcoal canisters built to trap the radon gas and must be placed in a specific way to ensure a reliable sample.
How to pass a radon test
It can be stressful buying a new home and going through the house with a fine-tooth comb to ensure it is safe for your family to live in, and you hope the inspection passes with flying colors. The EPA sets the acceptable radon level in the range of two to four Picocuries. If your test results are above 4 pCi, you will fail the test, and the radon will need to be removed from the home.
Radon testing cost
You will be happy to know that radon gas tests are very affordable. A home radon test for either a resident or a real estate transaction will set you back a mere $300 if conducted by a professional, which is advisable.
Radon testing near me
You can find a local radon testing service near you by doing a basic google search: “radon testing near me.” Alternatively, you can get 5 Microns Inc. to assist you with radon testing. We have the expertise and the right equipment to perform your radon test professionally, and we are available Monday to Friday between 8 AM and 5 PM Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM to serve all your testing needs. Call 425-440-8787 Now!
