What’s the Big Deal about Radon Testing?

Virginia Home Inpsection

Home-buying can be a long process filled with many twists and turns. Often, it’s downright competitive. Many homebuyers want to get through the home inspection process as quickly as possible to keep things moving. In the process, they often overlook or don’t want to pay for any specialty inspections. However, the crew at Burgess Inspections, Inc. urge our customers to consider a radon inspection.

What is radon?

Radon is an odorless, invisible gas that forms through the natural, radioactive breakdown of uranium, thorium, and radium found in Virginia rocks, soil, and sometimes water beneath the ground. This gas can then leak into your home or office through cracks or even through a well-water supply that has been exposed to radon. You can’t see, smell, or taste radon, which means that you can ingest it without even knowing. Radon is not limited to a specific part of the country and can affect homes, schools, offices, and other businesses.

Why care about radon?

This gas can be very hazardous to the health of you and your loved ones. The EPA is very clear that radon is both cancer-causing and radioactive. Behind smoking, radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

How can I know if a home has high levels of radon?

Before you start panicking, know that a radon inspection is your first line of defense in determining whether this gas is present in a home. Our inspectors have specialized equipment that checks a property’s air several times over the course of a few days. We will be sure to give you a full report, including whether radon was detected and at what levels. From there, you can make an informed decision whether to walk away from the property or negotiate for radon remediation. While we don’t do radon mitigation, we can refer you to professionals who can help you or the seller try to minimize the effects of radon at the house.

Schedule radon testing

Don’t assume that any Chesterfield County or Henrico County home is free from radon. Know for sure by scheduling radon testing with Burgess Inspections. All you have to do is contact us at (804) 794-1423 during business hours, or schedule online anytime.

 

photo credit: 158 X 365 via flickr license