Radon Gas
While home inspections are mostly about identifying defects visible to the eye, inspectors sometimes test for the less noticeable (but no less dangerous) problems that can afflict a house, such as lead paint, termites, and radon.
Radon gas buildup in the home can be deadly. It can happen to any house regardless of age or location, and it’s impossible to detect without specialized equipment.
A good rule of thumb is to have every home inspected for radon when it’s put up for sale.
What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas emitted from decomposing uranium rocks, such as granite. It is a common element that is naturally present in the air in very small amounts, and it’s colorless, tasteless, and odorless.
Because decomposing rocks are found everywhere, radon can be emitted from the ground and find its way into a home through gaps in the foundation or basement walls. If a home relies on groundwater, radon can also be found in a home’s water supply.
Small traces of radon are normal; however, when radon is present at higher concentrations, it increases the health risks to humans.
Radon exposure is believed to cause between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. A concentration of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) in the air poses the same risk of smoking half a pack of cigarettes per day.