Home inspections
Comprehensive Services
A qualified inspector should be there for you before, during, and after the inspection to answer questions. You should be welcomed and encouraged to be there for the inspection. During the inspection is the perfect time to learn about your property and ask any questions that may come up. The inspector will look for improper building practices and items that may require extensive repairs, as well as items that will require continued maintenance. Fire and safety issues are always top priority during an inspection.
As part of my complete home inspection services, I include termite and radon inspections, although these can be done as single item inspections as well. I also offer other types of inspections and testing, such as those for mold, well water, and more.
Radon Testing
Keeping your home safe
I use the only commercially available system that utilizes the Electret Ion Chamber (EIC) technology and is sold under the brand name E-PERM®, considered by many to be the most accurate. You will receive a report immediately after your test, meaning you won’t have to wait for mailed in lab results. Radon tests, including for well water, are very affordable; depending on your location, prices start for as little as $125 and are discounted when combined with an inspection.
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. It's original source is Uranium. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, you're at high risk for developing lung cancer. Some scientific studies of radon exposure indicate that children may be more sensitive to radon. This may be due to their higher respiration rate and their rapidly dividing cells, which may be more vulnerable to radiation damage.
Radon is not produced as a commercial product. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown or radioactive decay of uranium. It is usually found in igneous rock and soil, but in some cases, well water may also be a source of radon.
PROPERTIES: Radon is a gaseous highly radioactive element discovered by English physicist Ernest Rutherford in 1899. The discovery is also credited to German physicist Friedrich Ernst Dorn in 1900. More specifically, Rutherford discovered radon's alpha radiation and Dorn discovered that radium was releasing a gas.
Radon is a colorless chemically-unreactive inert gas. Radon is nine times denser than air. Because it is a single atom gas it easily penetrates many common materials like paper, leather, low density plastic, most paints, and building materials like drywall, concrete block, mortar, wood paneling, and most insulations.
Should You Test For Radon?
Testing is the only way to know your home's radon levels. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you to the presence of radon. It usually takes years of exposure before any problems surface.
See the US EPA, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, and the National Safety Council for recommendations for testing your home for radon, because testing is the only way to know your home's radon levels. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you to the presence of radon. Please test.
Radon is a national environmental health problem. Elevated radon levels have been discovered in every state. The US EPA estimates that as many as 8 million homes throughout the country have elevated levels of radon. You can see the EPA's map of Radon levels here. It is estimated that 1 in 5 houses in the U.S. have elevated levels of Radon.
If your home has high concentrations of radon there are ways to reduce it to acceptable levels. Most radon problems can be fixed by a DIYer for less than $500. If you want or require the assistance of a professional you can find information and links for Kansas here.
Many fear testing for Radon during a Real Estate transaction because they are afraid of the cost. The fact is that Radon mitigation doesn't cost any more than many other home repairs. If you are a DIYer you may be able to do the work yourself.
Radon is not produced as a commercial product. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown or radioactive decay of uranium. It is usually found in igneous rock and soil, but in some cases, well water may also be a source of radon.
PROPERTIES: Radon is a gaseous highly radioactive element discovered by English physicist Ernest Rutherford in 1899. The discovery is also credited to German physicist Friedrich Ernst Dorn in 1900. More specifically, Rutherford discovered radon's alpha radiation and Dorn discovered that radium was releasing a gas.
Radon is a colorless chemically-unreactive inert gas. Radon is nine times denser than air. Because it is a single atom gas it easily penetrates many common materials like paper, leather, low density plastic, most paints, and building materials like drywall, concrete block, mortar, wood paneling, and most insulations.
Should You Test For Radon?
Testing is the only way to know your home's radon levels. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you to the presence of radon. It usually takes years of exposure before any problems surface.
See the US EPA, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, and the National Safety Council for recommendations for testing your home for radon, because testing is the only way to know your home's radon levels. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you to the presence of radon. Please test.
Radon is a national environmental health problem. Elevated radon levels have been discovered in every state. The US EPA estimates that as many as 8 million homes throughout the country have elevated levels of radon. You can see the EPA's map of Radon levels here. It is estimated that 1 in 5 houses in the U.S. have elevated levels of Radon.
If your home has high concentrations of radon there are ways to reduce it to acceptable levels. Most radon problems can be fixed by a DIYer for less than $500. If you want or require the assistance of a professional you can find information and links for Kansas here.
Many fear testing for Radon during a Real Estate transaction because they are afraid of the cost. The fact is that Radon mitigation doesn't cost any more than many other home repairs. If you are a DIYer you may be able to do the work yourself.
The following "Radon Myths" is taken from the EPA's "Citizen's Guide to Radon". Radon is a real problem. It is life threatening. If you are reading this and live in this service area you probably live in what is referred to as "Zone 1" which according to the EPA has the highest levels of Radon in the United States. It is not expensive to have your house tested and if a high concentration is found it is not difficult or prohibitively expensive to mitigate the Radon problem.
I am not affiliated with any mitigation company so you can rest assured you will receive an accurate test with a completely neutral report. Please Contact me for more information or to schedule a test.
MYTH: Scientists aren't sure radon really is a problem.
FACT: Although some scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to radon, all the major health organizations (like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Lung Association and the American Medical Association) agree with estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year. This is especially true among smokers, since the risk to smokers is much greater than to non-smokers.
MYTH: Radon testing is difficult, time consuming and expensive.
FACT: Radon testing is easy. You can test your home yourself or hire a qualified radon test company. Either approach takes only a small amount of time and effort.
MYTH: Homes with radon problems can't be fixed.
FACT: There are simple solutions to radon problems in homes. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems in their homes. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs; check with one or more qualified mitigators. Call your state radon office for help in identifying qualified mitigation contractors.
MYTH: Radon affects only certain kinds of homes.
FACT: House construction can affect radon levels. However, radon can be a problem in homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements, homes without basements. Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built are among the factors that can affect radon levels in homes.
MYTH: Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
FACT: High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do vary from area to area, but the only way to know your radon level is to test.
MYTH: A neighbor's test result is a good indication of whether your home has a problem.
FACT: It's not. Radon levels can vary greatly from home to home. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test it.
MYTH: Everyone should test their water for radon.
FACT: Although radon gets into some homes through water, it is important to first test the air in the home for radon. If your water comes from a public water supply that uses ground water, call your water supplier. If high radon levels are found and the home has a private well, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 800-426-4791 for information on testing your water.
MYTH: It's difficult to sell homes where radon problems have been discovered.
FACT: Where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked or frustrated. The added protection is some times a good selling point.
MYTH: I've lived in my home for so long, it doesn't make sense to take action now.
FACT: You will reduce your risk of lung cancer when you reduce radon levels, even if you've lived with a radon problem for a long time.
MYTH: Short-term tests can't be used for making a decision about whether to fix your home.
FACT: A short-term test, followed by a second short-term test* can be used to decide whether to fix your home. However, the closer the average of your two short-term tests is to 4 pCi/L, the less certain you can be about whether your year-round average is above or below that level. Keep in mind that radon levels below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk. Radon levels can be reduced in most homes to 2 pCi/L or below.
I am not affiliated with any mitigation company so you can rest assured you will receive an accurate test with a completely neutral report. Please Contact me for more information or to schedule a test.
MYTH: Scientists aren't sure radon really is a problem.
FACT: Although some scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to radon, all the major health organizations (like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Lung Association and the American Medical Association) agree with estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year. This is especially true among smokers, since the risk to smokers is much greater than to non-smokers.
MYTH: Radon testing is difficult, time consuming and expensive.
FACT: Radon testing is easy. You can test your home yourself or hire a qualified radon test company. Either approach takes only a small amount of time and effort.
MYTH: Homes with radon problems can't be fixed.
FACT: There are simple solutions to radon problems in homes. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems in their homes. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs; check with one or more qualified mitigators. Call your state radon office for help in identifying qualified mitigation contractors.
MYTH: Radon affects only certain kinds of homes.
FACT: House construction can affect radon levels. However, radon can be a problem in homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements, homes without basements. Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built are among the factors that can affect radon levels in homes.
MYTH: Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
FACT: High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do vary from area to area, but the only way to know your radon level is to test.
MYTH: A neighbor's test result is a good indication of whether your home has a problem.
FACT: It's not. Radon levels can vary greatly from home to home. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test it.
MYTH: Everyone should test their water for radon.
FACT: Although radon gets into some homes through water, it is important to first test the air in the home for radon. If your water comes from a public water supply that uses ground water, call your water supplier. If high radon levels are found and the home has a private well, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 800-426-4791 for information on testing your water.
MYTH: It's difficult to sell homes where radon problems have been discovered.
FACT: Where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked or frustrated. The added protection is some times a good selling point.
MYTH: I've lived in my home for so long, it doesn't make sense to take action now.
FACT: You will reduce your risk of lung cancer when you reduce radon levels, even if you've lived with a radon problem for a long time.
MYTH: Short-term tests can't be used for making a decision about whether to fix your home.
FACT: A short-term test, followed by a second short-term test* can be used to decide whether to fix your home. However, the closer the average of your two short-term tests is to 4 pCi/L, the less certain you can be about whether your year-round average is above or below that level. Keep in mind that radon levels below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk. Radon levels can be reduced in most homes to 2 pCi/L or below.
