According to the EPA radon is a naturally occurring colorless and odorless radioactive gas that can cause health issues such as lung cancer and other respiratory ailments. The second leading cause of lung cancer next to smoking. The EPA recommends concentration of 4.0 pci/L or less. Higher concentrations of radon are more common in buildings, therefore testing might be a good idea when buying a home.
One MYTH about homes on a crawl space is that they will not have detectable levels of radon.
The general consensus is that because most homes on a crawl space have vents any radon gas can escape. While there is some potential truth to that remember that in the wintertime it’s recommended that those vents are closed. If there is radon under your home and your crawl space is encapsulated, there are no Vents and no chance of radon on being able to escape into the atmosphere. As a result, even if you have a home on a crawl space it is recommended to have it tested the time of purchase the existence of radon.
Does Virginia real estate contract allow for Radon testing?
YES!
The great thing about real estate contract in the state of Virginia is that it does allow for radon testing as a contingency. What this allows you to do is to find out if the home your purchasing has radon, understand what those levels are, and have mitigation system installed before you take ownership. The cost for a radon system is unique to each home. Larger homes will require a larger exhaust fan and we’ll of course cost more. A typical price range for installation will be between $900 and $1,400.
