Radon Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon         TheEPA Recommends:If you are buying a home or selling your home, have it tested for radon. For a new home, ask if radon-resistant construction features were used and if the home has been tested. Fix the home if the radon level is 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases, may be reduced. Take steps to prevent device interference when conducting a radon test.The EPA estimates that radon causes thousands of cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. * Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year.The numbers of deaths from other causes are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Report and 2002 National Safety Council Reports.  Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas.      You should test for radon. You can fix a radon problem. If You are Selling a Home...   If You are Buying a Home...       1. Why do you need to test for radon? a. Radon has been found in homes all over the U.S.          b. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend that you test your home.   You cannot predict radon levels based on state, local, or neighborhood radon measurements.  Do not rely on radon test results taken in other homes in the neighborhood to estimate the radon level in your home.  Homes which are next to each other can have different radon levels.  Testing is the only way to find out what your home's radon level is. In some areas, companies may offer different types of radon service agreements.  Some agreements let you pay a one-time fee that covers both testing and radon mitigation, if needed.     U.S. Surgeon General'sHealth Advisory"Indoor radon gas is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country.  It's important to know that this threat is completely preventable.  Radon can be detected with a simple test, and fixed through well-established venting techniques."  January 2005     2. I'm selling a home.  What should I do?  a. If your home has already been tested for radon...      b. If your home has not yet been tested for radon...                3. I'm buying a home.  What should I do? a. If the home hasalreadybeen tested for radon...               b. If the home has not yet been tested for radon... 4. I'm buying or building a new home.  How can I protect my family? a. Why should I buy a radon-resistant home?                 b. What are radon-resistant features?    gas-permeable layer:  This layer is placed beneath the slab or flooring system to allow the soil gas to move freely underneath the house.  In many cases, the material used is a 4-inch layer of clean gravel.  This gas-permeable layer is used only in homes with basement and slab-on-grade foundations; it is not used in homes with crawlspace foundations.  plastic sheeting: Plastic sheeting is placed on top of the gas-permeable layer and under the slab to help prevent the soil gas from entering the home.  In crawlspaces, the sheeting (with seams sealed) is placed directly over the crawlspace floor.  sealing and caulking: All below-grade openings in the foundation and walls are sealed to reduce soil-gas entry into the home.  vent pipe:  A 3- or 4-inch PVC pipe (or other gas-tight pipe) runs from the gas-permeable layer through the house to the roof to safely vent radon and other soil gases to the outside.  junction boxes:  An electrical junction box is included in the attic to make the wiring and installation of a vent fan easier, if, for example, you decide to activate the passive system if your test results show an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more).  A separate junction box is placed in the living space to power the vent-fan alarm.  An alarm is installed along with the vent fan to indicate when the vent fan is not operating properly. 5. How can I get reliable radon test results? a. Types of Radon Devices                 b. General Information for All Devices          c. Preventing or Detecting Test Interference    d. Length of Time to Test   e. Doing a Short-Term Test...                f.  Using testing devices properly for reliable results.     g. Interpreting Radon Test Results           Go to the Radon Risk Comparison Charts Radon Testing Checklist                     6. What should I do if the radon level is high? a. High radon levels can be reduced.       b. How To Lower The Radon Level In Your Home         Radon and Home Renovations If you are planning any major renovations, such as converting an unfinished basement area into living space, it is especially important to test the area for radon before you begin.If your test results indicate an elevated radon level, radon-resistant techniques can be inexpensively included as part of the renovation. Major renovations can change the level of radon in any home.  Test again after the work is completed. c. Selecting a Radon-Reduction (Mitigation) Contractor        d. What can a qualified radon-reduction contractor do for you?       e. Radon in Water                  ...read more