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Home Buyer’s Guide to Radon Inspection in Milwaukee

Radon inspection and testing is highly recommended for both home buyers and sellers. Radon is a natural occurring, cancer-causing radioactive gas most home owners are not even aware of. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Because radon is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, specific radon testing must be done. For conclusive radon test results, you should have a professional inspector trained in radon testing perform your home’s (or potential home’s) radon inspection. House Detective Property Inspection Services Waukesha is certified by the American Home Inspectors Training Institute (AHIT) , and offers electronic radon testing services in Milwaukee as well as mold, lead and asbestos inspection.

As a home buyer, you should be sure to include a radon contingency in any home purchase offer. Radon levels should be less than 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter), preferably as low as possible to be at the lowest risk. If tested radon levels are above 4 pCi/L, and you have a stated radon contingency in the home offer, you can ask the seller to pay for the reduction system, or you should have the right to back out of the contract. The best way to avoid this hassle all together is to have professional radon testing performed before you close on a property.

An estimated 1 in 15 homes will have elevated levels of radon. You should test for radon levels in every home, no matter location or age of the property. Since the average person spends most of their time at home, this is where you are subject to the most radon exposure. The only way to know if you and your family are at risk is to test. As a home buyer interested in a house, make sure a radon test is performed as soon as possible, and specify who should conduct the house and what type of test you’d like them to use. Make sure the test is performed in the lowest level of the home you plan on using, as radon usually comes into your home from the ground through cracks and other common holes in a houses foundation. The House Detective’s certified Milwaukee home inspection experts are certified and trained in radon testing and offer electronic radon testing services. Our professionals are aware of the potential risks of radon and are very thorough in the testing process, and can help you make decisions on what areas of the house are the best places to test.

When radon levels are elevated, you can have professionals install radon mitigation systems to reduce the levels. The way your home was built along with other factors influence the cost of radon-reducing repairs. A mitigation system with vent pipes and fans is used in most cases. Some new homes are built with radon-resistant techniques. Building a home with radon-resistance is a great idea, not only for your safety, but also for cost effectiveness as well. When radon-resistant techniques are done correctly, they can save you energy costs by making your home more energy efficient. Also, including features to reduce radon in the construction of a home typically cost less than fixing your home in the future.

When planning any renovation projects for your home, such as finishing a basement or building on to your property, it is highly recommended to test the area for radon before you begin and after you finish. When test result show elevated radon levels before you begin the project, you can incorporate radon-resistant techniques into the renovation process. It is also a good idea to get professional electrical inspection and plumbing inspection depending on the area of the home being renovated, as these can be a major issue in the renovation process if not in proper condition. Larger home renovations can change the dynamics of your home, including the radon levels. Be sure to test again after the project is complete to make sure that levels are lower, or still adequately low. Periodic radon testing is a good idea to reduce you and your family’s risk of radon exposure.
Complete residential home inspections should be performed before purchasing any house, to detect any safety hazards the home may possess. The House Detective provides many other highly recommended services to ensure complete safety, including thorough electronic radon testing, mold, lead, and asbestos inspection, capital needs assessment inspection, roof inspection , and more in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Greenfield, Racine, and surrounding areas in southeast Wisconsin. Request a home inspection quote from the House Detective right now online, or call 262.782.2692 for more information from our Milwaukee home inspection experts.