I have always recommended a complete home inspection to all home buyers. I think it is a cheap insurance policy to know what you are really buying when you buy a home. Minnesota Radon testing by definition is a heavy radioactive gas which comes from ground. It is reported by the Surgeon General as the second leading cause of Lung cancer.A good radon test will cost approximately 150-175 dollars from a licensed Minnesota radon testing service. Test kits can be bought from local hardware stores and then shipped to a lab for results. A test requires at least 48 hours, and is best if the home is left with the doors and windows closed other than normal entry and exit of the home. Leaving the windows open may actually increase the radon levels.
The first question is, how common is radon in Minnesota? What results does Minnesota radon testing show? In Minneapolis MN houses, percentages of homes with radon range from 22% to area with 55% of homes testing over 4pCi/L which is the EPA’s recommended action level. What I have learned from various radon inspectors, is that radon is very hit or miss. One house could test high, while both neighbors to each side could test low for it. Minnesota radon testing shows inconsistent results from neighborhod to neighborhood.
What do the numbers mean? According to the EPA, living with a radon level of 3.8 pCi/L is about like smoking 10 cigarettes per day. Probably not the healthiest environment. I have also heard that factors such as time of the year, how tight a home is, and ground type all can play a role in radon levels. Homes with a air exchange system tend to have lower radon levels as well.
If Minnesota radon testing shows that your home is high, what should you do? Fortunately, a home can be mitigated of radon relatively easily and inexpensively. For around $1,500-2,500 dollars a blower system can be installed which will pull air from beneath your foundation with a small fan and a 3″ pipe and send it out through the roof. Typically the pipe will run through the garage, and the fan is located in the attic of the garage.
Long story short, if I represent a buyer, I at least present the information and the option of doing a radon test when buying a home. For more information about radon here are two good websites to check out for more information. Minnesota radon testing is a good idea.
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