Finding radon in your home can be alarming, especially if you are already planning to sell. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. You can’t see it. You can’t smell it. And you can’t taste it. This means you may not know how long you’ve been exposed to it, or even whether it is present at all, until you test for it.
Long-term radon exposure can present many health risks. It can increase the risk of lung cancer, for instance. So, it isn’t a risk you can safely ignore. That’s why homeowners should always test for it when they purchase a property in a neighborhood that has a recorded exposure.
However, it’s important to understand that the presence of radon in your home doesn’t make it unsafe forever or impossible to sell. There are different ways you can deal with the situation to make the most of your property.
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Why Do I Have Radon in The House?
Radon forms naturally when uranium in soil, rocks, and groundwater breaks down. The gas can move through the ground and enter a property through cracks, gaps around pipes, and other openings in the foundations and joints.
Bear in mind that the presence of radon doesn’t necessarily mean that the house has been poorly maintained. In fact, houses in the same neighborhood can have very different radon levels based on the differences in the ground underneath them. The way the property has been built can also make a big difference.
Can I Sell a House With Radon?
A lot of buyers may be worried about purchasing a house with elevated levels of radon. However, this doesn’t mean the house can’t be sold or should not be sold.
Some buyers are willing to negotiate a price discount that would include how much they expect to pay post-purchase to remediate the issue. Alternatively, homeowners can explore selling the property to specialist buyers. A fast house sale to a cash buyer willing to purchase homes with issues such as radon can remove a lot of negotiation issues.
Cash buyers are typically more experienced when it comes to managing these types of problems.
Can I Get Radon Removed Safely?
Radon is not removed in the same way as you would remove mold or asbestos. But it can be managed through a mitigation system that reduces the amount entering and accumulating inside the property.
A common approach is to use active soil depressurization. This uses a pipe and fan system to draw radon-containing gas from beneath the house. The system then vents it outdoors before it can accumulate indoors.
Effective mitigation requires specialist knowledge and tools, so you want to look for qualified radon professionals. Typically, lists of specialist contractors are maintained by the National Radon Safety Board or your state radon contact. This will ensure you reach out to a professional who meets all the requirements to deal with the issue.
Radon is not like any hazardous material that is physically embedded in a building. As it is a gas entering from the ground, the location of the building, rather than the materials it contains, is the key issue. As a result, this also means that demolishing the house will not remove the risk of radon. Instead, you need to have the property assessed and deal with it, either before selling it or selling it as is to experienced buyers who know what to do.
