We know you must be excited to move into your new home, but before you do, we’re here to ensure that all the things are in tip-top shape. We offer a home inspection service that will help you avoid complications down the road. It doesn’t matter whether you have built or bought a home. A home inspection is essential in both cases. Home inspections are also required by mortgage companies, buyers, and homeowners when they live in their homes. The importance of home inspections cannot be denied during all real estate transactions.
You should take the inspection process very seriously. Everyone wants to enjoy a problem-free new home, and no one wants to be daunted by small or big issues cropping up now and then. Tackling more minor issues might not be a problem, but if a problem such as radon is detected, you are in for a bad trip. Let’s assume your home is in Maryland, where radon levels are high. You may only find out about this hazardous killer gas through a Radon Inspection Gaithersburg before you start building your house or years down the road when this lethal gas starts affecting your health.
What is Radon?
In case you aren’t familiar with the name, radon gas, also known as the killer gas, is responsible for 20,000 deaths due to lung cancer. If that isn’t scary enough, there is no way to detect radon. It is colorless and odorless and cannot be seen or detected unless professional radon inspectors in Gaithersburg, MD, inspect it to detect it. Radon is a naturally occurring gas, and it is present everywhere on the earth. There is no escaping radon. Hence it is essential to carry out radon detection tests to see if the levels of radon present in your home are below the levels deemed safe by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). EPA suggests your homes be safe if the radon levels are between 2 pCi/L and four pCi/L. Anything above these levels has to be immediately rectified
How to Get Rid Of Radon?
Don’t worry, all is not lost and there is hope, and the good news is that radon can be removed from your home. Follow this EPA map of radon zones to see if your home falls in a high-risk area. If it is, you should immediately get your home tested by a Professional Home Inspector Cost Gaithersburg. A testing device approved by the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is used for radon testing, so ensure your inspector uses the approved device.
Are There Any Laws For Radon Testing In Maryland?
Radon testing laws are not prevalent everywhere in the US, but some states with dangerously high levels of radon have laws in place. To comply with law, the radon test must be done one year before the settlement date law. As of October 1, 2016, County law requirements as of October 1, 2016, are that a single-family home in Montgomery county must be tested for radon before the house is sold. This requirement is present in Chapter 40 of the county code, as amended by County Bill 31-15. This law has been implemented to ensure the safety of its people in Montgomery County.
What Are The Approved Testing Devices?
The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has specific instructions on which devices to use for a radon test, and each device comes with instructions that must be followed with care. These include:
- Devices purchased through National Radon Program Services at Kansas State University.
- Any approved test devices found on the National Radon Proficiency Program at NRPP or the following devices listed below:
Accustar Alpha Track Test Kit AT 100
- Alpha Track, Long-Term
AccuStar PicoCan-275
- Charcoal Absorption, Short-Term
AccuStar PicoCan-400
- Charcoal Absorption, Short-Term
Air Chek Radon Test Kit
- Charcoal Absorption, Short-Term
First Alert RD1 Radon Gas Test Kit
- Charcoal Absorption, Short Term
Kidde Radon Detection Kit
- Charcoal Absorption, Short Term
PRO-LAB Long Term Radon Gas Test Kit RL116
- Alpha Track, Long-Term
PRO-LAB Radon Gas Test Kit RA100
- Charcoal Absorption, Short Term
RAdata Radon Test Kit
- Charcoal Absorption, Short Term
Do Radon Testing Kits, And Devices Provide Accurate Results?
EPA-approved radon testing kits have been shown to provide accurate results when used correctly. Radon testing kits are not perfect, but they indicate whether there might be an issue with radon. Again it depends on how well the test is carried out; Home kits cannot be compared to radon tests done by professional Radon Inspectors in Gaithersburg. Short-term over-the-counter kits used on your own or those bought online mostly provide inaccurate results compared to long-term kits. On the other hand, short-term, e-perm electret tests performed by professionals give accurate results. Long-term kits are meant to measure radon levels in your home over 90 days and provide the most accurate results.
Can I Perform My Radon Test?
Radon testing requires preparation, patience, and following some steps to prepare your house before testing. These include:
- Ensuring your home is sealed and there is no ventilation ensures the air inside is at its highest concentration level for testing.
- Place the detector at the lowest level in your home.
- Leaving the detector undisturbed for 48-96 hours, as the test implies.
- Sending the results to a lab for accurate testing
The best way to determine whether or not you are at risk for radon gas exposure is to hire a professional inspector and have them perform a test for you. They will know how long it takes to prepare, how long they need for the test, what equipment is required, and what type of results they should expect. If you make an error it can lead to inaccurate results; hence it is not advisable to perform your radon test without proper training and equipment.
Since 2004, Top To Bottom Service LLC has provided quality home inspections to Maryland homeowners and businesses. We have been rated an A+ by the Better Business Bureau since 2004 and are proud of our A+ rating with the BBB for over 13 years. We inspect more than 3,000 homes annually, making us one of the largest home inspection companies in the state. We offer radon testing in addition to our home inspections.
