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Checklist Inspections has been helping potential homeowners since 1998 to have peace of mind when purchasing their dream homes. We know the importance of being well informed by highly educated, experienced, and caring home inspectors. Our office staff are available 7 days a week to schedule your inspections. We do all that we can to ensure that the inspection process is one of the easiest and most informative steps in the purchasing process for you.

Home » Services » Radon Testing

Is There Radon in Arizona?

One out of eight homes we inspect is found to have elevated radon.

Radon can be found just about anywhere. It’s a cancer-causing, radioactive gas, which cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. The only way to find out about the presence of radon is through radon testing. Checklist Inspections tests your house for the presence of radon during the home inspection.

 

CURRENT REPORTING TIMEFRAME: Reports are on schedule and being delivered between the second and third business day after deployment.

Checklist Inspections provides radon testing in the form of short-term, electronic continuous monitors, which are calibrated yearly. This type of test is ideal for real estate transactions because it is not required to sit at the property for extended periods of time; in-fact, it only requires a minimum of 48-hours on-site to produce results. We are extremely proud to be able to provide instant results from the unit, to decrease any chance of delays. 

What is radon, and do I NEED to test for it?

Radon is an odorless, heavy, radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the rock and soil beneath us. Because uranium is deposited throughout the Earth’s crust, radon is all around us, all the time.

Radon levels are measured in pCi/L—which is “Picocurie Per Liter.” A curie is a unit of measurement for radioactivity that is equivalent to 1 gram of radium.

The average outdoor radon concentration is 0.4 pCi/L. The national average indoor radon concentration is about 1.3 pCi/L. The EPA recommends remediation when the level reaches 4.0 pCi/L or more. Radon seeps into our homes through cracks and crevices in foundation walls, through soil in crawl spaces, through cracks or openings in concrete floor slabs, and through the concrete itself. The concentration of radon can fluctuate quite a bit throughout the year and depends on the weather conditions and various conditions in the home.

Prolonged exposure to radon gas is known to cause lung cancer. In fact, it is considered the second leading cause of lung cancer next to smoking. Roughly 22,000 U.S. deaths per year are attributed to radon exposure. So, it is important to test for radon to remediate the problem if necessary and protect your family.

I heard if the home does not have a basement, I do not need to test?

This is an incorrect statement. As we discussed above, Radon seeps into our homes through cracks and crevices in foundation walls, through soil in crawl spaces, and through cracks or openings in concrete floor slabs. Testing is recommended on the “lowest livable space” of a home. Yes, this could be a basement, but even homes built on slabs can have radon—we have even found radon as high-up as third floor condominiums.

When do I need to test for radon?

The EPA recommends testing during every real estate transaction, after remediation, every 1-3 years, and any time conditions in the home change (i.e. new windows are installed, renovations are performed that affect air flow, a crawlspace is closed or opened, a new HVAC system is installed, a basement drainage system is installed, etc.)

Should this be requested during the scheduling process, or can it be added at the inspection?

Due to the nature of the testing, 48 hour minimum time, and sensitivity of equipment, it is suggested this is scheduled before the time of inspection, so both placement and pick up of equipment can be done before the time frame is up. 

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