The Downlow On Radon Testing In The Home

October 8, 2014- As the health hazards of radon become better understood by the general public, home testing for the invisible, odorless gas has become more common.

And yet, Reuben Saltzman, home inspector with Structure Tech and Truth-In-Sale of Housing Evaluator in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and several other cities, still sees cases of uncertainty, particularly involving the sale of a home.

Saltzman's recent post on the subject, "Radon Testing: Should Home Buyers Rely on the Seller's Test?" at the website StarTribune.com begins with some generic advice on the subject:


• Saltzman agrees with the EPA, which recommends a new radon test if the latest test results are more than two years old.


• If the results are less than two years old, Saltzman says to find out who conducted the radon test before relying on the results. "While there are no licensing requirements for radon testing companies in Minnesota, there are two large certifying bodies for radon measurement providers: the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) and the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB)", he writes. "I’d feel fairly confident in relying on the radon gas test results from an NRPP or NRSB certified company."

• Saltzman advises his clients to consider what, if anything, has changed? "If there have been any major structural changes, HVAC changes, or there have been any significant projects that involved air sealing, which is most commonly done in the attic, don’t go with the old test results."

• If a homeowner conducts a radon test on their own home, find out where in the home the test was conducted. "If the home has an unfinished basement and nobody spends any time down there, the test should be placed on the first floor," writes Saltzman. However, Saltzman adds, "If a home buyer is going to rely on the seller’s radon test results, they should make sure the test was placed in the lowest livable area, not the lowest level that is regularly used."

• Saltzman concludes by summarizing as follows, "If a home buyer is going to rely on someone else's radon test results instead of hiring their own company to conduct a radon test, they should make sure that the previous test was done within the last two years, the testing was done by a qualified person/company, no major changes happened at the home that could affect radon levels, and that the radon test was placed in the proper location."

Read the full StarTribune.com post here.

Carnow Conibear and Associates is a demonstrated leader in the occupational and environmental health professions since 1975. To find out more, click here or call us at (800) 860-4486.