Radon

[Anonymous]

If average radon in basement of a house is 5.1, would you feel okay to buy it? There are no exit windows or walkout door in the basement. The rest of the house is great. I understand mitigation system is a solution. How common is this problem in Virginia and how do people usually handle it? Do they walk away and consider other houses? Or do they go for mitigation measures? Is the typical cost around $1200-1500?

[Anonymous]

This is OP. The levels oscillated between 2.3 and 9 within 48 hours.
What happens if we leave those tiny basement windows open by putting a mesh? Would that help?

[Anonymous]

you need to have them put in a remediation system.

Radon causes lung cancer. Don't mess around with it.

[Anonymous]

They should pay for it with levels up to 9

[Anonymous]

We live in VA and had an abatement system installed. I don't recall the price but $1,500 sounds about right. Our radon levels were between 4 and 5. Totally worth it for peace of mind. We found the radon varied when the furnace or AC kicked on.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. We signed a contract where the condition is that the seller will not be doing any fixes. Home inspection and radon measurement was for our own knowledge. But we are trying to ask for a credit from the seller for radon mitigation plus some other issues in the house. Not major issues but several minor ones. We haven't heard back.

[Anonymous]

we have a mitigation system installed by the previous owner. The levels are still too high around winter time and late fall, because radon issues are seasonal. I am starting to wonder if these systems are tested in the warmer weather months and people think the systems are working while in the cold weather months their levels are still high even with mitigation but many people don't measure the levels constantly and may not be aware their systems are not effective.

[Anonymous]

I am starting to take the entire leveling of radon (what's safe and unsafe) with a grain of salt. It's a natural gas that's been with humanity for a long time, I'd hope we should be able to survive reasonable levels of it. I am interested to learn how exactly radon safety studies are conducted and why "safe" level is so low that it's impossible to achieve it in cold weather months even with mitigation system. I am guessing higher levels are still safe since exposure is seasonal, not constant

[Anonymous]

If basement floor is unfinished, put down Dry-Lok all over then retest for Radon. If still appropriate, or for peace of mind, then put in the $1500 abatement system.

The Dry-Lok helps seal gaps and that helps keep the aradon out of the basement.

Btw, Radon is common in much of Metro DC. And one should also retest after an earthquake.

[Anonymous]

I’d be more concerned about the lack of egress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am starting to take the entire leveling of radon (what's safe and unsafe) with a grain of salt. It's a natural gas that's been with humanity for a long time, I'd hope we should be able to survive reasonable levels of it. I am interested to learn how exactly radon safety studies are conducted and why "safe" level is so low that it's impossible to achieve it in cold weather months even with mitigation system. I am guessing higher levels are still safe since exposure is seasonal, not constant

We are not here to teach you. Go to EPA website. They have a lot of useful/background information.

[Anonymous]

Have the sellers pay for the mitigation system. And yes you need it.

[Anonymous]

Mitigation system works really well in most cases. Seal the cracks/gaps to the extent possible. I think it's silly to walk away from a house you like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. We signed a contract where the condition is that the seller will not be doing any fixes. Home inspection and radon measurement was for our own knowledge. But we are trying to ask for a credit from the seller for radon mitigation plus some other issues in the house. Not major issues but several minor ones. We haven't heard back.

Doesn't sound like you have the right contractually to ask for anything. Are you going to lose the house over $1500?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. We signed a contract where the condition is that the seller will not be doing any fixes. Home inspection and radon measurement was for our own knowledge. But we are trying to ask for a credit from the seller for radon mitigation plus some other issues in the house. Not major issues but several minor ones. We haven't heard back.

Doesn't sound like you have the right contractually to ask for anything. Are you going to lose the house over $1500?

this is OP. We have found something we like after a long wait and search. Backing out will be hard. We will put in the mitigation measures and will be contacting a contractor soon. Thanks everyone for your inputs. Your responses make me feel better and it seems like it's not an uncommon problem. I am glad there is a solution.