Professional Radon Inspections In Colorado Springs
Radon is a silent, orderless, toxic gas that you will never know you have in your home unless you test for it. When buying a new home in Colorado, it is a must to test for this gas and make sure you are not walking into a problem. If radon is detected beyond healthy levels, make sure you get it mitigated immediately before moving in. If it is detected before you buy, you most likely can get the sellers to pay for the mitigation.
Your home is probably the biggest investment you will ever make, and it is a decision that will affect your finances for years to come. Handling radon properly enhances the real estate transaction and gives you and your family peace of mind. Since radon is here to stay and is a significant health risk, we want to help our clients understand radon and what their options are. Please understand that radon can not be eliminated from a property. However, it can be controlled or “mitigated” so that the harmful effects of radon can be avoided entirely.
Did you know? We have another business dedicated to Radon Testing and Mitigation. Our sister company, PineBreeze Radon Mitigation, is also managed by owner Tyler Schull. In Colorado, radon is prevalent in and around Colorado Springs and into the foothills of the Front Range; up to 50% of the homes have radon gas above recommended levels. This is due to many factors, including the abundance of quartz in the ground.
For PineBreeze, radon testing and inspection aren't just work; our passion is keeping our Colorado Springs community safe. We enjoy setting up the radon mitigation after we test and find radon in a home because we know we are potentially saving lives and keeping our community safe. Many people have not even heard of radon, especially those relocating from other states to Colorado.
What Is Radon?
Radon gas is a colorless, odorless and tasteless radioactive gas. It is formed by the breakdown of uranium, a natural radioactive material found in soil, rock and groundwater. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. The EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer.
Radon gas is constantly seeping out of the ground. In open areas, radon dissipates into the air, but radon can also seep into houses through crawlspaces and even through tiny gaps and cracks in the foundation. Homes with basements, crawlspaces, and slabs-on-grade are all vulnerable to radon entry.
Once radon is in the house, radon levels build up, sometimes to unsafe levels. Any home, old or new, may have a radon problem.
The most common ways radon enters a home include:
Radon is a significant concern in Colorado Springs and the Foothills region due to the area's geological characteristics. This colorless, odorless gas can enter homes through various structural vulnerabilities, such as:
- Cracks in solid floors.
- Construction joints.
- Gaps around service pipes.
- Cracks in the walls.
- Cavities in the walls.
- Basement sump pumps.
- Water supply.
- Fireplaces.
Which Homes Need Radon Testing?
High radon can be found in homes of all types in Colorado: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, log homes, modular homes, homes with basements and homes without, and more. Even homes right next door to each other can have different concentrations of radon.
According to the EPA, elevated levels of radon–more than 4.0 pCi/L (pico curies per liter)—have been found in every state. Recommending a radon test by our master-certified inspector professional will protect buyers from the potential health effects of living in a home with high radon and from the financial impact of paying for a mitigation system should their home test high when selling it. You will never find a level of ZERO in any radon test.
Mitigation Methods Vary For Different Types Of Homes
A radon problem can be corrected in any home. A home with a radon mitigation system will consistently have radon levels well below those of the average American home, regardless of how high the radon levels were prior to mitigation.
Active Sub-Slab Depressurization (ASSD).
ASSD is the most common method for Radon Mitigation. It involves drawing the radon gas (and other pollutants) from the soils directly adjacent to the structure. For this method to be effective, a sealed barrier must be available to divert the radon gas away from the home.
Skeletal New Construction Systems (SNCS)
Also known as passive radiation reduction, this radar mitigation method is used during the construction process of a new home. These systems are designed for the future installation of a vent fan and may consist of multiple vent pipes, vertical and angled runs, routed from the suction pit to at least 12 inches above the roof. If you plan on buying or building a new home, tell your contractor you want a Passive Radon Reduction System designed into the house plan.
Active Sub-Membrane Depressurization (ASMD)
Homes with exposed dirt or gravel crawl space areas can be mitigated by “Active Sub-Membrane Depressurization” (ASMD), which involves using a radon-retardant membrane to seal the floor of the crawl space area. A pipe penetrates the membrane, and a suction fan is installed. The radon becomes pressurized, is drawn into the system and is exhausted into the atmosphere.
The primary defense against radon's dangers to your family’s health is having a home inspector test it to detect unsafe radon levels. Using state-of-the-art testing equipment, PineBreeze Inspections can accurately measure the radon levels in your house. Gathering this data and helping you to understand this phenomenon will provide peace of mind as you look to make your home healthy for your family. Radon testing is the crucial first step in mitigating this potential danger.
What To Expect
A testing device is set in the home to monitor the radon concentration over a period of time, usually 2-5 days. Then, our professionals analyze the results. Radon testing is not intrusive to the homeowner; the testing device is typically placed in an area that won’t impact the current owners.
Normal exit and entry to the home are permitted during testing, but our inspectors will advise the homeowner of simple steps to take for “closed house conditions” to ensure the radon test is conducted properly. Our experts will evaluate your test and will advise you if you need to mitigate the radon level in your home.
Post Radon Mitigation Testing
After a radon mitigation specialist, such as PineBreeze Radon Mitigation, has completed the mitigation process in your home, it's crucial to have your home retested for radon a week or two later. This follow-up testing is necessary to confirm that the mitigation service has successfully reduced radon levels to below the recommended safety thresholds.
Since radon is both odorless and invisible, relying on testing is the only reliable method to ensure your home is free from this dangerous gas. Consistent monitoring and testing are essential to maintaining a safe living environment, especially in areas prone to higher radon concentrations.
Schedule Radon Testing In Colorado Springs and Beyond
Get protected by scheduling a radon inspection from PineBreeze Inspections. We have become a reliable resource for many of our clients in the Colorado Springs area and beyond, and we take pride in the quality of our work. Please contact us today to schedule your inspection.