Buying A Home? Don't Forget To Check Radon Levels

Buying A Home? Don't Forget To Check Radon Levels

By Ruth MacEachern

Product Manager

When buying a home, there are many factors to check and get assessed, but one that is often overlooked is a property’s Radon levels. Certain parts of the UK are more at risk of this radioactive gas, which has no smell, taste or colour but can cause serious health problems for people living in properties with higher than acceptable Radon levels.

One of the UK’s leading manufacturers of ventilation systems, EnviroVent, is advising homeowners and buyers to get their homes Radon tested, as it could be harmful to health. Most “at risk” areas in the UK are parts of Cornwall and South Devon, Swansea, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Cumbria, Oxfordshire, Derbyshire, Richmond, Northamptonshire and North Lincolnshire.

Exposure to higher than acceptable Radon levels is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in the UK - it is estimated that more than 1,100 deaths from lung cancer each year in Britain are caused by Radon.

Phil Harrison, EnviroVent Domestic Ventilation Manager, said: “We are advising homeowners if they are concerned about Radon levels in their home to get in touch and we will arrange a Radon test. Our Positive Input Ventilation systems have proved to be very effective in reducing Radon gas levels and therefore minimising the risks to occupants. These systems also have a very positive benefit by improving indoor air quality in the home, which helps to create a healthier living environment.”

Here are EnviroVent’s five tips if you live in or are buying a house in a Radon ‘at risk’ area:

• 1. Ask the seller if the property you are buying has been tested for Radon. If it has, ask to see the test results. If it is above the recommended action level of 200Bq m-3 then there are a number of ways that this can be reduced – including through an effective ventilation system. If it is less than 200Bq m-3 then no action needs to be taken, but it is advisable to have this tested again every 2-3 years if levels are above 100Bq m-3.
• 2. If the property you are buying or live in has not been tested for Radon, then you can have it tested. However, most detectors are required to be in place for three months which is impractical for people buying houses. There are short term test kits that can be used for 7 days, which give an idea of Radon levels, but this could be followed up with a longer term test at a later date.
• 3. If you find that the property you’re looking to buy does have higher than recommended Radon levels, then don’t back out of the sale for this reason. Radon issues can be resolved by various remedial options, such as through ventilation. However, you may be able to negotiate with the seller for a reduction in the purchase price if this is the case.
• 4. If it is a new house you are buying, check with the housebuilder on what level of protection they have provided for Radon. Again this can be a point of negotiation if Radon levels prove to be high. Certain parts of the country have requirements for providing Radon protective measures – such as Devon and Cornwall, some parts of Derbyshire, Northamptonshire Somerset. In 1999 the guidance was revised to include areas through England and Wales, check if your area is affected here.
• 5. If you own a house which is located in a Radon affected area, this does not necessarily mean it will be hard to sell. Radon is an issue that can be easily dealt with, by speaking to one of our ventilation specialists and requesting a Radon survey. If Radon levels are found to be high, an Envirovent PIV ventilation unit can help to improve air quality and reduce Radon to acceptable levels.

Radon can be present in buildings of any size, age, type or location. It is mainly found in areas with high levels of granite and other igneous rock.

To find out more about Radon or how to arrange a test kit, please contact EnviroVent on 0345 27 27 807, email enquiries@envirovent.com or visit http://www.envirovent.com/home-ventilation.

For more information on Radon, visit www.radonassociation.co.uk To find out the risks in your area, visit the website http://www.ukradon.org/information/ukmaps or visit http://www.properteco.co.uk/putting-radon-levels-into-perspective/.