Middle Tennessee Office
615-302-1113
615-870-4162
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Home Inspection in Nashville |
Radon Testing Service
The EPA recommends that all homes should be tested in Middle Tennessee.
Radon is the number one leading cause of lung cancer in Non-Smoker's and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country.
All of middle Tennessee is listed as a High probability area for radon gas by the EPA. The reason for this has to do with the amount and types of rock formations along with the large amounts of uranium containing rock and soil in our part of the country. The same geological formations that provide our beautiful landscape also provide the perfect scenario for radon gas entry into our homes. EPA Map for Tennessee .
It is a sad fact that many real estate agents/brokers do not recommend radon testing. One of the reasons is that they have not had any formal training in regards to radon and its health concerns, they just don't know about the problems. We have found levels well over the 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter of air) EPA action level in all areas of Middle Tennessee. Some of the highest levels in the state have been found in Davidson, Williamson and Rutherford counties. Readings in the 6 pCi/L to 10 pCi/L are very common.
If a home has had radon issues and a mitigation system was installed, that system needs to be inspected. On a national average 2 out of every 5 systems is not working properly or was never installed correctly.
Scott Patterson is an EPA Certified Radon Measurement Provider (#104065) and is listed on The National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) and is a member of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).
We use Sun Nuclear monitors to test for radon gas. These are state-of-the-art electronic monitors (CRM) that check for radon continuously over a 48-hour period. Reports from the Sun Nuclear monitors give hourly readouts of radon levels, throughout the duration of the test. All of our devices are calibrated on a yearly schedule as required by the EPA and NRPP.These continuous electronic monitors are far superior to the old-fashioned charcoal-canister tests. When a canister test indicates high radon levels, the best procedure is to re-test the house. This wastes time and money. With a continuous-monitor test, the results are reliable, and no re-testing is needed.
Granite Countertop Testing
Recently we have received numerous phone calls and emails from concerned homeowners and prospective buyers asking questions about Granite counter tops being radioactive or producing Radon gas. The EPA is investigating and researching but has not come out with an opinion one way or the other.
On August 4th 2008 the Technical and Science Committee of the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST), issued a protocol for testing radon levels in homes that have granite countertops.
If a home has multiple granite surfaces or other natural stone installations in the home, we still can not pinpoint the problematic sections of stone. What we will be able to do is to tell you the radon levels in the home. If you have only one section of granite or other stone application then we should be able to determine if it is producing a higher level of radon than is being produced from natural ground sources.
When a home has a radon problem, whether it is from the ground or the granite countertops it makes no difference as to its source. Radon is Radon and it causes cancer so it needs to be mitigated. Once we determine the levels of radon in the home, then we can work with the mitigation provider to pinpoint the source.
Radon Mitigation System Inspections
Radon Mitigation Systems need to be inspected when a home is purchased and every 3-5 years to insure that the system is functioning properly. We use special guidelines developed in partnership with EPA and ASHI. On a national average 2 out of every 5 mitigations systems that are inspected are found to be installed improperly or not removing the radon gas from the home.
Our radon mitigation system inspection will detail the problems that are found so that you will know exactly what is needed to bring the system up to EPA standards.
Radon Testing Fees:
With a home inspection: $125.00
(CRM 48 hour test for the sale of a home)Standalone without a home inspection: $175
(48 hour test) (Williamson, Davidson and Maury Counties. Other locations will require an additional travel fee due to the distance)Granite Countertops and other natural stone radon testing: $230.00* (This is a 48 hour test)
Homes with a mitigation system $85
(must have a Mitigation Inspection)Long term Alpha Track testing 91+ days $125 per device.* This is the most accurate form of testing radon levels in a home. Some home will require more than one device. Multiple devices are discounted. Please allow us a few days to order the device as we do not stock them due to their shelf life.
Testing requires 48 hours. If at all possible we like to deploy our equipment in advance. This allows us to pick up the CRM when we do the inspection, and then we are able to provide the results with the inspection report.
Testing for Schools and Day Cares are provide by a quote and require the use of canisters due to special guidelines. CRM's can also be used in some situations depending on the size of the building.
Long term Alpha Track testing is when you want to be sure of the radon levels in a home or building. This test runs for an extended period of time so small changes in the structure do not impact the results. This test is great if you know that the home or building has had a high reading and you want to be sure that it is under control.
*
Some homes will require more than one device due to their design. The listed fees are for one device. Additional devices are charged at the listed fee less a discount based on the number of devices used.Mitigation System Inspection Fees:
With a home inspection: $175 includes testing fee
Standalone without a home inspection: $225 includes testing fee
All homes with mitigation systems require a radon test. This is the only way to tell if the home has radon and that the mitigation system is operating properly. Radon testing with a mitigation system inspection is discounted, see above Fees.
Radon - The Unseen Killer
Radon is the
number one leading cause of lung cancer in Non-Smoker's and the
second leading cause of lung cancer in the country. One in 15 homes has a high
level of indoor radon. This is a problem you should be concerned with. In fact,
the U.S. Surgeon General and the EPA recommend that all homes be tested. Don't
panic - homes that demonstrate high radon levels can be fixed by stopping the
inflow and cleaning up the residue.