Radon Gas Discovered at Mr. C Residences Coconut Grove
Radon gas was discovered at Mr. C Residences in Coconut Grove last week. Shocker!!! This is going to be a huge problem for the condo. The association notified the residents that testing was conducted in select units and common areas throughout the property with some areas returning elevated levels. Apparently the concrete is contaminated.
What is Radon?
Radon is an odorless and tasteless radioactive gas found in outdoor air and indoor air of buildings of all kinds. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up from the ground into homes through cracks and holes in the foundation.
Why is Radon a Problem?
Radon is strongly linked to lung cancer in non-smokers and smokers alike. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US.
Radon in Miami
Radon is a more recent concern in Miami as testing for it has become more commonplace with unacceptable levels measured in some homes. As a realtor, I now recommend radon testing to all my buyers and sellers. Homeowners need to know how much radon they may be breathing so they can mitigate the problem. Buyers certainly want to know if there are elevated radon levels in a home they want to purchase.
The EPA recommends that radon levels be evaluated and fixed if the value is 4 pCi/L or more. There is actually no known safe level of exposure to radon. But standards have been develeoped for radon based on average indoor concentrations of 1.3 pCi/L.
How to Test for Radon
Yes – this is scary stuff. But it’s easy to test for radon. There are radon test kits that can be found online. Or you can call a home inspection company to test your home. I’ve referred buyers and sellers to Pillar to Post and Allied Home Inspection . They come out to your house, leave a radon testing machine for 48 hours, and provide results very quickly. The cost is around $300.
How to Reduce Radon in the Home
Call a professional radon mitigation expert to help you reduce your levels by preventing radon from entering your home.
