Radon testing and Mitigation systems

[Scott Schultz]

is anyone doing a Radon test in there rentals as part of your initial prep after purchase? I have been, and im 3 for 3 putting mitigation systems in, fortunately i can do them in about a day and $200 in materials, but just curious what everyone else is doing?

[Sam Erickson]

@Scott Schultz what are your overall thoughts on Radon?  Up until a couple years ago It seemed rare when I was brokering a deal and the client would have a radon test done.  Now every transaction does it and it is a very hot button issue.

Where do you test in the basement?  Something I noticed was that often times the company would come test and they would place the meter next to the sump.  The reading would come back high, the mitigation would be done.  The interesting part was when they came back to re-test after repairs the meter would be placed on the opposite side of the basement from the sump.  Seems suspicious to me.

Also what is the highest reading you'll accept before mitigating?  I've found that these companies don't do a good job explain that the recommended level of "4.xx" (whatever it is) apples to areas of the home that are lived in 18+ hrs a day.  Not sure how many people actually realize that the radon levels reduce by half for every level of the home.  So in an unfinished basement you could have a level of "8" but it would "4" on the first level and "2" on the second level

I guess my big complaint is with the testing and mitigation companies.  I don't think they present the information all that accurately and they use scare tactics.