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Fun Radon Facts (at least in my opinion)Posted by admin on November 11th, 2014

I attended the radon presentation at the Architectural Heritage Center this past weekend- what a great event! AHC always puts on great educational programs and this one provided some fun radon facts. If you don’t already know about radon, it’s an odorless, colorless, tasteless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in our soil and water. Buildings trap escaping radon, forcing us to breathe it unknowingly. Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Levels of radon are different for every home. If you don’t know what the radon levels are in your home, get a home testing kit or call me and I will test for you!

I learned so much about radon that I thought you might want to nerd out with me… here we go:

  • radon decay chain wikipediaThe chemical element radon comes from uranium & thorium, which decays into radium and then into radon. Uranium and thorium are the two most common radioactive elements here on earth.
  • 20% of U.S. deaths are due to radon-related lung cancer. Your risk is 5x greater if you are a smoker.
  • Radon was a food additive in the early 1900s! There were also radon caverns where you could go to breathe in radon… yikes!
  • Newer homes are more tightly sealed (for energy conservation) and are potentially keeping more radon in homes.
  • Granite countertops emit very low levels of radon.
  • Lower levels of radon are best, obviously… though it’s quite impossible to completely get rid of radon. Outdoor air is approximately .4 pCi/l  (that’s picocuries per liter in case you were wondering). The average U.S. home is about 1.3 pCi/l, but this varies from house to house! Your neighbor might have very high levels and yours may be low or vice versa.  The Surgeon General recommends radon reduction for homes that measure 4 pCi/l or more and you should consider radon reduction for levels between 2 and 4 pCi/l.
  • 1 in 8 homes nationally tests high in radon.
  • 1 in 15 homes in Oregon tests high in radon.
  • 1 in 4 Portland homes tests high in radon.
  • Areas that have highly permeable soils and/or have had landslides generally have higher radon levels. Alameda ridge, north Portland, east Portland, Sherwood/Newberg, Lakeview and Clark Co. (Washington) have a higher risk for high levels of radon due to the geology of those areas.
    Radon by zip code, Oregon

    Radon by zip code, Oregon

  • An example of the seasonal effects of radon can be higher levels when it rains- the water seeping into the ground pushes radon up out of the soil.
  • HEPA air filters are NOT effective in reducing radon levels in your home.
  • Radon testing can be long-term (3-12+ months) or short-term (2-4 days). If you have a long-term radon monitor plugged in in your home, remember- the equipment needs to be re-calibrated annually!
  • There are several ways (both passive and active) to reduce the radon levels in your home. Talk to a professional about the most effective system for your situation. If you are constructing a new home, install a passive system!
  • It is best to test for radon in the winter months while windows and doors remain mostly closed.

Still want to know more? Check out the EPA website or the Portland, Oregon radon website. And watch this Oregon Field Guid Radon video.

Radon Testing in Portland Oregon!Posted by admin on May 19th, 2014

Home Gnome Inspections now offers radon testing!

What is radon? Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that may cause cancer. It can be in the water, soil and air you breathe. It gets trapped inside buildings, increasing your risk for exposure.

Get it tested!

If you are concerned about radon in your home:

  • Make a appointment by email or call 503-913-1281! Radon testing is easy, affordable, and it can save your life.
  • Testing is most accurate when the doors/windows/exhaust fans & vents are closed for a minimum of 12 hours prior to the start of the test and when the home remains closed (except for regular entry and exit) for the duration of the test (at least 48 hours).
  • Radon in your home can be reduced up to 99%! Find qualified mitigators here.
  • Radon is estimated to cause 21,000 deaths from lung cancer each year. Is the air you breathe safe?
  • Click here to see if  your area is at high-risk.

My Moisture Meter Is Ready For Its Next Home Inspection!Posted by admin on April 10th, 2014

moisture meter skin testI changed the battery and calibrated my moisture meter this morning. I also successfully tested my skin and it contains moisture, so that’s good… but how do I use my moisture meter in a home inspection?

I use my moisture meter anytime I see moisture stains or have pinpointed a suspicious area that needs checking. Common areas that I check with my meter are:

  • Ceilings and walls (particularly at chimneys and at potential plumbing and roof leaks)
  • walls/ceilings/floors near plumbing
  • in basements and crawlspaces under plumbing and where foundations show previous or current leaks

My moisture meter is an invaluable tool to have in a home inspection and I use it a lot (mostly just to be sure) but surprisingly, I don’t usually find an alarming amount moisture. (Testing wood is tricky because it naturally contains moisture.) It’s even more difficult to detect moisture during the summer months when it hasn’t rained for a while so little moisture is present from a lack of rain.

If the house you’re getting inspected has had leaks or moisture issues in the past that the realtor and client know about, let me know so I can check it with my meter!

Radon in Portland HomesPosted by admin on January 24th, 2013

radonMap01:2013

You may have heard about radon recently- I’ve read about it on oregonlive and heard about it on the radio. Radon is an odorless, colorless radioactive gas that is known to cause lung cancer. New construction in Portland requires radon venting from the soil to the exterior of the home, but older existing homes don’t usually have this venting. Where is your home located? Are you at risk? If one in four homes in the Portland area are at risk for radon- don’t you want to know if you are one of them? It may be time to get your home tested- it’s well worth the cost!

Cascade Radon has some great links as well as info about a $10 test kit and a free radon forum on Thursday, January 24th (tonight!) at Portland Water Bureau’s Water House (1616 NE 140th Ave.).