Is radon common in Illinois?

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that is produced NATURALLY from uranium in the soil. Radon is considered an indoor air pollutant and the ONLY way to tell if you have radon in your home is to TEST. Radon is found EVERYWHERE in Illinois.

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Also asked, is radon mitigation required in Illinois?

Existing legislation includes the Illinois Radon Awareness Act and the Illinois Real Property Disclosure Act. However, this legislation does not require property be tested, or mitigation be conducted if tests indicate high levels of radon.

Also, what states have the most radon? The ten states with the highest levels of radon are:

• Alaska.
• South Dakota.
• Pennsylvania.
• Ohio.
• Washington.
• Montana.
• Kentucky.
• Idaho.

Keeping this in consideration, how much does a radon mitigation system cost in Illinois?

A professional licensed by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency's Radon Program can mitigate your radon levels. The average cost of a mitigation system is between $800 to $1200. The most common type of mitigation systems is Active Soil Depressurization.

How do I get a radon test in Illinois?

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency requires anyone performing radon inspections in Illinois to obtain a Radon Professional License by completing an IEMA approved Qualification Course. Visit the Illinois website for details.

Related Question Answers

Is radon testing required to sell a home in Illinois?

ILLINOIS RADON AWARENESS ACT The new law doesn't require that homes be tested for radon prior to the sale or that radon remediation work be conducted if test results show high levels of radon. However, under the new law, if a radon test has been conducted on the home those results must be provided to the buyer.

How long do you have to be exposed to radon before it becomes a problem?

If a person has been exposed to radon, 75 percent of the radon progeny in lungs will become "harmless" lead particles after 44 years. When an alpha particle damages a cell to make it cancerous, the onset of lung cancer takes a minimum of 5 years but most often 15 to 25 years, and even longer.

Who pays for radon mitigation buyer or seller?

Sometimes the seller pays for it all, sometimes they fund a credit and sometimes there is a split. Most single family homes will only require one radon mitigation system. A radon system installed by a high quality radon contractor will run in the range of $1200-$1700.

Is radon a problem in Illinois if so why?

The Southern area of Illinois is considered moderate potential for radon. Why should I be concerned about Radon? Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non- smokers. As many as 1,160 Illinois citizens are estimated to develop radon related lung cancer annually.

Where can I buy a radon test kit?

You can buy test kits at home improvement stores, hardware stores, or online. To order a test kit over the phone, call the National Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236).

Do you need a permit to install a radon mitigation system?

American Radon will obtain a permit for radon mitigation if required by your city. Permits typically range from $50 to $150. Once the work is completed, an inspector from the city will come out and inspect the radon reduction system to be sure it was installed properly. Some mitigation companies do not pull permits.

Who pays for radon inspection?

When a radon test is conducted as part of a real estate transaction and the test results come up high, the buyer typically asks the seller to pay for or install a radon mitigation system. These systems are extremely effective at lowering radon levels, and they cost about $1500 on average.

What is radon testing for?

Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.

How do I get rid of radon in my home?

Install a layer of gas-permeable aggregate, such as four inches of gravel, beneath the slab or flooring system of your home if you don't have a crawlspace. Cover this layer or your crawlspace floor with plastic sheeting to stop radon gas from moving past that level and into your home.

Is it safe to live in a home with a radon mitigation system?

If the level falls between 2.0 and 4.0 pCi/L, a mitigation system is beneficial and is strongly encouraged if there will be current or ex-smokers in the home. A level of 4.0 pCi/L and higher is considered extremely dangerous to live in, and mitigation should be performed either before you move, or shortly thereafter.

What do you do if your house has radon?

What to do if your home has high levels

1. Seal and caulk foundation cracks and openings to help reduce the amount of radon that can enter.
2. Install a soil suction radon reduction system, also known as vent pipe and fan system.
3. Create a gas-permeable layer beneath the slab or flooring.
4. Install plastic sheeting.

How much does a radon inspection cost?

Average Radon Inspection Costs Typical inspections average between $150 and $300. Home size and region affect the cost. Some inspectors test for radon during a general home inspection. A professional can detect whether you have a problem and the severity of it.

Can I install my own radon mitigation system?

In most cases, pros charge about $1,500 to install a radon mitigation system, but you can do it yourself for only about $500 in materials. So if you're fairly handy and have some carpentry, plumbing and electrical skills, you can install your own system in a weekend and save yourself a thousand bucks!

When should a radon test be done?

The best time to conduct your radon test is during the heating season. Radon levels vary from day to day and from season to season, and the highest radon levels are generally found during the winter when our homes are sealed more tightly than during the summer months.

How do you lower radon levels?

In some cases, radon levels can be lowered by ventilating the crawlspace passively (without the use of a fan) or actively (with the use of a fan). Crawlspace ventilation may lower indoor radon levels both by reducing the home's suction on the soil and by diluting the radon beneath the house.

How much does it cost to get rid of radon in your home?

While the cost of radon removal depends on the specifics of your home, a typical radon system costs between $800 and $2000. If it's a new home with passive piping in place it may be less.

Do Water softeners remove radon?

There are two methods of removing Radon from well water. The GAC tank is installed after other water treatment systems such as a water softener. A GAC tank is filled with a coconut based activated carbon. The Radon gets trapped in the millions of pours in the carbon as the water passes through.

What states have the worst radon?

According to Air Chek, Inc., 31 states have radon exposure above 4 pCi/L.

The ten states with the highest levels of radon are:

• Alaska.
• South Dakota.
• Pennsylvania.
• Ohio.
• Washington.
• Montana.
• Kentucky.
• Idaho.

Where is Radon most commonly found?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which may be found in indoor environments such as homes, schools, and workplaces. Radon is the most important cause of lung cancer after smoking.