Hey there, it's Greg Dallaire from Dallaire Realty! I'm absolutely thrilled to have an amazing guest today, Drew Baston from Baston Home Inspections. We'll be discussing a topic that might not be on everyone's radar, but trust me, it's worth paying attention to. Today, we'll be talking about the significance of radon gas.

Why Testing for Radon Gas is Important  

Radon gas, as Drew, one of the experts, will explain, is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that originates from the decay of radium in our soil. With homes becoming tighter and more energy-efficient these days, we're trapping more radon inside. And that's a big concern because radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, causing around 21,000 deaths each year. That's right, it's the number one cause of lung cancer, excluding smoking.

So how do we test for radon gas? Baston Home Inspections, a home inspection company in Green Bay, Wisconsin, offers radon testing services. Drew will take us through the process. A professional will set up a device for a 48-hour test in the lowest livable space in your home, such as a basement or basement bedroom, and the device will take a reading every hour. The final reading will indicate whether the radon levels in your home are safe (below 4.0 picocuri per liter) or unsafe (above 4.0 picocuri per liter).

How Do You Mitigate Radon Gas

But what is a radon mitigation system, and how does it work? Drew will break it down for us. Essentially, a radon mitigation system involves drilling a hole in your foundation and creating negative pressure or a vacuum to extract the radon gas and send it outside, rather than trapping it inside your home. This way, the radon is dispersed and the risk of high amounts causing lung cancer is reduced.

Basten Home Inspections Test for Radon 

When it comes to the Green Bay area, Drew has done a lot of radon tests, so what can we expect to see? Well, it's 50-50 whether the results will come back high or low. That's right, your home could potentially have high radon levels, which is why testing your home is so important for your family's safety. And if the results come back high, don't worry. A radon mitigation system typically costs around $800 to $1,500, and the process takes just one day.

If you're actively purchasing a home in the Green Bay area, you can include radon testing in your offer to purchase, but you don't have to. Any homeowner can get a radon test done. You can order a home test online for a 90-day period or have a professional come in and test it for you. Drew highly recommends testing for radon.

That's where Baston Home Inspections comes in. They offer radon testing as an additional service, and I'll leave a link for you to reach out to them if you're interested in scheduling a radon gas inspection in the Green Bay area. Drew, is there anything else you'd like to add about radon?

Drew would just like to emphasize the importance of testing. If you opt for a professional test, it'll cost between $100 and $150, and if your home tests high, a radon mitigation system will cost between $800 and $1,500, depending on where it needs to be installed in your home. Whether you vent it out through the garage or the side of your house, make sure you test for radon gas and keep your family safe!