Date Published: 07/07/2020 [Source]
While living in the Rocky Mountains region is a privilege, it comes with some unique challenges. The existence of a level of radon is one of those challenges. Radon is an odorless, tasteless, naturally occurring result of the decaying of decomposing granite. If you look around pretty much anywhere in Teller County you will notice we are surrounded by decomposing granite. It's in rock formations, the soil, gravel and road base used all over the county.
When a home is built, we of course excavate the ground to install a foundation and build the home, and we generally make the home as airtight as possible for energy efficiency. That is smart building practice except for the fact that the radon gas released by decomposing granite in the soil is trapped in your energy efficient home. It can build up a level of radon on the inside living space of the home and the persons occupying the home breathe the trapped air in the home. The potential for radon poisoning is why it has become such a topic of discussion in real estate transactions.
In the everyday process of a real estate transaction the buyer hires a home inspection service to thoroughly inspect the subject home of the transaction. Within the scope of the home inspection most inspectors offer the service of testing for radon level in the home. The process of testing for radon is accomplished with a passive kit, or an electronic testing device set in a closed home for at least 48 hours that captures a reading of radon level in the subject home. Some testing may be accomplished in a shorter amount of time by more sophisticated monitor equipment.