We are very close to buying a home and we found out it has Radon at a 5 level.
If the seller puts a mitigation system in would you still buy it?
Yep. It's very common in Naperville. 5 is a low number by the way. Just be glad the seller is paying for a mitigation system. Without one, you might always have to worry that the radon levels could go up at any time. If you have the system, you never have to think about it. Good luck!
Yes. This is a very common problem in Naperville - as well as other areas, I'm sure. Once the mitigation system is put in place though, you will be fine to move forward with the purchase. We've had a lot of neighbors move in the last several years and all of them either already had the mitigation done or had to do it as part of the sale of their home. Very common (and expensive for the seller!) problem. In fact, we already have that factored in as an expense for when we go to sell our home in the hopefully not-too-distant future. The seller of the home you want to buy probably has already factored this in as well! Good luck.
Yes. This is very common with any house, and with the ground always settling it can change the radon levels. I would not close on the house until they have the system installed. You can request the receipts from the installing company. The last home we bought in PA the company had to come out several times to change the fan (it needed a larger one) at no charge to us.
Not only is this a common problem in Naperville....it's a common problem throughout all of Northern IL (and other areas too). Thing is, most people have it, but because it's a colorless, odorless gas, they don't know it. I had my house tested a few years ago, just because my kids were going to play in the basement and ours tested 11. (5 is very, very low). Don't use the charcoal filter tests as they are not exactly reputable. You need to have a 48 hour test done,under all the proper conditions (closed windows, not by a heat source, etc), that spits out hourly readings. That's a reliable test.
Yes, I would still buy the house because as I said, most houses have it. And, after the system is put in, there are monitors you can buy that you plug in and leave running at all times. They display the current radon levels in the house. After I had my system put in, I bought an electric monitor that always displays the radon levels.
My mom just bought a house and had that problem. Tested in the high 4's. The owner put in a mitigation system and now we are waiting for the results of the repeat test. I'm sure it is fine. It wouldn't deter me, but I would insist a reputable company but the system in.
Yes. So many homes have radon. Just have them take care of it. Did you have the water tested for radon? Make sure you do that. One of my houses had radon in the water. The house beside us and behind us has radon in the basement and they have the mitigation systems. (I live pretty close to Naperville.)
Dawn
We had the same issue when we bought our house - we made the seller put in the mitigation system.
The home inspector I know does radon testing (I guess it's a specialty). I would ask a professional about this one. His name is Geoff Greer and his cell number is ###-###-####. A professional will know the levels and be able to make recommendations. He has talked about mitigation systems, but I couldn't tell you the kinds/types that are good, but I know he can.
Best of Luck!
Ask to see the paperwork re: the mitigation system b/c the company I looked into only warrantied (sp?) it for a year! 3k for one year...... I don't think so.
What tester did you use?? I would like to use a 'real' company.. not the little charcoal test that the county sends out. I would like one who does the box test for at least 24 hours. Any recommendations are appreciated!!
Yes, as long as the house passes a radon test after the mitigation system is installed.. We did, and we test the house every year or so, and we've never had a detectable radon level since the system was installed (it's been 10 years now).
every house has radon. Every. Some houses have levels higher than others. A five is not bad at all and if your inspector did a short term test, it could be lower or higher on other days....it changes with humidity/moisture/etc.
We just had mitigation done. Someone in our subdivision was selling, came back high and prompted us all to test.
I would make sure they follow proper codes and to install an internal unit and not an external as external units are beyond ugly and do not last as long as they are exposed to elements. The did is only a few hundred dollars. I could go on and on.
We used Professional Radon Sysems, Eric L is the owner, and helpful and nice and from the five people I spoke with I thought the best.
You wil know if your unit is working from monitor system on it and I would recommend doing a short term test, about 15 bucks, every six months to a year.
We bought a house with a high radon level only after they installed the mitigation system and had it re-tested so it was under the level it needed to be. I would make sure it is re-tested after the system is installed.
