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Do landlords have to test for radon in Colorado?
Landlords in Colorado aren't required to test for radon or to mitigate high radon levels.
Where does radon come from in an apartment?
Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up.
Is radon worse in summer or winter?
To answer that question, yes, radon levels in a home tend to be higher during the winter. And those higher levels of radon gas can lead to an increased chance of lung cancer. While indoor radon gas levels are generally higher during winter, sometimes the summer can have higher indoor radon levels.
Can you reduce radon by opening windows?
As a temporary solution, however, you can reduce radon levels simply by opening windows. Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open.
Does radon affect upstairs?
Please understand that the radon level can be significantly higher on an upper floor. Even if the radon level is lower on the first floor than say a basement radon level, it could be higher on the second floor. The only way to know is if you test.
Where in your house is radon most likely?
basementRadon levels are usually highest in the basement or crawl space. When someone breathes in radon gas, it goes into their lungs, exposing them to small amounts of radiation.
What month has highest radon?
Data shows that radon is increasingly even across seasons, and in ¼ of homes can even be at its highest during summer periods. For most of the 20th century, radon levels in residential buildings were found to have been highest during the winter heating months (October to April in most Northern Hemisphere countries).
Would an air purifier help with radon levels?
Air Purifiers are great for mold, dust, allergies, bacteria and viruses, and odors, but many people do not know that they can also help with toxins, gases and chemicals such as radon. The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter.
Does running the furnace increase radon?
2 Winter is a good time to test for radon gas. With the hatches battened down and the furnace running, you are creating a scenario that can cause radon levels to be higher.
What should you not do during a radon test?
high winds can affect indoor radon levels resulting in an unreliable test result. ✓ Do NOT test in a kitchen, bathroom or hallway. ✓ Do NOT place the test device in direct sunlight, near drafts from furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, vents, or appliances.
How fast does radon accumulate?
Radon does not build up in a residence over time due to its short half-life (3.8 days). Many conditions could affect the measured radon concentration over time in a residence.
How long does it take for radon to dissipate?
This increase in ventilation mixes outdoor air with the indoor air containing radon, and can result in reduced radon levels. However, once windows, doors and vents are closed, radon concentrations most often return to previous values within about 12 hours.
How do you reduce radon in your home?
Other Ways to Reduce RadonIncrease air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air. ... Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
Where does naturally occurring radon come from?
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes.
Where does radon in house come from?
It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up.
How do I make my house safe from radon?
An active radon sump, fitted with a fan, is the most effective way to reduce indoor radon levels. Sumps work best under solid floors and under suspended floors if the ground is covered with concrete or a membrane. Occasionally, passive sumps without a fan may reduce radon levels.
What happens if a tenant raises radon concerns?
The tenant raised the issue: If a tenant, at any time, expressed concerns to the landlord about possible radon contamination in the home, the landlord is obligated to investigate the issue. If the landlord fails to do this, they may be liable.
How does radon get into a house?
If there is a house over a ground that emits radon, it can seep into the home through cracks and gaps in the foundation. When this happens, it becomes trapped inside the building. The people in the house, being unaware of the radon buildup, will inhale the gas.
How to detect radon in a home?
Radon has been found in all kinds of homes in the US; the only way to detect its presence is through direct testing for the gas. To protect the health of their tenants, secure their rental business, and avoid trouble with the law, it is recommended that every landlord test their home for radon.
How much radon is in the air?
That is because it quickly dilutes to low levels that are not dangerous. Outdoor radon concentration levels range from 5 Bq/m3 to 15 Bq/m3. This is not enough to hurt anyone.
What makes radon dangerous?
What makes radon so dangerous is that the gas is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. There can be high concentrations of it in a home without the occupants knowing. EPA guidelines say that any radon concentration at or above 148 Bq/m3 (4 pCi/L) is dangerous.
What does "offering a home for rent" mean?
It means that any property owner who offers their home for rent gives the renter a guarantee that they have done everything to make the property habitable throughout the lease.
What happens to the body when you get radon?
These particles find their way into the cells of the body and damage the DNA. The end result is, after prolonged exposure to radon, the person develops lung cancer.
Proactive Radon Testing Vs. Reactive Radon Testing
Proactive radon testing refers to the landlords pro activity in having their buildings and units tested for radon gas before it is brought to their attention as a problem.
Why Choose Radon Eliminator for Your Apartment Complex Testing
When you make a choice to test your apartment complex for radon gas, you will want to choose a company you feel confident in.
How long does radon stay in your home?
The quickest way to test for radon is with a short-term test. Short-term tests remain in your home for 2 days to 90 days, depending on the device. Long-term tests remain in your home for more than 90 days.
Where does radon come from?
Because most indoor radon comes from naturally occurring radon in the soil, high indoor levels are more likely to exist below the third floor. This is why EPA recommends testing all homes below the third floor.
How to prevent radon in rental home?
To be absolutely sure, however, some landlords prefer to hire a professional contractor certified by the EPA to test for radon in their rental homes. If radon is detected in your rental home, there are both short-term and long-term solutions to the problem. Airing out the house and ensuring it has proper ventilation is one of the best short-term ways to respond to a positive radon test. But this may only be a temporary fix. To prevent radon from building up inside the house again, it is important to seal the home’s foundation or, if the problem is extensive, to add a radon venting system to help redirect soil gases away from the house and out into the air. A certified contractor can tell you which method your property needs, as well as make specific recommendations for future prevention.
Why is radon dangerous?
These soil gases are the main cause of radon problems in residential properties. When radon gets into a home through cracks in the foundation or other places, it can get trapped inside the house and build up to toxic levels over time. Exposure to these high levels of radon is when it can become a serious health problem.
What is radon in the soil?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is a radioactive gas that is found in nearly all types of soil. It is produced by the natural decay ...
How long does lung cancer last after exposure to radon?
Lung cancer often doesn’t occur for years after being exposed to radon, often between 5 and 25 years later. However, not knowing about a radon problem in your rental problem will not be enough to protect you from liability should a tenant get sick. Particularly if your tenant has asked about it or your property is located in an area naturally rich ...
Is radon a carcinogen?
Radon is a known carcinogen , causing lung cancer in individuals with high levels of exposure over time. But there are no immediate symptoms from radon exposure and no way to detect it without conducting a radon-specific test for it.
Does real estate management do radon testing?
Dealing with radon testing and prevention can take an extensive amount of time and effort. That is why Real Property Management offers you regular property evaluations as part of our comprehensive services. We can ensure that your property is carefully checked and any problems corrected as efficiently as possible, helping to keep your liability low and your property protected. Please contact your nearest Real Property Management office for more information.
Is it safe to test for radon?
Knowing whether or not you need to test your property for the presence of radon can be difficult. But when it comes to your tenant’s health and safety, it is often better to be safe than sorry and possibly sued. Dealing with radon testing and prevention can take an extensive amount of time and effort. That is why Real Property Management offers you ...
