Radon Gas: What Should You Know Before Buying a Home?

Radon levels vary from home to home. Testing takes time, and known high results can affect disclosure and a buyer's options.

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What can you find out about radon gas before buying a home? A proper test takes at least 90 days, longer than the typical period buyers have to remove purchase conditions. Existing test results can help, but their age and any later renovations matter. Without results, buyers may need professional advice about how radon could enter the home and what remediation could involve. The reason to take this seriously is that radon can accumulate in living spaces and is highly carcinogenic. The reason a high result does not leave buyers without options is that measures are available to lower it. Understanding both points helps explain what to ask before buying. Why does radon gas become a problem indoors? Radon is an odourless, invisible, radioactive gas produced by uranium decay. It can move through rocks or soil and escape into air or groundwater. All rocks or soil contain some uranium, but granite, shale, and sandy soils are higher in uranium or radon than clay, limestone, or very moist soil. From the ground, radon can enter a home through unsealed foundations, foundation cracks, gaps in construction materials, and plumbing components such as sump pumps or drains. Bare dirt floors in a cr