Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that forms naturally in the soil and can enter a home through cracks and openings in the foundation. The Boise area, known locally as the Treasure Valley, is not immune: about 2 in 5 tested Idaho homes have elevated radon levels (Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare, Jan 2020).
What the EPA recommends
The EPA recommends fixing homes that test at or above 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), the agency's action level. Homes below that level can still be considered for mitigation, but 4.0 is the standard trigger for action.
How to test
There are two basic approaches. A short-term test stays in the home for 2 to 90 days and gives a quick picture; a long-term test runs for more than 90 days and better reflects year-round average levels. Both are inexpensive and easy to arrange, and a licensed professional can perform accurate testing and interpret the result.
What to do if levels are elevated
Elevated results are not a reason to walk away from a home you otherwise love. Professionally installed mitigation systems reduce radon levels and are a common, straightforward fix. Radon testing is often offered as an add-on to a home inspection, so it can be handled right alongside the rest of your due diligence.
Radon level is a property-specific measurement, not a regional verdict, so the only way to know a home's level is to test it.
Sylvia's Advice
Radon is one of those words that sounds alarming until you understand it, and I want you to understand it before you worry. The truth is that testing is easy, inexpensive, and completely routine, and high levels have a proven fix in mitigation systems. In my experience, the buyers who handle radon best are the ones who test early, so the result is just another data point in the due diligence folder rather than a last-minute surprise before closing. If a home you love comes back elevated, it is rarely a deal breaker; it is a line item and a mitigation plan. If you are under contract, or about to be, on a home in the Treasure Valley, add radon testing to your list. Connect with Sylvia and I will walk you through what to ask for and what the results mean.
Connect with Sylvia