Asheville Real Estate
EPA-Radon Gas Information Center for Asheville Real Estate, NC.
(This information provided for by the U.S.E.P.A.) For a PDF download or printable version of this page go
here.
For a U.S. Government PDF download or printable version of a Pamphlet on
Radon gas go here.
Radon Gas Inspection
What is it?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the U.S..
It
comes
from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the
air you breathe. Radon typically and naturally moves up through cracks and other holes in the
foundation of homes. Your home, too, can become a box of sorts that just
happens to trap Radon inside.
Accordingly, any home can have a Radon problem, and it's generally fixed quite
simply by securing the necessary ventilation.
This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or
without basements can all be ventilated properly so as to solve the problem, if
any.
We highly recommend that you test your new home for radon gas. Because radon
gas is completely invisible to sight, smell, or taste, special detection kits
are necessary
to find a potential problem. Luckily, detection of radon gas through the testing
kits
is easy and inexpensive. And homes with high levels can be fixed. Most good and
established Home
Inspectors can test for radon at the time of a home inspection for additional
fee of
about $60.00 to $125.00, as is found in the Asheville area.
EPA recommends that you take action to reduce your home’s indoor radon levels if
your test result is 4 pCi/L or higher. The cost of making repairs to reduce
radon
depends on how your home was built and other factors. Most homes can be fixed
for
about the same cost as other common home repairs, like painting or having a new
hot water heater installed.
What is the average cost to lower radon levels?
The average cost for a contractor to lower radon levels in a home is about
$1200,
although this can range from $500 to about $2500. This cost most of the time is
incurred by the seller but can be negotiated between the buyers and sellers.
Specifics for North Carolina:
The purpose of this map is to assist National,
State, and local organizations to target their resources and to implement
radon-resistant building codes. This map is not intended to be used to determine
if a home in a given zone should be tested for radon. Homes with elevated levels
of radon have been found in all three zones. All homes should be tested
regardless of geographic location. Important points to note:
- All homes should test for radon, regardless of geographic
location or zone designation
- There are many thousands of individual homes with elevated radon levels
in Zone 2 and 3. Elevated levels can be found in Zone 2 and Zone 3
counties.
- All users of the map should carefully review the map documentation for
information on within-county variations in radon potential and supplement
the map with locally available information before making any decisions.
- The map is not to be used in lieu of testing during real estate
transactions.
The Map was developed using five factors to determine radon potential: indoor
radon measurements; geology; aerial radioactivity; soil permeability; and,
foundation type. Radon potential assessment is based on geologic provinces.
Radon Index Matrix is the quantitative assessment of radon potential. Confidence
Index Matrix shows the quantity and quality of the data used to assess radon
potential. Geologic Provinces were adapted to county boundaries for the Map of
Radon Zones.
Sections 307 and 309 of the Indoor Radon Abatement Act of 1988 (IRAA) directed
EPA to list and identify areas of the U.S. with the potential for elevated
indoor radon levels. EPA's Map of Radon Zones assigns each of the 3,141 counties
in the U.S. to one of three zones based on radon potential:
 |
Zone 1 counties have a
predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L
(pico curies per liter) (red zones) |
Highest Potential |
 |
Zone 2 counties have a
predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L
(orange zones) |
Moderate Potential |
 |
Zone 3 counties have a
predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L
(yellow zones) |
Low Potential |
Finally, EPA maintains 10 Regional Offices to
implement Federal environmental programs around the country. These Regional
Offices cooperate with Federal, State, interstate, and local agencies, as well
as with industry, academic institutions, and other private groups, to ensure
that their Region's needs are addressed and that Federal environmental laws are
upheld. Within each Region, the Regional Administrator has designated Regional
Lead Coordinators to oversee the development of lead-poisoning prevention
efforts within the Region. The information contacts for our regional office is
listed below: Asheville NC is in Region 4
REGION 4
States: AL, GA, KY, MS, NC, TN, FL, SC
Regional Contact: Elizabeth Wilde
wilde.liz@epa.gov
U.S. EPA Region 4
AFC Tower, 12th Floor
Air, Pesticides & Toxics
61 Forsyth St.
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 562-8998
Remember:
EPA-Radon Gas Information Center for Asheville Real Estate, NC is useful when buying and selling a luxury home, or finding that special piece of Asheville Real
Estate with Kathleen Blanchette,
a fully licensed Keller-Williams Asheville Real Estate Broker and Realtor, is a comprehensive and thoroughly professional
experience in buying and selling Asheville Real Estate throughout the Blueridge
and Smokey Mountains, where efficiency, personal regard and concierge services are
guaranteed every step of the way. Keeping the Tradition of Integrity...,
and a Reputation for Results!
Using our EPA-Radon Gas Information Center for Asheville Real Estate, NC, is handy whether its a North Carolina luxury home such as our property at 36 Blue Heron Drive, or your own Private Mountain Estate
in one of our uniquely designed plush Golfing Communities, Exclusive Gated Communities,
Active Adult Communities, surrounding Lake Communities, or a great Condominium,
Loft or Townhome, all of Greater Asheville and Hendersonville Luxury Homes are within reach with Kathleen Blanchette. Feel Free to browse the entire website of all available Greater Asheville Real Estate
MLS and Western North Carolina MLS,
for all Asheville Real Estate Properties, Land Acreage, Horse farms, Investment
Properties, Commercial Real Estate, New Home Plans, as well as handy relocation
and moving calculators, tips for buying and selling a house,
city and school reports, and more. Just call us when you're ready to move
ahead!
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