Connecticut Select Homes | Fairfield County CT Real Estate

Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is prevalent in Fairfield County. In my experience, more often than not, a home will test positive for radon in either the air or water during the inspection process. Many buyers begin to panic because there is a connection between exposure to radon and lung cancer. If your home inspection has yielded a positive radon result – don’t worry, educate yourself and ask the seller for the appropriate mitigation.

Radon test results are classified in “picoCuries per liter” (pCi/L). A pci/L of 4 or higher should be mitigated in air and a pci/L of 5,000 or greater in water should be mitigated according to the Connecticut Department of Health. It could be difficult to persuade a seller to fix any problem below these levels, however everything is negotiable.

Airborne radon is usually mitigated through ASD or Active Soil Depressurization. In this process PVC pipe is installed in the slab level and a sealed fan motor then creates suction under the slab and draws the gas into a pipe venting the gas to the outdoors. This system is generally easy to install and is easily hidden if you want to later finish a basement. After installation this type of system often yields results below 2.0 pCi/L.

Waterborne radon can be mitigated through two different systems. The first is a GAC system or Granular Activated Carbon System. This system is often used to reduce radon levels that are between 5,000 and 10,000 pCi/L. This system is the least expensive of the two choices and removes the radon through a charcoal filter. The filter will need to be changed and there can be special charges for removal of the waste. The second type of system is an Aeration System. This type of system is used to reduce radon levels that are above 10,000 pCi/L. This system bubbles air through the water dissipating the radon. This system is a great deal more expensive than the GAC system.

Once you’ve determined the type of system that is appropriate to ask the seller for, you will also want to ask that a state certified radon contractor be used for mitigation. The Connecticut Department of Health can be contacted at 1-860-509-7367 for a list of contractors or visit their website at www.ct.gov/dph.

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