Radon Testing Hagerstown MD
About Our Radon Testing Hagerstown, MD Services
Why do you need radon testing Hagerstown, MD services? You cannot see, smell, or taste radon. But it still may be a problem in your home. Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It typically seeps up through the ground and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.
The U.S. Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend that all homes below the third floor be tested for radon. Fortunately, even if high radon levels are present in a home, they can generally be reduced to acceptable levels.
If You Are Selling a Home…The EPA recommends that you test your home before putting it on the market and, if necessary, lower your radon levels. Save the test results and all information you have about steps that were taken to fix any problems. This could be a positive selling point.
Why Get Radon Testing Hagerstown, MD Services
If You Are Buying a Home…The EPA recommends that you know what the indoor radon level is in any home you consider buying. Ask the seller for their radon test results. If the home has a radon-reduction system, ask the seller for any information they have about the system. If the home has not yet been tested, you should have the house tested. If you are having a new home built, there are features that can be incorporated into your home during construction to reduce radon levels.
To perform a radon test, we leave a small box with two E-Perm canisters at the home for a 48-hour period. We then retrieve the canisters and analyze the results.
Why Choose Fox Mountain Property Inspection?
If you’re looking for the best radon testing Hagerstown MD has to offer, the clear choice is Fox Mountain Property Inspections. Our team is dedicated to perfection and detailed evaluations. We don’t skimp on the important stuff and we thrive on a good challenge. When you choose us, you have the good guys on your side.
We offer the most meticulous property inspection in the area with environmental testing that most companies don’t have the capability to perform. Our team is qualified to test for termites, air quality/mold, water safety, and radon testing commercial buildings and home owners need. We give you peace of mind where others can’t and the reports to prove it. Safety comes first at Fox Mountain.
Highly Trained Team
Our team is highly trained and capable of performing multiple forms of testing to ensure the safety of a property. Whether it’s commercial property or home inspection, we have you covered.
Thorough Reports
Our reports are thorough and easy to understand. We don’t waste time with obnoxious phrasing or technical terms. Our reports are detailed and leave our customers with a clear picture of their investment property.
State of the Art Equipment
We use E-Perm canisters, Lead XRF Devices, extensive water testing, thermal imaging, and drone inspections to ensure you receive the information you need about your potential property purchase. Our equipment makes peace of mind easily attainable.
Excellent Customer Service
We know the value of excellent customer service. Our customers are our top priority for every inspection. When we inspect, we have you and your safety in mind at every turn. That’s why our customer service is unmatched.
Free Quote!
Contact us for a free quote on our Radon Testing Hagerstown, MD services today! We offer quotes for residential, commercial, and environmental property inspections. With us, you’ll be able to recognize the difference between us and our competitors right away. We make it a point immediately to always be upfront and honest with our customers, even down to the first initial quote.
Facts & FAQ
You cannot see, smell or taste radon. But it still may be a problem in your home. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Testing is the only way to find out your home’s radon levels. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.
If you find that you have high radon levels, there are ways to fix a radon problem. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
The EPA recommends that you test your home before putting it on the market and, if necessary, lower your radon levels. Save the test results and all information you have about steps that were taken to fix any problems. This could be a positive selling point.
The EPA recommends that you know what the indoor radon level is in any home you are considering buying. Ask the seller for their radon test results. If the home has a radon-reduction system, ask the seller for information they have about the system.
If the home has not yet been tested, you should have the house tested.
If you are having a new home built, there are features that can be incorporated into your home during construction to reduce radon levels.
These radon testing guidelines have been developed specifically to deal with the time-sensitive nature of home purchases and sales, and the potential for radon device interference. These guidelines are slightly different from the guidelines in other EPA publications which provide radon testing and reduction information for non-real estate situations.
This guide recommends three short-term testing options for real estate transactions. The EPA also recommends testing a home in the lowest level which is currently suitable for occupancy, since a buyer may choose to live in a lower area of the home than that used by the seller.
a. Radon has been found in homes all over the U.S.
Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water, and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above, and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Radon can also enter your home through well water. Your home can trap radon inside.
Any home can have a radon problem, including new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. In fact, you and your family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure at home. That is where you spend most of your time.
Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more). Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state.
b. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend that you test your home.
Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.
You cannot predict radon levels based on state, local, or neighborhood radon measurements. Do not rely on radon test results taken in other homes in the neighborhood to estimate the radon level in your home. Homes which are next to each other can have different radon levels. Testing is the only way to find out what your home’s radon level is.
In some areas, companies may offer different types of radon service agreements. Some agreements let you pay a one-time fee that covers both testing and radon mitigation, if needed.
If you are thinking of buying a home, you may decide to accept an earlier test result from the seller, or ask the seller for a new test to be conducted by a qualified radon tester. Before you accept the seller’s test, you should determine the results of previous testing by finding out:
who conducted the previous test (the homeowner, a radon professional, or some other person);
where in the home the previous test was taken, especially if you may plan to live in a lower level of the home. For example, the test may have been taken on the first floor. However, if you want to use the basement as living space, test there, too;
what, if any, structural changes, alterations, or changes in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system have been made to the house since the test was done. Such changes may affect radon levels.
If you accept the seller’s test, make sure that the test followed the Radon Testing Checklist.
If you decide that a new test is needed, discuss it with the seller as soon as possible.
b. If the home has not yet been tested for radon…
Make sure that a radon test is done as soon as possible. Consider including provisions in the contract specifying:
where the test will be located;
who should conduct the test;
what type of test to do;
when to do the test;
how the seller and the buyer will share the test results and test costs (if necessary); and
when radon mitigation measures will be taken, and who will pay for them.
Make sure that the test is done in the lowest level of the home suitable for occupancy. This means the lowest level that you are going to use as living space which is finished or does not require renovations prior to use. A state or local radon official or qualified radon tester can help you make some of these decisions. If you decide to finish or renovate an unfinished area of the home in the future, a radon test should be taken before starting the project, and after the project is finished. Generally, it is less expensive to install a radon-reduction system before (or during) renovations rather than afterward.
Radon-resistant techniques work. When installed properly and completely, these simple and inexpensive passive techniques can help to reduce radon levels. In addition, installing them at the time of construction makes it easier to reduce radon levels further if the passive techniques don’t reduce radon levels below 4 pCi/L. Radon-resistant techniques may also help to lower moisture levels and those of other soil-gases. Radon-resistant techniques:
make upgrading easy: Even if built to be radon-resistant, every new home should be tested for radon after occupancy. If you have a test result of 4 pCi/L or more, a vent fan can easily be added to the passive system to make it an active system, and further reduce radon levels. | |
are cost-effective: Building radon-resistant features into the house during construction is easier and cheaper than fixing a radon problem from scratch later. Let your builder know that radon-resistant features are easy to install using common building materials. | |
save money: When installed properly and completely, radon-resistant techniques can also make your home more energy-efficient and help you save on your energy costs. |
In a new home, the cost to install passive radon-resistant features during construction is usually between $350 to $500. In some areas, the cost may be as low as $100. A qualified mitigator will charge about $300 to add a vent fan to a passive system, making it an active system and further reducing radon levels. In an existing home, it usually costs between $800 to $2,500 to install a radon mitigation system.
About Hagerstown, MD
Hagerstown, a city of historical significance, serves as the county seat of Washington County, Maryland, and stands as the state’s sixth-largest incorporated city. With a population of 43,527 according to the 2020 census, Hagerstown holds a pivotal role as the largest city in the Maryland Panhandle. Boasting a unique topography shaped by stone ridges running through its center, Hagerstown’s architecture showcases the use of upper Stonehenge Limestone, contributing to its distinct appearance. Despite its semi-rural setting, Hagerstown is a vital center for transit and commerce, with a robust transportation network facilitated by Interstates 81 and 70, major railroads, and Hagerstown Regional Airport. Recognized as the Hub City, Hagerstown has grown dynamically, becoming a commercial and industrial hub for a broader Tri-State Area, encompassing Western Maryland, South Central Pennsylvania, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
We Offer Our Services in These Areas!
Maugansville | Hagerstown | Cascade | Sabillasville | Big Pool | Clear Spring | Smithsburg | Myersville | Thurmont | Funkstown | Williamsport | Saint James | Fairplay | Boonsboro | Frederick | Walkersville | Woodsboro | Libertytown | New Market | Monrovia | Mount Airy | Keedysville | Sharpsburg | Rohrersville | Burkittsville | Middletown | Braddock Heights | Knoxville | Jefferson | Buckeystown | Adamstown | Ijamsville | Damascus | Brunswick | Dickerson | Clarksburg | Rocky Ridge | Keymar | Union Bridge | New Windsor | Sykesville | Cooksville | Marriottsville | Woodstock | Woodbine | Barnesville | Beallsville | Boyds | Germantown | Montgomery Village | Gaithersburg | Glenwood | West Friendship | Ellicott City | Glenelg | Dayton | Brookeville | Brinklow | Washington Grove | Derwood | Olney | Sandy Spring | Ashton | Potomac | Rockville | Cabin John | Garrett Park | Kensington | Taneytown | Emmitsburg | Tuscarora | Point Of Rocks | Poolesville | Silver Spring | Westminster | Finksburg | Randallstown | Windsor Mill | Bethesda | Hancock |
Chambersburg | Mont Alto | Greencastle | Shady Grove | Zullinger | Quincy | Waynesboro | Blue Ridge Summit | State Line | Rouzerville | Orrtanna | Mc Knightstown | Gettysburg | Littlestown | New Oxford | Fairfield | Mc Sherrystown | Pleasant Hall | Orrstown | Shippensburg | Walnut Bottom | Scotland | Fayetteville | South Mountain | Saint Thomas | Williamson | Marion | Fort Loudon | Big Cove Tannery | Mercersburg | Warfordsburg |
Purcellville | Lovettsville | Waterford | Leesburg | Paeonian Springs | Great Falls | Clear Brook | Stephenson | Winchester |
Falling Waters | Shepherdstown | Inwood | Martinsburg | Kearneysville | Shenandoah Junction | Harpers Ferry | Bunker Hill | Ranson | Millville | Charles Town | Summit Point | Alloy | Hedgesville | Gerrardstown |
Providing our clients with superior inspections by highly-skilled professionals
We cover commercial, residential, and environmental inspections. When you choose Fox Mountain Property Inspections you never have to wonder what kind of service you’ll receive. Our team always goes beyond the call of duty to ensure you receive the best service and highly detailed inspection report. Book today to see what all the rave is about!
About Us
At Fox Mountain Property Inspections we offer fully comprehensive property inspections completed by top professional inspectors. Our staff consistently delivers accurate reports so you can feel confident about your property investments. While other inspection companies may promise big and deliver the bare minimum, Fox Mountain provides the very best for customers with every inspection.
Get radon testing Hagerstown MD and the surrounding area trusts. Our team has the experience and skills needed to inspect with knowledge and integrity. With 9 incredible inspectors on staff and 2 of the best dogs as Chairman of Morale and Director of Ridiculousness, we pride ourselves on a welcoming environment and fun-loving atmosphere. Fox will you get more than an inspection, you get people who care.