Explanation of Radon

Here is an explanation of radon if you are looking to buy a Commerce Twp home or any home in SE Michigan.

So what expactly is radon? Radon is a gas that is produced by the natural decay of radium. Radium is found in race amounts of places in areas around Metro Detroit, as well as in Commerce Twp. Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You will never know that your Commerce Twp home has radon gas because you cannot see, smell or taste radon. But it may be a problem in your home. However, since radon is a very heavy gas, it tends to collect in places like basements where it can become relatively concentrated and a health hazard. 

The U.S. Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. IF you smoke and your home had high radon levels, you are at high risk for developing lung cancer. Some scientific studies of radon exposure indicate that children may be more sensative to radon. This may be due to higher respiration rates and their rapidly dividing cells, which may make children more vulnerable to radiation damage. So, yes you should be worried about radon. 

A Metro Detroit area family whose home has radon levels of 4pCi/l is exposed to approximately 35 times as much radiation as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would allow if that family was standing next to the fence of a radioactive waste site. 

January is Radon Action month.  If you have a basement in the home you are buying and are concerned about exposure to cancer causing gas I would recommend to do a radon test when you buy a home.  Quite a few homes do not even have basements as they were built on slabs or crawl spaces.  That is one part that I do not know about.  I don't know if you should get a radon test for a house without a basement?  It is a question you should ask your home inspector when scheduling a home inspection.

More South Eastern Michigan Home buyer tips

For years nobody understood the dangers of radon.  I myself believe part of the rise in the number of cancer patients is due to radon.  We didn't know anything about it in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's, 1980's.  Here in Michigan we started building basements as usable space for kids to play and to have family gatherings without realizing the dangers of radon.  So some people were exposed to radon gas and never knew it.  Simple because of the trend of building usable basement space.

I recently had a client that moved from Chicago.  They lived in a million dollar home.  The wife told me that the new home owners did a radon test and it was very high.  My client felt really bad because their kids played in the basement their whole life and were exposed to the radon gas.  That is why it is so important to have it checked.  The welfare of you and your family may be at stake.

Protect your family from radon gas

Did you know that one in eight homes in the US have radon gas in them?  Could your home have it?  The only way to know is to have it tested.  There are home test kits sold on line or at stores like Lowes, Menards, and Home Depot.  I would spend the money to have it checked out.

Here is a brief Q & A on Radon

Just what exactly is Radon? Radon is an odorless and colorless gas produced by decaying uranium in soil, rock and groundwater. Radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths each year and the U.S. Surgeon General and leading health organizations recommend that all homes be tested.                                                         Get your home checked for radon gas     How would radon gas get into a home? Radon gets into the indoor air through various means, including cracks in the foundation, basement floors or concrete slabs and openings around floor drains and sump pumps. Sump pumps are one of the major ways it enters Southeastern Michigan homes.  Radon levels can change considerably from home to home in the same neighborhood and can even vary over time.   How can I tell if my Michigan home has radon? A simple and inexpensive radon test can be performed by a home inspector to determine if you have an elevated radon level in your home and if a relatively simple mitigation procedure is in order.   What can I do if I have radon in my house? If high levels of radon are confirmed, they should be reduced. Often this can be done with simple, inexpensive techniques, like sealing cracks and venting. In some cases, mitigation may be more extensive. You should contact a qualified radon mitigation company to find the best solution for your situation

Here is a picture of a radon mitigation system

Radon Mitigation systems are relatively cheap to put in.  They range from $800 to $1500 to install.  It is well worth the price to protect your family from radon gas.  If you are going to do a home inspection add a radon test.  I hope this explains radon gas and why you should test and take care of it.

If you are thinking of buying a lake home check out Oakland County lakes by size to understand which lake is best for you.  There are many different sizes of lakes that may not fit you and your families needs.  For example Townsend Lake and Bullard Lake may be too small for you.  Even though Kellogg Lake  is connected to another lake it too may be too small for you.  If you are looking for a bigger all sports lake that is closer to Telegraph then Sylvan Lake is going to be a better choice for you.

 Here is a Just for Kids page that your kids are sure to love and to be able to explore some fun educational activities. 

$59,900

5 Benstein

Commerce Township, MI

Beds: 0 • Baths: 0

$259,000

8840 MINNE WANNA Road

Independence Township, MI

Beds: 3 • Baths: 1 full/1 partial

$350,000

38630 Elsie Street

Livonia, MI

Beds: 3 • Baths: 1 full

$1,375.00

14201 PROSPECT Street

Dearborn, MI

Beds: 0 • Baths: 0

$725,000

5922 Valley View Drive

Canton, MI

Beds: 4 • Baths: 2 full/1 partial

If you are thinking of buying a home in Plymouth you may want to know about Brecken Ridge Sub Plymouth Michigan or Colony Farms Subdivision Plymouth Michigan.   They are both nice subdivisions and worth looking into.  I used to love going to downtown Plymouth.  I would highly recommend the community to live in.  Here is a quick article on Buying Bank Owned Properties.  There are different rules when submitting an offer on FHA owned and bank owned properties.

Here are two quick home buyer articles for you.  Did You Buy a Bargain? and a quick explanation of the Final Walk-Thru Inspection.   If you have questions about buying or selling a home in Metro Detroit feel free to call or text me any time.