We sometimes get asked if a new home can have a radon problem, or if the age of a house affects the radon level. Those are sensible questions, and multiple factors affect the radon level in a home, but age is not one of them. Radon rises from the soil into a house due a pressure differential between the ground and the home. Anything that changes that pressure relationship, the permeability of the soil, or the pathways through which radon enters the home will affect the radon level. It could go up or down over time, or remain approximately the same. it is also normal for the radon concentration to fluctuate somewhat from day to day.

    The only possible exception is that minor cracks that form in a floor slab during the first two years of initial settlement of a new home may slightly increase the radon level by creating additional pathways for the gas to rise out of the soil into the home. But other factors might be the cause an increase at the two-year point or may negate any increase caused by the cracks.

    Also, see our blog post Will opening the windows reduce the radon level in a house? and Can a radon test result be wrong? and Will the radon test come back sky-high in a house that has been empty and closed-up for months? 

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Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about “RADON":

• Can a radon test result be wrong?

• Is a radon mitigation fan required to be on a dedicated circuit breaker/fuse in the electric panel?

• What happens to a radon test result if the windows were opened, the test device moved, or there was any other evidence of tampering during the test? 

• Where do I find the Florida laws regarding radon?

• Can I test vacant land for radon before building a house? 

• Is radon mitigation possible for a condominium?

• Do radon mitigation systems require maintenance?

• What is the danger of radon in well water?

• What are the symptoms of radon poisoning? 

• Does Florida have radon?

• Where does radon come from? 

• For how many years does an old radon test result remain valid?

• Should homeowners get a pre-listing radon test before selling their home?

• What are a homebuyer's options when the radon test comes back high (4.0 pico-curies/liter or more)? 

• Do granite countertops emit radon?

• How can I tell if a house has a radon mitigation system? 

• Can a mobile/manufactured home have a high radon problem?

• Do I need to test for radon when buying a condominium? 

• What does a radon mitigation contractor do to lower the radon level in a home?

• How can not testing for radon be an expensive mistake for homebuyers? 

• What is radon? Should I be concerned about it?

• Should I buy a house with a high radon level? 

• What is the average radon level of indoor and outdoor air in America?

• What is the operating cost of a radon mitigation system? 

• Should I buy a house with a radon mitigation system?

• Does the buyer or seller of a home pay for radon mitigation when the radon test comes back high? 

• What is the probability of having high radon in a Florida house?

• How quickly do I need to reduce a high radon level in my house? 

• Does a home inspector check for radon?

• What are the problems with underground return air ducts? 

• What is the probability of having high radon in a Florida house?

• What factors can change radon test levels up or down?

    Visit our RADON page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.