State of Cancer: Iowa law and most counties don’t address radon in new homes
About 15 years ago, Iowa builder Hubbell Realty began including passive radon mitigation systems in houses being built.
High radon results done 10 days before closing left some buyers less than thrilled.
That’s what compelled action by Rachel Flint, senior vice president of Iowa homebuilding and land development operations, part of Hubbell.
“This isn’t required by [Iowa] code. Again, this is something that we just felt was the right thing to do for the home-buying experience and the long-term health of our customers at the end of the day,” Flint said.
There’s reason to be concerned about radon in Iowa. Seven out of 10 homes have high levels of the gas. It occurs naturally in Iowa’s soils. Every county in Iowa is high for radon, according to Environmental Protection Agency standards. The only other state with such high levels is the neighboring state of North Dakota.
The cost to add a mitigation system is $1,700 to $2,000, Flint said. That’s not tacked on to the price of a home, she added.
“It’s not cheap to do after the fact,” she said.
In a model home, Flint pointed out the pipe embedded in the ground-level floor. It snaked up the wall and disappeared into the next floor. The pipe collects the radon gas. Then a fan in the attic pushes it out into the atmosphere, where its harm potential falls.
"I would just encourage home buyers to fall in love with what's behind the walls. Because at the end of the day, that will make the difference for you and your family in the long run,” Flint said.
It’s easier to add the system into the construction rather than ripping up concrete and walls.
“So that’s why it’s so much easier at the beginning,” she said.
The idea of requiring new homes in Iowa to have a radon mitigation system earned attention at the Iowa Statehouse.
was overwhelmingly passed in the Iowa House, but it didn’t make it to a vote in the Iowa Senate.
Reps. Hans Wilz and Austin Baeth, a doctor, worked on the proposal. They say they aren't done.
“How do we light a fire underneath the Senate to have the same conversations over the summer,” Wilz said.
Baeth hopes Iowans bring it up.
“I think it’s really important that Iowans talk to their state senators and tell them that this needs to be a top priority,” he said.
Home building industry experts said it is becoming more common for new homes to have passive systems installed. There are also radon-resistant steps in place in some Iowa cities and counties.
vlog Investigates contacted 34 Central Iowa counties. A handful – Adair, Audubon, Guthrie, Jasper and Polk – have rules on mitigating or testing for radon in new homes.
Hubbell Realty’s Flint says installing the systems eases home buyers’ frustration and gives her peace of mind.
“I think it just helps me sleep easier at night,” she said.
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