Home inspector radon testing in home sales practice questions

1. A buyer says nobody in the seller's family has had health problems and the house "seems fine," so a radon test looks unnecessary. What does the Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide say?

• A. A home inspector's visual inspection can show whether radon is a problem
• B. Testing is needed only where neighbors found high levels
• C. Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon
• D. Testing is needed only if someone in the home has symptoms

2. A buyer learns that the house next door tested low for radon. What does EPA's Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide say about using that result?

• A. Do not rely on it to estimate the radon level in the home being bought
• B. It may replace a test if it is less than two years old
• C. It is reliable because homes next to each other have the same radon level
• D. It may be used if the state radon office approves it

3. A buyer who smokes asks whether radon matters for him, since he "already has a risk." What does EPA's Health Risk of Radon page say?

• A. Radon causes lung cancer only in people who have never smoked
• B. A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer
• C. Smoking cancels out the effect of radon exposure
• D. Radon matters only for children under 6

4. When does EPA recommend that a seller test the home for radon?

• A. Only after a buyer asks for a test
• B. Only if the state requires radon disclosure
• C. After the sale closes
• D. Before putting the home on the market

5. A seller already tested the home for radon. What does the guide tell the seller to do with that test?

• A. Send the results to EPA for approval
• B. Review the Radon Testing Checklist to make sure the test was done correctly and, if so, provide the results to the buyer
• C. Keep the results private unless the buyer files a complaint
• D. Replace it with a long-term test before listing

6. The seller's radon test was taken on the first floor. The buyer plans to use the basement regularly. What does the guide say the buyer may do?

• A. Ask for a new test
• B. Nothing, because a first-floor result covers the whole house
• C. Use the seller's result only if it is under 2 pCi/L
• D. Require EPA to inspect the basement

7. Before accepting the seller's radon test, which of these does the guide say the buyer should determine?

• A. The brand of the seller's heating system
• B. How much the seller paid for the test
• C. Who conducted the previous test: the homeowner, a radon professional, or some other person
• D. Whether the seller has ever smoked

8. The home has not been tested. Which contract provision does the guide suggest the buyer consider?

• A. A promise that the radon level is below 2 pCi/L
• B. A waiver of any radon testing
• C. A clause that EPA will conduct the test
• D. How the seller and the buyer will share the test results and test costs (if necessary)

9. A buyer decides to use a qualified radon tester. Whom does the guide tell the buyer to contact for a copy of an approved list of radon testing companies?

• A. The seller's real estate agent
• B. The local building department
• C. The EPA regional office
• D. The state radon office

10. The power to a vacant house for sale will be shut off during the week of the radon test. Which device does the Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide list among the radon testing devices that do not need power to function?

• A. A continuous radon monitor
• B. A charcoal canister
• C. A continuous working level monitor
• D. Any active radon testing device

11. A seller's agent wants a radon result before an open house and suggests running a 24-hour test. What does the Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide say about test length?

• A. All radon tests should be taken for a minimum of 48 hours, whether you test yourself or hire a qualified tester
• B. A 24-hour test is acceptable when a qualified tester runs it
• C. Any test length is acceptable as long as closed-house conditions are kept
• D. The minimum length applies only to long-term tests

12. Which of these is one of the three short-term testing options the Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide gives for real estate transactions?

• A. Take one short-term test on each floor, in different weeks
• B. Take one short-term test, then a second one the following season in another room
• C. Take two short-term tests at the same time in the same location
• D. Take one short-term test and send the device to EPA for analysis

13. A house has an unfinished basement that the buyer plans to use as an exercise room, plus a crawl space under an addition. Where does the Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide say to conduct the radon test?

• A. In the basement area the buyer plans to use as an exercise room
• B. In the crawl space under the addition
• C. In the basement stairway
• D. In the basement hallway

14. A buyer has hired a qualified radon tester. The seller asks that the device go in the upstairs guest room, where the seller spends the most time. What does the Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide say about who identifies the test location?

• A. The seller, based on the rooms the seller uses most
• B. The listing agent, based on where the house shows best
• C. The laboratory that will analyze the device
• D. The qualified testing professional, who should then inform the client (buyer)

15. During a 3-day short-term radon test, the seller plans to open the windows on the second afternoon to air out the house. What does the Radon Testing Checklist say?

• A. Windows may be opened once the first 24 hours of the test have passed
• B. Maintain closed-house conditions for at least 12 hours before the beginning of the test and during the entire test period
• C. Windows may be opened during the day if they are closed at night
• D. Closed-house conditions matter only for tests longer than one week

16. Under closed-house conditions as the guide defines them, which of these may run during the test?

• A. A window fan that brings in outside air
• B. A whole-house fan that brings in air from outside
• C. Small exhaust fans operating for only short periods of time
• D. Any fan, as long as the windows stay closed

17. The home has an active radon-reduction system, and its vent fan is not operating properly. What does the checklist say to do?

• A. Switch the system off and test without it
• B. Test first, then repair the fan if the result is high
• C. Skip the test because the system is installed
• D. Have it (or ask to have it) repaired and then test

18. In states that don't regulate radon services, what does the guide suggest asking a contractor?

• A. Whether they hold a professional proficiency or certification credential
• B. Whether they will guarantee a result below 4 pCi/L
• C. Whether they are related to the seller
• D. Whether they hold a real estate license

19. A buyer's radon test result is 3 pCi/L. The seller says that because it is under 4 pCi/L there is nothing more to think about. What does the Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide say?

• A. Radon below 4 pCi/L poses no risk, so no further thought is needed
• B. The seller must report the result to EPA before closing
• C. A radon level below 4 pCi/L still poses a risk; consider fixing when the radon level is between 2 and 4 pCi/L
• D. Fixing is possible only in homes at 4 pCi/L or more

20. In A Citizen's Guide to Radon, what should you do if your first short-term test result is more than twice EPA's 4 pCi/L action level?

• A. Wait until the next season and test again
• B. Take a second short-term test immediately
• C. Move the test kit to an upper floor
• D. Accept the result without a follow-up test