PFT #52 - Personal Finance Tip of the Week: Radon; The Silent Killer

<p>This week's episode is <span style="font-weight: 400;">about the silent killer . . . Radon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Radon is a silent killer because it’s an odorless gas that we breathe in normally; and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition, 21,000 deaths occur yearly.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So what is radon you may ask? Let’s do a quick assessment: It is the main source of our exposure to all radiation. The rocks and soil beneath our homes contain traces of uranium and over time, it breaks down creating radioactive decay which emits radioactive radiation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So this is not a good thing; however, it can be managed safely. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For starters, you can purchase a home test kit from Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes and the like, in the $15-$20 range. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now if you do have high levels of radon, it goes without saying that you should get a professional to fix the problem. From my research it costs an average of</span> $1,200 <span style="font-weight: 400;">with a range from $800 to $1,500.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once the remediation is complete, you may also monitor it with a 24/7 device. I happen   to own a Wave Radon detector through a company called Airthings and this is precisely how I realized that I had a problem.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So now I am in the process of putting a ventilation system into my home for $1,000.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So now that we have that covered, this is a reminder to keep an eye on hidden financial tips that people often overlook.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first one is the rainy day fund comes into play, as this money is set aside for unforeseen events. If you take my situation, the radon kit, the Wave monitor and the professional service will cost me $