What Every Buyer Should Know: Water & Radon Testing When Selling Your Maine Home

Water and radon testing are often overlooked when selling a home in Maine. These tests ensure the health and safety of buyers and sellers and also impact how quickly the home sells. These tests also determine the negotiation process and final price of the house. Here are a few things that every seller should consider while selling a home.

What is Water Testing?

Water testing is the process by which a water sample is analyzed to determine its quality, safety and chemical makeup. Water is checked for contaminants and pollutants to determine if it is suitable for drinking, cooking and other household tasks. Many homes in Maine rely on private wells and water testing helps check whether the well water is safe for drinking.

What is Radon Testing?

Radon is an invisible, odorless and radioactive gas that forms naturally in the ground and its long-term radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Maine is one of the US states with a high level of radon presence in both air and water. It seeps into homes through foundations and then dissolves into the well water. Radon testing is done to measure the levels of this gas in air and water. 

When is Water Testing Done?

Water and radon tests are typically done during:

• Real estate transactions.
• Annually for private well owners.
• After renovations and other changes. 
• After changes to the HVAC system.
• For commercial property acquisitions.
• As part of environmental due diligence. 
• For homes with wells and basements.

Why is Water Testing Important?

There is a set limit for radon presence in air and water in the US. Air radon levels are recommended to be below 4.0 pCi/L and water radon levels should be lower than 4,000 pCi/L. If radon is found beyond these levels in air or water, buyers often ask lenders to install a radon mitigation system. It is a simple process, typically costing $1,000 – $1,500 for air and a little more for water systems.

How is Water Testing Done?

Water and radon testing can be done through certified home inspectors and environmental labs. Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) or local testing professionals can be contacted for this. It’s best to contact only state-certified labs to ensure trusted results. 

Why Buyers Care?

Maine’s well water is contaminated due to the presence of radon, arsenic and uranium, which pose serious health risks, especially for children and pregnant women. When buying a home, buyers prefer to ensure the water is safe for drinking and everyday use. They ask the sellers for an inspection to check if there’s any radon. 

Buyers usually check for:

• Coliform 
• E.Coli bacteria
• Uranium
• Arsenic
• Lead and Copper
• Nitrates and Nitrites
• Radon (if there is a private well)
  

During home inspections, testing is typically done, but to avoid surprises, some sellers prefer to get the testing done once before listing. This helps increase buyer confidence and delays can also be avoided by providing a recent, certified water test upfront.

Why Testing Before Listing?

A responsible seller ensures water testing before listing. It helps in:

• Avoiding last-minute inspection surprises.
• Justify the selling price of the home.
• Strengthen your negotiating position.
• Speed up the deal closing process.
  

A failed water test can lead to price reductions, delayed closings, or canceled deals. Clean water with current test results assures the buyers that the home is safe, well-maintained and ready for move-in. It builds your credibility as a seller. 

Are you thinking of selling your home? Contact Air & Water Quality today for radon testing and cutting-edge water treatment systems. We can help install an advanced water softener in Maine, ensuring your water stays clean and safe.