Two Hidden Home Hazards Worth Checking in the Wishek Area: Lead Paint and Radon

A home can look clean, comfortable, and well cared for while still having hazards you cannot easily see. Around Wishek and surrounding North Dakota communities, two concerns deserve particular attention: lead-based paint in older homes and radon in homes of any age.

The good news is that you can take practical steps to identify both hazards and protect your family.

Lead paint: Pay attention to a home’s age

Homes built before 1978 are more likely to contain lead-based paint. Paint that is intact and properly maintained generally poses less risk. Trouble can develop when paint chips or peels, when windows and doors rub against painted surfaces, or when remodeling creates lead-contaminated dust. Young children are especially vulnerable because they often put their hands and toys in their mouths.

If you live in an older home, check painted windows, doors, trim, stairs, and porches for wear. Clean dust from floors and window sills with damp methods, and keep children away from peeling paint. Before sanding, scraping, replacing windows, or starting another project that disturbs paint, ask about lead testing and hire a lead-safe certified contractor when appropriate. If you are concerned that a child has been exposed, talk with their healthcare provider about a blood lead test.

For buyers, a fresh coat of paint does not tell you what may be underneath. In most sales of homes built before 1978, federal rules require disclosure of known lead-based paint information, delivery of the EPA lead pamphlet, and an opportunity for a lead inspection. A disclosure is useful, but “no known lead paint” does not mean the home has been tested or found lead-free.

Radon: Test the home, regardless of its age

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter a home from the ground. You cannot see or smell it, and long-term exposure increases the risk of lung cancer. It can accumulate in a basement or other lower living area through openings around the foundation, plumbing, or sump.

This matters here in North Dakota. The EPA places every North Dakota county, including McIntosh County, in Zone 1, its category with the highest potential for elevated radon. That designation describes regional potential; it cannot tell you the level in a particular house. Even neighboring homes can have different results. Testing is the only way to know your home’s radon level.

You can purchase a radon test kit at a hardware store or online and follow its placement and mailing instructions carefully. You can also arrange a professional test, particularly during a home purchase. If the result is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, the EPA recommends fixing the home. It also recommends considering action for results between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Radon reduction systems can lower elevated levels; test again after mitigation to confirm the result.

A simple family safety checklist

• Know the year your home was built. Give painted surfaces extra attention if it predates 1978.

• Watch for peeling paint and renovation dust. Keep children away from damaged painted areas and use qualified help for projects that may disturb lead paint.

• Test your home for radon. Include this step even if the house is newer, looks sound, or has never had a reported problem.

• Keep your results and records. Save lead inspections, radon test results, and documentation of any repairs or mitigation for your own reference and a future sale.

A finding of lead-based paint or elevated radon does not have to end your plans for a home. Knowing what is present lets you address it responsibly and make informed decisions for your family.

If you are buying or selling an older home in the Wishek area, Northern Elements Real Estate can help you understand the disclosure steps and make room in your transaction plans for appropriate inspections.

For testing instructions and health guidance, visit the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality’s radon page and the EPA’s lead safety resources.