In Adams County, radon and shifting soils are normal home questions

Two parts of buying a home in Adams County have nothing to do with the listing photos: the air in the basement and the ground under the foundation.

Radon is a natural gas that seeps up from soil and rock. You cannot see or smell it, and homes across the Front Range can have levels worth knowing about. The only way to find out is a test. Many home sales include a radon test, and if a level is high, systems exist to lower it. The point is to check, not to worry.

The ground matters too. Parts of the Front Range have soils that swell when wet and shrink when dry, or that settle over time. Over years this can stress slabs, foundations, and driveways. A buyer cannot eyeball this from the curb, which is why a home inspection and, where it fits, a soils report are worth the time.

Neither of these is a reason to avoid Adams County. They are simply normal Colorado homework. A home that has been tested for radon and looked at for soil movement is one you understand better.

For plain explanations of radon and Colorado soil hazards, start with the state geological survey and the state radon program.