More About Radon Gas |
 Radon
is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium
that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the
ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other
holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can
build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old
homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. The Surgeon General and the EPA recommend testing for radon and reducing radon in homes that have high levels.
You can not see radon, but it’s not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home. All you need to do is test for radon. The amount of radon in the air is measured in “picocuries per liter of air,” or “pCi/L.” The EPA recommends you fix your home if the radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher.
It only takes 48 hours for a radon test. We use a continuous monitor which registers a reading once each hour. This short term test shows if there are spikes or if the levels remain fairly constant. Charcoal canisters and other types of short term tests only show one result, the saturation of radon in the canister. The accuracy of both types is similar, but the charcoal canisters must be analyzed in a lab whereas the continuous monitor yields results right away.
Radon can’t be eliminated or prevented, just managed. Even if radon levels are found to be high, there are several methods that can be used to lower the radon levels in your home. A typical method is to capture the radon before it enters the house and vent it through the roof.
We’ve all heard of someone that got lung cancer that never smoked in their life. Radon could be responsible but never tested for it. Testing is easy and brings peace of mind whether you plan on staying in your home for the short term or the long haul.
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