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The goal is to get a test sample that is accurate of what your house is like on a daily basis, not a sample that gives you the result you want to hear. Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes. Because radon comes naturally from the earth, people are always exposed to it. A radon mitigation system involves ventilating your home by using PVC piping to draw radon gas up from the soil and out of your house, according to the EPA. The most effective system is a vent pipe placed in the sump pit or a hole made under your concrete floor slab.
Active tests are the only ones that require electrical power. They use a continuous monitoring device to detect and record your radon levels the entire duration of the test. Contact your state radon office or one of EPA’s national radon proficiency programs to find a qualified professionalexternal iconto fix your home.
Why Test for Radon in the Winter?
Contact your state radon officefor specific information and resources in your area for testing and for a list of qualified radon testers. You can either hire a radon tester or purchase a radon test kit from a hardware store and do it yourself. However, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends hiring a qualified tester if you are buying or selling your home.
Exposure to the combination of radon gas and cigarette smoke creates a greater risk for lung cancer than either factor alone. Radon in the air is measured in "picocuries per liter of air" or pCi/L. Fortunately, radon does not generally present a health risk outdoors because it is diluted in the open air. Radon can, however, build up to dangerous levels inside a house, any other buildings, or caves. Radon gas has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer, second only to cigarette smoking.
Do’s and Don'ts of Testing Your Home for Radon
It comes from the break down of uranium in rocks and soil, and although it is a naturally occurring gas, exposure to large amounts of radon can lead to lung cancer. Suppose the professional radon mitigation company finds elevated levels of radon in your home. In that case, they can install a radon mitigation system that includes a radon fan and a vent pipe to pull the radon out of your home. You ignored failed tests from the past.This is just a bad idea all-around. Along with putting yourself at risk for lung cancer, ignoring bad test results means that you probably still have high radon levels in your home because you didn’t fix anything. With the cold weather, we spend the majority of our time indoors which, believe it or not, greatly increases our exposure to air pollutants.
Similar systems can also be installed in houses with crawl spaces. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors like whether your home has a basement. If your house has high radon levels, it’s important to act, but don’t overreact. Risks from radon are cumulative, which means serious effects result from exposure to high levels over a long period of time. It is prudent to test radon levels and decide on a course of action. But you don’t have to move out of your house or hire the first contractor who can fix the problem.
Make Your Floor More Breathable
After occupancy, all homes should be tested for radon, even those built with radon-resistant features. An active radon testing device is a meter that remains plugged in to provide continuous monitoring of your home’s radon levels. These need to be professionally installed and are useful for understanding how your radon levels change over time. They can be used for short-term or long-term testing, allowing your inspector to tailor the tests to your needs.
When someone breathes in radon gas, it goes into their lungs, exposing them to small amounts of radiation. This may damage the cells in the lining of the lungs and increase a person's risk of lung cancer. The risk is higher in those who have lived for many years in a radon-contaminated house.
For more information about these systems, you can also view theEPA’s helpful guide. Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally released in the air from rocks and soil. It can be found in the air outside and can get inside buildings and homes, where it can build up. Aiming for the lowest radon level you can achieve in your home will reduce your risk of harmful health effects, including lung cancer. Radon testing is the only way to know whether your home has high levels of radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer over time.
Most homes can be reduced to at or below 2.0 pCi/L, and it’s never too late to reduce this threat to your health. The EPA recommends all homes be tested, regardless of the age, foundation type, or geographical location. High radon levels have been found in every type of home, even those neighboring homes with low radon levels. Fortunately, testing is neither expensive nor time-consuming.
In the lab, the tracks are counted, giving the radon level. Depending on your test kit, you may keep the test in your home for at least 48 hours with a short-term test, and long-term radon tests can last for 90 days or more. Once the test has been in your home long enough, you will send the sample to the attached lab, and they will analyze it and then provide you with the results.
If you smoke and you know you’ve been exposed to high levels of radon, it’s very important to quit smoking. The combination of cigarette smoking and radon exposure raises the risk of lung cancer more than either smoking or radon exposure alone. The additional cost at the time of construction is minimal. When installed properly, the basic radon-resistant new construction techniques greatly reducethe lung cancer riskthat may occur from radon in the home.
Learn more about each testing option to determine which is best for your property. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Test your home again if you start living on a lower level . Once the test is completed, follow the directions on the test kit packaging to find out where to send the device to get the results. At the American Cancer Society, we’re on a mission to free the world from cancer.
However, sometimes, the seller will pay for this mitigation, although you may have to split the costs in other instances or pay for it entirely on your own. This is a common assumption since radon is most commonly found in basements. Radon gas can be found anywhere in any home, not just in the basement. If the levels come back at or above 4.0 pCi/L, you should run a secondary test to follow-up.
Here's what you need to know about radon testing and reducing radon levels in your home. It can be frustrating to find out your home has high radon levels. Fortunately, there is something you can do about your elevated levels. The experts at Pine Breeze Radon Mitigation can test for radon or install radon mitigation systems to reduce your radon exposure.
Look at your home’s flooring.Certain types of flooring are more prone to radon issues than others. Caulk foundation cracks, construction joints, and other openings with polyurethane caulk. Testing your home from radon is the only way to know whether your house is safe, according to Family Handyman magazine, a sister publication of The Healthy. Between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/LConsider installing a radon reduction system. As with most home repairs, the cost of reducing radon in your home can vary widely, depending on how your home is built and what kind of system you need. Place the test kit in the lowest level of the home where people spend time .
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