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What Is Radon

Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas that naturally occurs from the decay of uranium, thorium, and radium found in rocks, soil, and water. As it breaks down, radon can seep into homes and buildings through cracks in floors, walls, and foundations. Although radon is naturally occurring, it poses serious health risks when concentrated indoors and is found in 1 out of every 15 homes in America.

Radon Certification

Why Should You Test Your Home for Radon​

Testing for radon is the only way to know whether your home has elevated levels of this dangerous gas. ​

  1. Health Risks: Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, after smoking. Long-term exposure to high radon levels increases the risk of developing lung cancer, even for non-smokers.

  2. It’s Invisible: Because radon is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, you can’t detect it without testing. Even if you don’t notice any signs of radon, it could still be present and harmful.​

  3. Protect Your Family: Radon exposure can be particularly harmful to children and pregnant women. By testing your home, you can protect the health of your loved ones.

  4. It’s Preventable: If your home has high radon levels, there are effective solutions to reduce them. Radon mitigation systems can be installed to vent the gas outside and prevent it from accumulating indoors.

Certified Radon Tester

EPA Recommendations For Radon Levels

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a recommended action level for radon at 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. If your radon levels are at or above this threshold, the EPA suggests taking corrective action to reduce the radon concentration in your home. Long-term exposure to radon levels above this recommended level can significantly increase the risk of lung cancer.

 

Radon levels can fluctuate, so it’s important to conduct testing over a period of time to get an accurate reading.

Radon testing equotment

How To Determine If Your House Has Radon

Short-term radon tests typically last between 2 and 7 days and are ideal for quick results. These tests can be conducted using either a charcoal canister or an electronic radon detector. Short-term tests are usually placed in the lowest livable area of the home (such as a basement or ground-level room) where radon is most likely to enter.
•    Charcoal Canister: The canister absorbs radon over the test period. After the test is complete, the canister is sent to a lab for analysis.
•    Electret Ion Chamber: This device measures radon concentration by detecting electrical charges. It's reusable and can be a convenient option for multiple tests.

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