Should You Have Radon Testing Done In Your Home?

As uranium in the earth’s crust decays, which is a natural process, radon is produced. This odorless, colorless gas rises up out of the ground. When it hits the air outside, it’s quickly diluted. If it gets into your house through small cracks in the foundation, however, it can build up to dangerous levels.

Inhaling the tiny particles of radon can introduce radioactive material into your lungs. Over time, this can cause lung cancer. In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. (Smoking is the first.) If you smoke and you live in a home with radon, you’re at increased risk. Having your home tested and, if necessary, treated, for radon gas is one way to decrease your overall risk of developing lung cancer.

During the testing period, you’ll need to stay away from the detector. You’ll also need to make a special effort to keep the windows and doors of your home closed while the test is being done. Children and pets should be kept out of the area. We will tell you all of the ways that you can ensure an accurate result.

Once the testing period is done, we will take back the detectors and let you know what the results are. Radon levels are tested in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. Any levels over 4 pCi/L need to be mitigated, as these are excessively high levels. Levels that are less than 4 pCi/L but over 2 pCi/L are moderately high andshould be mitigated to reduce your risks.

Today, there are several types of radon mitigation systems available. We’ll help you choose the one that is most appropriate for your home.

When buying a house, it’s important to have the home tested during your inspection period. If the tests come back with elevated radon levels, you can then choose not to buy the home, ask the sellers to pay for mitigation, or choose to have the mitigation done yourself after the closing.

If you are selling a home, it’s a good idea to get the testing done before putting the house on the market. Having a radon-free status can make your home more attractive to buyers. If you do find radon, putting in a mitigation system can give the buyers peace of mind.