Radon is an invisible and odorless gas that can cause lung cancer. It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking. Most people aren’t aware of how many homes have high levels of radon and may be putting themselves and their families at risk. That’s why it’s important to test your home for radon and take action if the levels are high. Here’s what you need to know about radon testing and how to reduce the risk of exposure.
What are the Risks of Radon?
Radon is the number two cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking. The time between exposure and health problems can be two to twenty years, so your home may have high levels of radon even if you’ve never smoked or been directly exposed.
Testing for Radon
It’s important to test your home for radon, especially if you’ve never done so before. You can buy a home testing kit at most hardware stores, or you can have a professional test your home. There are three main types of radon testing.
- Short-term: This type of test measures the amount of radon in the air over two to seven days. It’s a good way to know whether or not you have a radon problem. However, it’s not considered very reliable.
- Long-term: This test runs for at least ninety days, and it measures the average level of radon over that period. It’s considered a reliable measurement of whether your home has high levels of radon.
- Continuous: This type of testing is done using a detector placed in your home. It measures the average amount of radon over months to years. This option provides the most accurate measurement of whether or not you have high radon levels.
If You Have High Levels of Radon in Your Home
If you test your home for radon and find that it has high levels, i.e., 4.0 pCi/L or higher, you should take action to reduce the risk of exposure. There are a few things you can do to reduce the amount of radon in your home.
- Fixing cracks and holes in the foundation: This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the amount of radon in your home.
- Installing a radon mitigation system: A radon mitigation system is a device that pulls radon out of the air and vents it outside your house. This is considered an effective solution.
A home’s radon level is a serious issue that many families can put themselves at risk of by not testing their home. By knowing the facts about radon and taking action, you can help to prevent any health problems that may arise in the future. Call us today to set up your residential radon test or learn more about how our radon professionals can help you install a radon mitigation system.
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