To maintain our homes, we invest in all sorts of services: pest control, landscaping, general contracting, and electricians. But rarely does residential radon testing service make it onto that list, despite it being an issue you should be aware of.
Before you think that radon testing is a superfluous activity or an expense that you don’t need to indulge in, think again. In fact, about one in 15 U.S. homes is estimated to have radon levels at or above the EPA action level. This may not seem like a short term risk, but there multiple studies that estimate higher levels of cancer or adverse health effects for those that live in such environments.
In this brief article, we’ll touch on why it’s important to test your home for radon and what the risks might be if you don’t. In the short run, making sure that your home is free of radon or at the EPA acceptable level will take a load off your back. In the long run, you’ll be protecting the value of your home as well as your personal health by limiting exposure to radon in your home.
How Radon Gets In Your Home
Many people are unaware of how radon gets into a home and have never consulted a residential radon testing service to find out how. It’s a simple process, really, but one that could have detrimental effects on a property’s value and the health of those inside.
Radon is a radioactive gas that is completely natural, and formed by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil. In buildings, it seeps through the foundation cracks and other openings to enter the home. Without proper ventilation, it can reach dangerous levels that can eventually cause health problems in humans, pets, or other living things.
What Are Acceptable Levels Of Radon?
Some homes are built in areas where there is a significant amount of uranium present naturally in the Earth, and so it would be impractical to move the structure. Sometimes they can be reinforced with other materials, but the EPA simply recommends that there is no safe level of exposure to radon. Since radon is measured in terms of pCi/L (picocuries per liter), this is what a residential radon testing service will use.
Easy Fixes (No More Worrying)
The EPA recommends that you correct the radon problem in your home if it is above 4 pCi/L or more. Since radon often gets in through foundational cracks in the home or gets trapped by improper ventilation/venting, most of the solutions involve sealing cracks and installing special airflow systems. This allows the radon to dissipate out of the home. Only then will a residential radon testing service be able to measure your levels again and provide the “all clear” signal.
By hiring qualified residential radon testing services, you’ll not just be preserving the value of your home, but those that live inside it as well. At the end of the day, isn’t that the entire reason to own and have a home? Make sure that your home is checked for the proper radon levels by calling Affordable Radon Colorado today.
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