construction, Science

The Importance Of Testing Your Home For Radon Gas

Radon is considered a radioactive gas that is formed due to the natural decay of uranium in rock and soil. Ths gas can seep into your homes through the cracks in the walls and floors. Radon concentrations in indoor air could become dangerous to the health and well-being of your loved ones when there isn’t proper ventilation in the building. Since the gas is colorless and odorless, it is easy to ignore the condition. Regular exposure to radon can result in lung cancers among non-smokers. The gas is responsible for more than 21,000 deaths due to lung cancer in the United States each year. According to the latest statistics released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States, radon is second only to cigarettes in causing lung cancer. That is why testing your home for radon is very important. This article provides information on the importance of testing your home for radon.

radon testing and mitigation

The good news is that it is fairly easy to reduce the indoor radon concentration in your home. A certified professional will help the homeowner understand how radon is entering the building. Mostly, the gas enters through the ventilation system and cracks in the foundation. The solution to this problem is to seal the cracks in the foundation and install specialized venting in your home. The entire process can typically cost between $500 to $3,000 depending on the severity of the issue.

There are two important methods of testing indoor radon concentrations. One method is to buy a one-time test kit from the home depot in your area. The test kit will give you the necessary instructions on how to conduct the test and send the detector to a laboratory for analysis. A qualified laboratory will calculate the average radon concentration in your home. In fact, indoor radon levels can vary from hour to hour as well as seasonally. The concentrations are supposed to be high at night, during the winter months, and when the windows and doors are closed.

Radon testing and mitigation is a highly specialized trade. In fact, selecting the right radon specialist in the area can possibly be a life or death decision. Selecting the right contractor for the job is serious business. That is where your extensive research becomes so important. Here are some tips to consider when choosing the right contractor to test and mitigate radon in your home.

Since there isn’t a national license for the radon trade, you should consult your State’s Radon Office to find out whether there is any state-specific radon contractor license. In case your state doesn’t have such a requirement, you should always look for a professional who is certified by the National Radon Safety Board or the National Environmental Health Association. Radon is a risky business. Hence, the right contractor should be adequately insured to handle the process. The EPA recommends that the radon concentration be lowered below 4 picocuries per liter. A professional radon testing contractor should provide a wriiten guarantee to this effect. These are important things to consider when testing and mitigating your home for radon.

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