Radon Testing

Radon is a radioactive gas which is hazardous to your health. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless. However it could be a problem in your home. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That’s because breathing air containing radon can cause lung cancer. The EPA states that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.  Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. If Radon gas is discovered in your home, it can be eliminated with the installation of venting pipes and fans.

Does the home you are living in or buying have Radon Gases?

Radon is a radioactive gas which is hazardous to your health. It is colorless,odorless and tasteless. However it could be a problem in your home. Radonis estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That’s becausebreathing air containing radon can cause lung cancer. The EPA states thatradon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your homehas high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. If Radon gasis discovered in your home, it can be eliminated with the installation of ventingpipes and fans.

1.   Radon is not a problem that is unique to any certain house.  It is not a problem that is unique to any certain neighborhood, or to any certain area.  It is not even a problem unique to any certain state or country.   Radon problems occur naturally all over the world.  Yes, some areas are more prone to have problems than others, but there are no guarantees that any certain area, certain neighborhood, or yes, even any certain lot is “Radon free”.  We actually live in a dynamic, ever changing, geologically active world.  There are no absolute guarantees that the house that tests at what we consider safe radon concentrations levels today, will stay that way forever.

2.   If a certain house has a pre-existing radon mitigation system, that means that somebody in the past found or recognized what may be a potential problem or danger, and took measures to correct it.  One could certainly say this means the previous owner cared about his family and his home.  A well cared for home is always an asset.  Safety and security is an asset.  The quiet hum of  the mitigation system is a reassuring reminder that you are doing all you can to protect your family from radon, just like that little flashing light shows your smoke detector is working.

3.   Radon bears no malice or prejudice.  Radon does not care who you are, or where you live.  It does not care what color you are, or how much money you have.  Radon does not care which homebuilder constructed your home, or what you paid for it.  We find the same ratio of radon problems in multi-million dollar homes as we do in middle class homes (maybe even more so).  If a house has radon problems it does not mean it is poorly constructed, or is located in a bad area.  Anybody can have radon problems, the question is…Who cares enough to take care of it ?

4.   Properly designed and installed radon mitigation systems are energy efficient, often requiring no more electricity than a standard light bulb to operate.  Radon mitigation systems do sometimes draw in small amounts of fresh outside air, which typically helps the overall level of the indoor air quality by diffusing built up undesirable indoor pollutants.  Radon systems can sometimes reduce moisture problems.  Radon mitigation systems are a true asset.

5.   If a radon problem was found during a home inspection for a real estate transaction, that’s actually a good thing.  It proves our system is working, and that your realtor cares.  Once a mitigation system is installed that’s one less thing you will have to worry about.  A properly functioning radon system requires little or no regular maintenance, and the “fix” is considered permanent as long as the system is functioning.  Periodic radon testing (every 2 years) is recommended by the EPA and most radon professionals, and is simple, inexpensive, and quite often something you can do yourself with readily available test kits.

6.  Solving radon problems is a group effort.  It is not “just some contractor down the road”.  There is a large and ever growing network of some of the best scientists, educators, and medical professionals in the world, all working to help identify radon problems, and to find solutions to help protect you and your family.  You are not alone, hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of radon mitigation systems have been successfully installed and are operating throughout the world.  If you are considering having a system installed….do it now, there has never been a better time than the present.  The system probably won’t cost any less tomorrow or next year.   Why gamble with your family’s health and safety ??

7.   A great deal of further information can be found at the U.S. EPA’s website: www.epa.gov/radon.