Checking Your Home for Radon

Before checking your home for radon levels, you have to learn about radon first and its effect on human beings. What is radon in the first place? Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause cancer. In fact, it has been identified as the second major cause of lung cancer in the US. This is invisible to the naked eye and it is odorless too, making it difficult to detect.

What are the sources of radon?

Our planet is filled of radioactive elements. Most of them are buried under the Earth's surface. Once these elements decay, they produce Radon. One of the richest radioactive elements in the planet is Uranium, which can last as long as the life of our planet. As this decay, it produces Radon, thus it will always be present. Although it is normally found underneath the Earth's surface, it can find its way to your home and expose you to dangerous risks.

How to check your home for Radon?

This makes it essential that you check your home. But how are you going to do that? To check your home properly, you need to gather as much information you can. The US Environmental Protection Agency can present you with the essential information about this. You can also check out the web site of the Radon Information Center.

You can check the level of radon in your house using a kit available in the market. The kit comes with instructions on how to use it. Make sure that you use a kit that passes the guidelines set by the EPA to ensure that it will deliver reliable results. After using the kit, you will be asked to seal it. Follow the directions carefully as instructed in the kit. You will need to send it to the designated laboratory to be analyzed. Kits normally comes with pre-address envelops for the lab. There are kits that are intended for long-term use. You can invest in them if you live in an area known for high levels of radon.

You can also high a professional to check your home. These professionals are trained to make sure that your home is properly examined. Before you hire one, check their portfolio first. How long have they been testing homes and what do their clients say about them.

Reducing Radon levels:

Discovering radon in your home puts you at risk. This is why you always have to exert efforts to reduce that. No particular level of radon has been identified as safe. However, reducing its level will surely reduce the risks as well.

There are various known ways to reduce radon. You can use a vent pipe system and fan or a soil suction system. However, you have to keep in mind that the method you will use will depend on the kind of house you have as well as other relevant factors. You can test your home using short-term radon kits. If it reports a high radon level, then run the test again or use a long-term kit. However, the best thing you can do is to look for a Certified Radon mitigation contractor.

Radon is a serious threat to your health. This is why you have to check your home regularly for radon levels and apply ways to reduce it.

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