Tag: radon

The problem with Radon lies when a building with poor ventilation traps this natural gas.  The gas then builds up and forms carcinogens that can cause lung problems up to and including lung cancer.  The good news is that you can track the amount of Radon in your home with the use of Radon inspectors.

There are several different types of Radon inspectors that can be used in the home.  There are radon inspector kits that you can use for a few days or for a year to monitor the Radon levels in your home.  Many of the Radon inspectors are of the do it yourself type, but there is always the option of calling in a professional Radon inspector as well if you wish. 

When you are using the Radon inspector kits you want to place the inspector either in the basement or the lowest level of living space.  Ideally you want the results of your Radon inspector to be lower than 4 pc/l.  If you have a Radon inspector with a reading from 4pc/l to 10pc/l you may want to repeat the test just to make sure that environmental factors did not affect Radon levels.

If you have a poor reading from the Radon inspector tests you have run then you should call in a professional to increase the ventilation in your home and reduce the levels of Radon.  You want to make sure that your house is not the cause of lung disease and sickness for your family.
Running a Radon inspector test once a year will help keep everyone in your home healthier.

Radon is found naturally in the world, particularly in hot springs or areas where there are granite deposits in the earth.  Radon is continually evaporating in the air all over the world.

Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that is lethal.  However, what makes radon extremely dangerous is the fact that it is invisible.  You can’t see, smell, or even taste radon gas.  Without using a radon detector, you have no idea that it is present in your home. Radon is so dangerous that the Environmental Protection Agency has stated that radon is responsible for thousands of death each year.   Radon is the second highest factor that contributes to lung cancer this makes it a carcinogenic, or cancer causing agent.  As a natural gas, radon is found in outside soil, however when it is present in the home, people will continuously breathe in the dangerous gas without even realizing it.  The only way to find out if radon is in your home is to use a radon detector.

Using a radon detector kit is simple.  You can purchase them inexpensively and use them by following the instructions that are included with the kit.  Once you perform the test, you then send in the results back to the manufacturer and they will perform the analysis.
Testing for radon is one of the smartest things that a person can do to ensure that their home is safe for themselves and their children.

A radon detector kit can be used anywhere, not only in a home but in a place of business as well.  Testing for radon should be performed at least yearly.  If the radon detector analysis comes back positive, you will be able to easily remove the radon from your home.  Using a radon kit is very simple and it is the only way to determine if radon is present in your home or business.  No matter where you live, you should always check for radon in your home, since radon is abundant in all states.  Radon is dangerous and lethal, however it is preventable, as long as you detect it early.

One of the several silent killers that can be lurking within a home is radon gas, and it is advisable that every residence be tested periodically with proper radon detection equipment, to ensure that it is safe. Older homes are especially vulnerable to the problem, because radon enters the house through basement walls and floors that are no longer properly sealed. When concentrations of the radioactive gas reach dangerous levels, anyone who is exposed to it has a higher chance of developing lung cancer.

Fortunately, there are a variety of radon detection systems available to the homeowner today. In order to determine whether or not there is a radon in the home, there are several short-term tests on the market, which are relatively inexpensive. These tests will alert a person to the presence of the gas, and give an initial estimate of how much is present in the home.

Because the amount of radon gas will vary over a span of time, the next step in the radon detection process would be to purchase one of the long-term tests. These devices will remain in a home over a period of thirty to ninety days, and when the time has lapsed, a more accurate estimate of the radon level will be achieved. If the concentration within the building is abnormally high, it will then be time to hire a professional to remedy the problem.

When the professional arrives at the home, he or she will likely perform additional radon detection tests, in order to determine the best solution for the problem. Then one of many radon mitigation systems will be installed that will reduce the concentration of the gas to an acceptable level, or eliminate it completely.

Once the job is done, it is a good idea to run a follow-up radon detection test to ensure that the desired results were obtained. This will ensure that the air is safe to breathe for the family that is living in the home.

Radon is a chemical element that is formed by the decay of radium.  Although the half-life of the most stable form of radon is only 3.8 days, (meaning that it naturally breaks down very quickly) radon is a very harmful gas.  Radon gas is created by granite and shale in areas all around the world.  As the radon gas seeps out of the ground, it can accumulate in poorly ventilated basements.  Radon gas is much heavier than other components of the atmosphere so can reach dangerous levels in basements. 

When testing for radon, the best method is to do long term testing.  Testing is accomplished by hanging a detector in your basement for a week.  You then send the detector off to a laboratory to analyze the results.  If they return with a positive result you then should purchase a longer term test to confirm the results.  Radon levels can fluctuate wildly so by having a longer scale test you’ll be able to confirm the presence of the radon and at what levels. 

There are many opinions on what the acceptable level of radon is in your home.  The European Union recommends that action should be taken in old house with a reading of over 11 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) and over 5 pCi/L for new houses while Canada recommends action with a reading of over 5 pCi/L.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency has some of the strictest guidelines and strongly recommends action with a radon detection reading of over 4 pCi/L and encouraging action at 2 pCi/L.  Major health studies have shown that concentrations of over 4 pCi/L create an increased risk of lung cancer.

The Surgeon General of the United States has said that over 20,000 deaths a year are caused by radon poisoning.  Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, only behind smoking.  In addition to lung cancer, radon has been suspected of causing other, non-cancer illnesses such as multiple sclerosis however studies have not yet shown a definite relationship.  Radon detection is a relatively cheap process and can help keep you and your family healthy.

Radon gas is not to be confused with the type of gas that may fuel your stove or home heating system. Gas stoves and heat rely on your utility company, which deliberately puts that sulfurous smell into your gas pipes.  This smell enables you to tell if you have a gas leak, which enables you to evacuate your house (since gas leaks can cause explosions) and call the utility company immediately.  Radon, on the other hand, can kill you silently. You may not even be aware of exposure until years later, when the damage finally becomes evident.  It builds up over time without causing immediately noticeable symptoms.

Radon gas is a naturally occurring, odorless gas.  Radon exposure can lead to lung cancer (and is the leading contributor to lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers) but the only way to tell if it’s present is with a radon gas detector.  Radon is present in all parts of the country, often at harmless levels, but there’s no way to tell for sure without testing.  Even houses near each other may have very different radon levels.  If a radon gas detector finds that your house has a problem you can have a radon mitigation system installed (this usually involves a pipe that vents from your foundation to the outside with a  fan, designed to pull radon into the surrounding air rather than build up in your home).

Radon gas detectors are easy to acquire and use. It’s important to follow the instructions carefully.  Generally, you’ll have to send the radon gas detector kit back to a lab for a reading by a professional, and the results are mailed back to you.  The entire process can take a few weeks, so be sure to allow for this if you are buying or selling a home.

Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that naturally occurs in the soil.  This gas is extremely dangerous when humans breathe it in at high levels.  Since radon is so hard to detect, many people can live for years in a home with high radon levels and not even know it.   Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking cigarettes.  If you have an older home, or a home with a basement, it is extremely important that you get a radon test so you can be aware of the current levels in your home.  In most cases, radon seeps up through cracks in the flooring of a home’s foundation but those with well water should also be aware of its presence in the drinking water as well.  A simple radon test can help you to determine how much radon is in your home’s environment, and can help you decide what steps to take next.

A radon test is generally inexpensive and fairly easy to conduct.  You can purchase an in home testing kit from many retailers and also via mail order.  The test usually only takes a few minutes, and should not cost a whole lot.  It’s worth it for the peace of mind you’ll receive knowing that radon levels you have in your home.  If you feel a little weary of conducting your own radon test, you can always hire a trained professional to do the job for you.  The EPA has listings of qualified contractors, as well as your local state office.  A short term radon test should be able to tell you the general level of radon present.  If you feel uncomfortable with the results, then a long term test lasting over 90 days should be conducted, just so you can be absolutely certain what the radon levels are in your home. 

One of the more recently discovered threats to human health in the home is radon gas, but, fortunately, there are many different radon tests on the market today. Radon is a heavy gas that released during the decay process of the element Radium. As its name suggests, it is substance that has very high levels of radioactivity. High levels of the substance in a home can cause lung cancer, because every time the gas is taken into the lungs, the lungs are bombarded with radioactive energy. Soon, malignant tumors will begin to form within the lungs.

When a homeowner desires to test his or her home for radon, there are several options available. Short-term radon tests can be used to get a general estimate of the amount of gas in the home. The results, however, are not very accurate, because the quantity of the substance in a home tends to very greatly over time. A long-term, 90-day, test is far more accurate, and should be the second step in the testing process. The third available option is to hire a professional contractor to perform the radon tests. With more expensive and accurate equipment, this is probably the best option to determine the amount of radon that is in the home.

If the radon tests show that there are unacceptable levels of radon in the home, then the next step is to fix the problem. Sometimes the solution can be as simple as installing a vent fan and some ductwork. If that does not lower the levels, however, it may be time to call a professional in to do the work. The contractor will start by sealing any cracks in the foundation, and then a system will be installed underneath the home that will collect the gas and vent it outside. After the repairs are complete, it is a good idea to do a few more radon tests to ensure that the house is now safe.

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that has very serious consequences to humans if it is breathed in at high levels and for an extended period of time.  In fact, scientists say that radon is the second cause of lung cancer behind smoking.  Since radon is hard to detect, it’s very important that everyone do radon testing on their own homes to be sure of its presence.  There are two basic ways to perform radon testing: short term and long term.  The short term method involved purchasing a simple, at home testing kit that can be found at many retailers nationwide, or online.  The test consists of a canister that needs to be placed near the foundation of the home, since radon is found in the soil.  The canister then sits for anywhere from two to 90 days, and needs to be placed in the lowest level in the home.  If you have a basement, this is an ideal location.  Be sure to put the radon testing device in an area that can be sealed by closing doors and windows in order to get the most accurate results.

Long term radon testing is much more involved and usually requires the assistance of a professional.  This test involves using the radon testing kit,  but it must be left in place for more than 90 days.  The testing itself is simple, but it’s the final results that may need to be analyzed by someone who is familiar with radon and how it operates.  Whether you choose a short or long term radon testing method, it’s important to know about the potential presence of this harmful gas in your home so you can protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property.  By knowing where the radon is and whether or not the levels are harmful, you can have peace of mind and know that you’re protected from this silent killer.

Radon gas can not only cause lethal lung cancer, but can also create headaches for homeowners when they attempt to sell a house. Or, if  you’re buying the home of your dreams, you might discover that everything’s perfect…except that the house comes laden with unsafe levels of radon gas.

However, when it comes to radon gas mitigation, knowledge is power. Once you know about the presence of radon gas (through a radon test kit, available at a discount from the National Safety Council) it’s possible to alleviate the problem without exorbitant expense or trouble.  Most radon gas mitigation for preexisting homes costs less than $3000 (sometimes much less, depending on the home).  This may seem like a lot of money, but it’s cheaper than getting lung cancer down the road, or losing a home sale because a buyer found out about the radon gas problem.   To find out more about radon gas mitigation, or to find a radon gas mitigation specialist in your area, you can talk to your state radon office. These offices will also provide maps of risk in your county or metro area, but these risk maps are just estimates; radon levels vary from home to home even on the same street.

Once you have the facts, you can decide what to do. Radon mitigation is a necessary step in any home  that has elevated radon levels; it usually involves a venting system with a fan that essentially sucks the radon-filled air out from your basement or from below your foundation and pushes it into the surrounding air.   A certain amount of radon occurs in air naturally, and the radon gas mitigation system dissipates the radon in your house into the outside world, where it escapes instead of building up.  Don’t let your home become a haven for radon; get  your home tested and engage a radon gas mitigation service if necessary.