1. Odorless, Colorless and Potentially Dangerous
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from decaying uranium in nearly every type of soil, and is sometimes found in well water. Found in all 50 states in the U.S., radon gas is invisible, odorless and colorless. You need a radon detector to find it. You want to know if it's present in your home, because according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Lung Association (ALA), it's the second leading cause of lung cancer and the leading cause among non-smokers. It has been linked to other types of cancer as well.
2. Is Your Home Safe?
No type of building has been found to be universally free of radon gas. It builds up in your home, especially at the lower levels. If you live above the second floor of a building, exposure to higher levels of radon is less likely. The EPA makes an exception for residences above the second floor in their universal recommendation for home testing.
3. It's too Hard and Expensive to Test Your House
It's a myth that it's either difficult or expensive to test for radon gas in your home. You can buy an inexpensive short-term radon test from hardware stores and often obtain them free from state or county health departments. Contact the ALA or a state radon office for more information on buying a good test. Usually, you leave the test open in the lowest level of your home for about a week and then send the whole kit to the maker for analysis. For more accuracy, follow it with another short-term test within a month. You should use the tests during a cool time of year when your home is closed up.
4. Long-Term Tests are Also Available
Long-term tests are a good second tier test, if both your short-term tests have indicated radon levels over 4 pCi/L. An alpha-tracker test (ATD) can test for several months to a year. Just like the short-term tests, you can get these from hardware stores or the ALA and set them up yourself. If you're not comfortable doing that, you can hire a radon professional, but it isn't necessary. The long-term test gives you a clear picture of the radon levels in your home. Keep in mind that the EPA accepts the results from two short-term tests if the testing is for the purpose of buying or selling a house.
5. You can Lower Radon Levels
Don't panic if your radon level tests are over 4 pCi/L. There are ways to lower radon levels in your home. You can call your state agency or the ALA for assistance in finding a contractor to help. Usually you can reduce your radon level to 2 pCi/L, a safe level, for between $800 and $2,500. Your family's health is worth it.
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