Blog

What is radon? Radon is an odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium in the Earth. This radioactive gas rises to the surface and finds its way into our homes through cracks and small spaces in concrete floors, walls, drains, sump pumps, and water wells. Once inside our homes, radioactive particles from the radon gas can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe and powerful bursts of radiation can damage your lung tissue and cause cancer. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and is the cause for over 21,000 deaths in the US each year (more than drunk driving, drownings and fires). Radon is easy to remedy with the assistance of a professional, but you must know if you have a problem first. We recommend that you test your home with one of our simple test kits from Pro-Lab.

How do I test for radon? The short-term radon gas test kit is the quickest way to test for radon gas in your home. This test consists of two bottles that you simply open and place in the lowest regularly inhabited room of your home, this room is where the radon concentration should be the highest because it is where it first enters the home. Wait 96 hours before sealing them back up and sending them away to Pro-Lab for analysis. The short-term test is the best option for those that want quick results whether that be for a real estate transaction or some other reason. Because radon gas levels can vary in your home over short periods of time, a long-term radon test will always provide you with more accurate test results. The long-term radon gas test kit is similar, but requires it to remain in position for 3-12 months. Lab analysis is included with this test kit, so it is a nice value if you can wait for the longer, more accurate results to be acquired!

Mitigation: If elevated levels are found with either test, you should call a local radon mitigation company to test and install a radon removal system. Typical radon mitigation systems will vary in price from $500 to $2500 depending on the severity of the problem. These mitigation systems are designed to take the radon from beneath your home and move it above you home so that it can dissipate into the atmosphere. A small presence of radon is nothing to be alarmed about, but an elevated level is not healthy to live in. With the help of a simple do-it yourself test kit, you can acquire the information you need to make an informed decision about radon in your home. Rest easy and test your home for radon today!