How Is a Radon Test Performed?
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Preparation
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Purchase a short term home testing kit from a local home improvement store. Close all windows and doors. Do not run anything that brings in air from the outside. Wait at least 12 hours. Do not test during unusually severe storms or during high winds.
Placing Test Kit
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Place the test kit on the lowest level of the house away from drafts, vents and exterior walls. The kit must be 20 inches above the floor and should be in a frequently used room.
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Getting Results
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After waiting the specified time, usually 24 hours, package the test kit in the provided envelope. Mail it to the testing facility.
Long Term Test
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If the short term test results come back with 4 pCi/L or higher level of radon, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends conducting a second short term test to ensure accuracy. A long term test, in which a meter is placed for at least 90 days in the lowest level of your house, can be conducted if the levels are borderline or under 4pCi/L and you want to know how the radon levels fluctuate through the year.
Next Step
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If your results of either two short term tests or the long term one show a 4 pCi/L or higher level of radon, call a specialist. Radon remediation units in 2009 average $1,500 depending on size of house and scope of problem.
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