How to Know Your Home Is at Risk for Radon Gas?
Radon is a potentially harmful gas created by the natural decomposition of uranium in soil. Because they are closest to the soil, basements and first floors often have the highest radon levels in a house. If inhaled at high levels, radon can cause lung cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, radon causes more than 15,000 deaths from lung cancer each year. Radon levels can be high in both old and new houses. Because radon is invisible and odorless, the only way to know if your home has elevated radon levels is to conduct tests using radon detectors. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Check your home for holes in floors or walls or cracks in the foundation. Radon most commonly seeps into homes through these holes. Don't rely on a neighbor's radon test result. Because of differences in soil composition and the different number of entry points for radon in each house, two houses next to each other can have very different levels of indoor radon.
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Navigate to the Environmental Protection Agency's website. Select your state from the drop-down menu and scroll down to the color-coded county-by-county map. If your county is one of those in the "Highest Potential" category, your home may be at risk for elevated levels of radon gas.
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Purchase a basic short-term radon test kit, available at many hardware stores. Follow the instructions for your specific test. Most tests require you to close all windows and turn off fans and air conditioners for the duration of the test, which can range from two to 90 days depending on the device.
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Seal the device in its packaging and mail it to a lab for analysis after the test is complete. Labs usually send results to customers within a few weeks. Radon levels are measured in Pico curies per liter of air. If your home tests at four pCi/L or higher, the EPA recommends following up with a long-term test, which is usually more accurate.
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Seal foundation cracks in your home if the long-term test number reveals elevated radon levels. The EPA also suggests installing a vent system to pull radon from the soil and release it into the air instead of inside your house, or hiring a contractor to reduce your indoor radon level.
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Tips & Warnings
If you prefer to hire a professional to conduct your radon test, the National Radon Safety Board offers a certification process for radon professionals. The organization's website allows you to search for a professional by zip code.
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