Why You Need to Have Your Home Tested for Radon

Getting your home tested for radon is the only way to know for sure that you and your family are safe from this deadly gas. January is National Radon Action Month, so read on to learn more about how to protect your family from radon.

Radon is Dangerous

Radon is an odorless, colorless, and radioactive gas. It forms when radioactive metals like uranium and thorium break down in soil, rocks, and groundwater. Outdoors, radon harmlessly dissipates into the atmosphere.

Radon gas becomes dangerous when it becomes trapped inside of your home and accumulates. Being exposed to elevated levels of radon over a long period of time can result in lung cancer. The EPA reports that almost 21,000 people in the United States die from lung cancer each year as a direct result of radon exposure.

How Does Radon Get Trapped in a Home?

Radon rises from the soil beneath your home and enters through cracks, gaps, and openings in the foundation. It doesn’t matter whether your home is old or new; any type of home at any age can have elevated radon levels. In fact, radon tends to accumulate more often in newer homes because they are well-sealed and more energy efficient.

Having your home tested for radon is the only method for determining whether your home has elevated levels of radon.

How Can You Get Your Home Tested for Radon?

While there are DIY test kits available, this is not a reliable way to test for radon. It’s easy to make a mistake during the testing process when you’re not an expert. It’s best to hire a home inspector who specializes in radon testing to come in and conduct the test. He or she will advise you on whether you need to take action once you receive the test results.

How to Mitigate Radon Levels in Your Home

You should never try to reduce high levels of radon gas in a DIY manner. It’s critical that a radon mitigation professional completes the work to remove this deadly gas from your home. A professional will fix foundation and wall cracks and gaps, and also install a radon mitigation system so that the radon is properly suctioned and directed away from the house.

If you’ve not had your home tested for radon, call a professional today to make sure your family is safe from this dangerous gas.

Exceptional Engineering Home Inspections provides radon testing to Maricopa County in Arizona. Contact us to book your radon test.