Are You Worried about Radon in Your Home?

Maybe it's time to rule out any doubts and get your home tested.

Radon is an invisible gas that rises from the soil as uranium decays. Radon can enter a home through any cracks in concrete walls and floors, basement drains, sump pump basins, openings around plumbing and electric fixtures and through the floor of a vented crawl space. Once confined inside a building, Radon concentration can quickly reach dangerous levels and become a serious health hazard. Exposure to high levels of radon gas, leads to inhaling a large amount of radioactive particles that are known to stick to the lungs, causing cellular decay and cancer.

Radon poisoning is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, linked to over 20,000 deaths per year. Radon gas kills more then drunk driving! 

What makes Radon particularly dangerous is that it is odorless and its presence in a home can remain undetected for years. Not every person affected exhibits early signs of radon poisoning, so the problem is often undiscovered until it is too late.

That is why every home in America should be tested for Radon, regardless of its location. Since radon concentration levels vary according to each home’s specific size and features, a homeowner should never assume his or her home is safe, just because their neighbor’s tests showed low levels.

According to Robert Brock, from Air & Moisture Testing, a Radon Testing and Mitigation company serving Simpsonville and surrounding areas, you can test for radon at any time, but there are factors that can affect the readings.  Some of these factors include, but are not limited to: heating systems, low-pressure weather systems, the seasons, geology, and rain. Any of these may cause fluctuations in the data gathered during the test. 

For more accurate readings, it is better to have your home professionally tested rather than using a Free DIY kit. Experienced professionals with professional equipment can compensate for these variables and produce more accurate results. Isn’t the health and safety of your family worth the expense?

To learn more about Radon, and associated health risks, visit the EPA radon website.