One of the biggest hidden risks for homeowners in the U.S. is radon. Radon is an odorless and colorless gas that can cause serious health problems in people who have prolonged exposure. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and causes an estimated 20,000 deaths a year. To ensure you keep your home and family safe, you need to have a radon testing company test your home.
It’s estimated that about 20% of homes in the U.S. have a radon level that is above 4 pCi/L, which is the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended action level for radon exposure. In parts of the country, especially the Midwest, the number is as high as one in three. That presents a serious health threat to the people living in those homes.
Because radon gas is odorless and colorless, and because it causes symptoms only after years of exposure, the best and only way to find out if you have a radon problem is to have a radon testing company measure levels in your home.
There are many companies that specialize in radon testing, and the tests also are done by many home inspection companies. A test usually costs a few hundred dollars and involves having a testing device placed on the lowest floor of your home, usually for at least 24 hours. During the test, you have to keep all your windows closed and try to open exterior doors as little as possible. You should get the results of your test back within a few days.
If your radon gas testing shows that you have levels higher than what’s recommended by the EPA, you should give serious consideration to having an active radon mitigation system installed. An active radon mitigation or radon abatement system involves a small motor and PVC pipe system that helps to suck air tainted with radon out of your home and vent it outside above your roof line. A certified radon abatement contractor can do the work for you, and such a system can cost anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars. Passive radon mitigation systems also are a cheaper option, but they don’t work nearly as well, and they usually are something that is installed when the house is built rather than after the fact.
Hiring a radon testing company is a good move to make to ensure that your house is radon-free and that your family is protected from the invisible, insidious gas.