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Radon tests measure radon levels in picocuries per liter of air. Whatever your test results, there are things you can do to fix your radon problem and reduce levels to an acceptable amount of picocuries.
What are the symptoms of radon in your home?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning. Persistent cough. Hoarseness. Wheezing. Shortness of breath. Coughing up blood. Chest pain. Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. Loss of appetite.
What can affect a radon test?
A short term test is good at measuring your current radon levels, but these levels can fluctuate due to a number of factors, including: Barometric pressure. Temperature/Season. House construction. Rain soaked ground. HVAC system. Improper placement of the device.
Is radon testing necessary?
When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. You Should Test for Radon. Testing is the only way to find out your home’s radon levels.
How do you pass a radon test?
Some of these methods for how to pass a radon test include: Open windows. By opening the windows, you increase fresh air circulation and reduce the concentration of radon in the home. Install basement vents. Use fans. Create exits. Mitigation.
How does radon testing work?
Charcoal tests absorb the radon in the air for a specified amount of time, and once in the lab, the radioactive particles emitted by the charcoal are counted or converted to light, giving a radon level readout. Alpha track tests use a plastic film that is etched by the alpha particles that strike it.
Where does radon come from in a house?
Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up.
Where is radon most commonly found?
Radon levels are usually higher in basements, cellars and living spaces in contact with the ground. However, considerable radon concentration can also be found above the ground floor. Radon concentrations vary considerably between adjacent buildings, as well as within a building from day to day and from hour to hour.
How quickly can radon affect you?
Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop.
Are home radon test kits accurate?
“Short-term radon test kits are not effective in measuring radon gas exposure: Findings show radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise up to 99 percent of the time.” ScienceDaily.
Will opening the basement windows before a radon test lower the results?
Unfortunately, no, opening the windows does not reduce radon. It is not a gas that will just permanently escape the home like smoke from something burning in the oven. The radon may seem to leave when the windows are open, but as soon as they are closed, it is back.
Are home radon detectors accurate?
The National Radon Safety Board evaluates radon measurement devices in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency. It requires that the individual relative error of each device be less than or equal to 20.0% and that the precision error of all devices be less than or equal to 20.0%.
How much is a radon inspection?
A certified radon mitigation contractor can test for radon (est. $100 – $200) depending on home construction and location. A DIY test kit, available from most home improvement stores, runs between $15 – $40, usually including lab analysis.
Should I worry about radon gas?
Should I Worry About Radon Gas? Exposure to radiation, including radon, affects people differently, so there is no such thing as a safe radon level, however the lower your exposure to radon the lower the risk of developing lung cancer as a result of prolonged exposure to radon.
What do radon levels mean?
When you hear the term radon levels, this refers to the amount of radon present in a given area (generally your home). These levels are measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). There is no safe level of radiation/radon exposure. It’s recommended to have the lowest levels possible to reduce the risks of lung cancer.
Does opening a window reduce radon?
Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Opening basement windows helps reduce negative air pressure, diluting radon with clean outdoor air.
Do people cheat on radon tests?
While it is understandable that most people selling their homes don’t want to pay for home repairs, radon gas isn’t something to mess around with. Tampering with a radon testing unit during a home sale is fraud, and can lead to lawsuits even years after you sell the home.
What time of year is radon highest?
The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.
Where do you place a radon detector?
Place a radon detector in the breathing zone, 2-6 feet above the floor, and away from drafts, exterior walls, sumps, drains, windows or doors. Radon may enter a building through cracks in the foundation or through sumps or drains and will usually be higher near these entry points.
