Something dangerous may be lurking in your home, but you can’t see it. In fact, you can’t smell or taste it either. It’s Radon.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is estimated to cause thousands of deaths each year, because breathing air containing radon increases your chances of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.
January is National Radon Action Month, which makes it a great time to examine what radon is and how you can test and treat radon contamination.
What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring toxic radioactive gas that comes from the decay of trace amounts of uranium found naturally in soil, rock, and water. It has been found in every state in the United States and can seep into buildings through their foundation, resulting in toxic levels of exposure to inhabitants. You and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure where you spend most of your time.
Sources of Radon in Your Indoor Air
When considering radon gas intrusion into your home or other buildings, there are a couple of possible sources of radon contamination.
- Soil and Rock: The natural decay of uranium occurs in nearly all types of soil and rock and is the main source of residential radon problems. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.
- Water Supply: When compared to the risk of radon entering your home through the soil, the risk of it entering through the water supply is significantly less. Radon in your home’s water isn’t usually a problem when its source is surface water. Contamination of your water is more likely when your water source is groundwater, such as a private well.
Who Should Test for Radon?
Every home should be tested for radon in order to know the presence or lack of radon within the dwelling. If you’re buying or selling a home, it’s recommended that a radon test be performed.
How is Radon Measured?
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), a measurement of radioactivity. In the United States, the average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCi/L. The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L. The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend fixing homes with radon levels at or above 4 pCi/L.
Checking for Radon in Your Home
Now you know what radon is, sources of it, and why you should test for it. But how exactly do you test for it, and how do radon detectors work?
A product like the Airthings Radon Gas Monitor is great for measuring daily, weekly, or long-term concentrations of radon. With this unit or other similar items, you’ll have an easy-to-use product that provides accurate results.
Another great item, the Safety Siren Pro Series 4 Radon Gas Detector, is useful for continuously monitoring for radon. Similar to a carbon monoxide detector that you’re probably familiar with, the Safety Siren Pro Series 4 plugs into a standard 120-volt household outlet. If at any point your readings exceed 4 pCi/L, the detector’s alarm will chirp every hour until the average reading returns below that level.
How to Lower the Radon Level in Your Home
Hiring a contractor is a good idea when it comes to fixing radon leaks within your home. In order to find a qualified radon service professional to fix your home, get in touch with your state radon contact to discover if there are requirements associated with providing radon services in your state, and what those are.
There are several methods to reduce radon in your home, such as a vent pipe system and a fan that pulls radon from beneath your house and vents it to the outside. Radon mitigation fans are also effective at moving contaminated air to the outside. Sealing of cracks and other openings in your foundation helps prevent radon from seeping in.
Questions?
For more information on radon testing products and other solutions that can improve your air quality, browse our products and visit our Knowledge Center. Not sure what's best for you? We can take the guesswork out of decision-making. Contact one of our air treatment specialists at 1-800-934-9194. We want to help make your indoor environment healthy and comfortable.
