Extensive Home Inspections - Radon 101: Learn the Basics

Radon 101: Learn the Basics

January is National Radon Action Month! However, before you can take action, you need to understand why you should and what you can do. The Midwest is one of the areas of the country that has a higher concentration of radon issues in homes. Each house is different. Just because a neighbor's home has received a high radon test result does not mean that yours has the same issue. Whether your neighbor's home tested high or low doesn't change the importance of getting your own radon test to protect your family.

When indoor radon levels are high, the radon gas is breathed in and damages the lining of your lungs, eventually leading to lung cancer. Radon gas is the second leading cause overall of lung cancer deaths in the United States and is the number one cause in nonsmokers. There are no tests to determine the effect of radon on your lungs and no symptoms are present for years. The best course of action is to test your home for radon and, if needed, make the necessary repairs to remedy the radon levels.

Radon is present in the air around the world, as it is naturally produced from the radioactive breakdown of uranium, thorium, and radium. Radon tests return a radon level in terms of pCi/L, or picocuries per liter. This measures the amount of radon decay in the air. The EPA's recommended action level for radon is 4 pCi/L or higher. Homes that receive results between 2 and 4 pCi/L should consider fixing as well. Homes that have levels above 4 are encouraged to fix the issue soon in order to reduce the risk of developing lung cancer.

There are many ways to mitigate radon in your home, but we recommend hiring a professional to ensure the proper methods are used. The most common systems use underground pipes and an exhaust fan to help pull the radon gas away from your home's foundation to release and dilute it into the air above.

Contact us today to schedule a radon test for your home or visit our Radon Testing page to learn more.