How is a radon test performed?

Charcoal canister and charcoal liquid scintillation devices absorb radon or its products on to the charcoal. When an ion generated from radon decay strikes the Teflon disc, the electrical charge is reduced. In the laboratory, the charge reduction is measured and the radon level is calculated.

Can I do a radon test myself?

You can do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you. from a hardware store. Or you can order one by calling 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236) or going to the National Radon Program Services website (http://sosradon.org/test-kits). Set up the testing device to check the air for radon.

How do you test for radon in your home?

Testing is easy. You place a plastic detector about the size of a biscuit in your living room, another in your bedroom and leave them for three months. After that you post them off and your radon level is calculated. If the level is high you can take steps to reduce radon levels in your home.

What should you not do during a radon test?

All external doors, windows, and vents should be kept closed from 12 hours before starting the test to the end of the test. Do not operate any whole house or window fans during the test.

What time of year is radon highest?

To answer that question, yes, radon levels in a home tend to be higher during the winter. And those higher levels of radon gas can lead to an increased chance of lung cancer. While indoor radon gas levels are generally higher during winter, sometimes the summer can have higher indoor radon levels.

What can skew a radon test?

Rain, thunderstorms and high wind can also have an affect on radon testing results. Radon readings have been known to go down when the outdoor wind speeds increase during periods of high humidity. When the seasons change such as fall to winter, radon testing can be affected.

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.

How much does it cost to put a radon system in?

Radon system costs can range from $750 to $5,000 per home. The average cost range to install a radon mitigation system in an average single-family home is between $1,100 and $2,500, with $1,400 being the average.

Is a radon level of 7 dangerous?

Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L.

Is radon a deal breaker?

You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, but radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer according to the National Cancer Institute. Yet the presence of radon in homes need not be a deal breaker.

Is it OK to live in a house with radon?

There are no safe levels of radon, and there’s no way to eradicate it. In homes where there are smokers present and smoking indoors (instead of outside), the risk of developing lung cancer will be much higher. Levels above 4 pCi/L are considered actionable, so those are in the dangerous levels of radon for indoors.

How long do you have to be exposed to radon for it to be harmful?

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. Early signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: persistent cough.

Is radon a scare tactic?

This data shows how low-dose radiation actually has a protective heath effect, similar to the immune response caused by vaccines. The radon scare was set off because of lung cancer in early uranium miners. EPA rules ignore science, biology, and observed low-level radiation health effects.

Is a radon level of 5 bad?

Safe radon levels

The best radon level measurement would be zero. The average global outdoor radon level varies between 5-15 Bq/m3, equal to 0.135-0.405 pCi/L. For every 99.9 Bq/m3, or every 2.7 pCI/L increase in long term radon exposure, lung cancer risk rises 16%4.

Where is Radon most commonly found?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and comes from the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of uranium. It is usually found in igneous rock and soil, but in some cases, well water may also be a source of radon.

How do I get rid of radon in my home?

A contractor will drill two small test holes in the concrete floor on opposite sides of the basement, then install a vacuum in one and measure air flow with the other. If there is sufficient air movement below the slab, then a radon evacuation stack can be installed with a fan that exhausts to the exterior.

What does radon smell like?

Radon Has No Smell

In truth, radon doesn’t smell like anything at all. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, which is what makes it all the more dangerous for you and your home. Only tests designed especially for radon can give you an accurate reading on the level of radon gas in your home.

Do most homes have radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more). Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state.

Can you taste radon?

Radon is a gas that you cannot smell, taste, or see.