Radon is an inert, odorless, and colorless radioactive gas that occurs naturally and can be harmful to the human body. It is present in trace amounts in the environment. Outdoor, radon is not much of an issue because it disperses rapidly in the air.
However, radon also gets exposed in schools, homes, and workplaces, and it can trap indoors after entering the building through holes or cracks present in the foundation.
Breathing radon can lead to an increased chance of lung cancer. This gas is the second most common cause of lung cancer in the US.
Fortunately, you can take measures and follow important methods to reduce and control the level of radon in your home. The first thing is to do residential radon testing. The testing is the only way of determining the level of radon in the building.
You can hire professionals to do radon testing, or you can do it yourself through a home test kit.
If you are using the testing kit to check radon level, leave the kit on your house for a given day and then send the kit to the lab to get the results.
If the level of radon turns out to be high in your home, there are steps you can follow to reduce its level.
The most common method to follow is having a vent pipe system and fan installed to pull the radon through vents to the outside.
Radon can also enter the house through the water supply. Radon entry through the water supply poses less risk than when it comes from the soil. You can test for radon, and if the test result shows a high level of radon, you can simply hire experts to remove radon from your house.
Things To Concern About
Many people who are thinking about building their houses can wonder if they should test their soil. It is better to do radon testing when building the house. Radon can enter the house and can accumulate here.
So, check the radon level in the soil through residential radon testing before doing the construction work. The people who live in an area prone to high radon levels in the soil must build a radon mitigation system in the house. This is because it will cost you much less to add a pipe for a radon-resistant system when the house isn’t built yet.
Homeowners also show concern about radon leakage from natural granite countertops in bathrooms, kitchens, and other sections of the house.
According to the EPA, while granite slabs may leak radon owing to the presence of uranium, countertops do not significantly raise indoor radon levels. Keep in mind that soil, which comes in touch with subterranean floors and walls, is still the principal source of radon.
You can never know if your house has radon. Therefore, to ensure your protection and of your family, hire a radon testing company.
The professionals will not only check the level of radon in your house but will also follow measures to reduce its level.