As Halloween approaches, thoughts of ghosts and goblins fill the minds of many children. However, there is something out there that all adults should fear as well: the existence of radon gas in their home. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can pervade your home and slowly poison your family, if left unchecked. Here are a few things you should know to keep your home safe for your trick or treaters this Halloween!
What is radon? Why should I be concerned about it?
Radon is a gas formed by the decay of the element uranium, which occurs naturally in rocks, soil and water. It is colorless, odorless and it rises up through the soil into the air above. Radon is found in all 50 states, and can filter up through the foundation of homes, schools, and office buildings.
Once in the home, inhabitants breathe in gas particles which become lodged in the lungs. Since radon is formed from uranium, a naturally radioactive element, it emits ionizing radiation which can irreparably damage the lungs. In fact, after smoking, radon poisoning is the leading cause of lung cancer. Damage can be particularly bad in children, whose lungs are smaller and still developing.
Who should be concerned about radon?
Because radon is naturally occurring throughout the United States, there is almost always some radon gas present in the air. As such, it would be wise for all homeowners to consider having the radon levels in their home measured. The only way to detect dangerous levels of radon gas in your home it to have the air tested.
How can I have my radon levels checked?
A testing kit is available for do-it-yourself measurements. After following the directions for sampling the air in your home, the kit is mailed to a laboratory where the levels of radon are measured. The professionals at SWAT Environmental will gladly provide you with a 3rd party lab tested Radon Test Kit. Order the radon test kit now at 911Radon.com for $5 with promo code TSTNOW, shipping and lab fees are paid for.
How are radon levels measured?
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). While there are no safe levels of radon, higher measurements could indicate that your health may be at risk. The average amount of radon encountered in homes has been found to be around 1.3 pCi/L. At this level, the risk of illness is low. If your home has measurements of between 2-4 pCi/L, you should consider taking action. If measurements show that your home has more than 4 pCi/L of radon, you are at a high risk for illness. Remember, there is no safe level of radon.
What should I do if my test results show high levels of radon?
If your home testing shows that there are high levels of radon present, you should contact a certified radon mitigation technician. This professional specializes in the installation of systems that remove and mitigate any radon gas found in homes. The most common method of radon mitigation makes use of a vent pipe and a fan. The fan pulls the radon from the lowest point of the house and vents it outside the home through a pipe.
Before you start planning your Halloween parties and fall break events, get the radon levels in your home tested, and if need be, get a radon removal system in place. It is important that you make sure that the radon mitigation professional you hire is qualified and trained to fix this type of problem. This will assure that they have the expertise and experience to choose the processes that will work best in your home. If you need radon gas mitigation or are looking for more information regarding radon, feel free to visit our home page Swat-Radon.com.
