The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General’s offices report that radon is responsible for more than 20,000 cancer-related deaths each year. The dangers of radon in your home are serious, so you should know if your radon levels are high and take steps to lower them.
Why do you need a professional to conduct radon testing in your home?
To avoid the dangers of radon in your home, you need to have a professional test the levels of the gas. You’ll get accurate results from quality equipment when you hire a professional home inspector to test your home for radon. With a professional radon test, you’ll also get advice and answers to your concerns about radon and what to do about high levels.
4 Ways to Minimize the Dangers of Radon In Your Home
1. Seal the gaps and cracks in your home. Radon is released from the ground into your home through gaps or openings in the walls and cracks in the foundation. You can reduce the amount of radon in your home by eliminating any openings that allow the gas inside your home.
2. Ban cigarette smoking inside. Research has shown that smoking combined with high levels of indoor radon increases the chances of radon-induced lung cancer. If you find that there are high levels of radon in your home, eliminate all smoking indoors.
3. Keep your home well ventilated. Natural ventilation is a temporary remedy to minimize your exposure to radon. Fresh air lowers the concentration of indoor radon. Open a window for just 15 minutes at a time of day when the outdoor temperature is comfortable, and use ceiling fans to circulate the air.
4. An Active Soil Depressurization (ASD) technique is a type of radon mitigation system that collects the gas beneath structures before it enters your home or office. If your home tests at a level of 4 picocuries per liter or higher, your home inspector might recommend having a radon mitigation company install this device.
If you are not sure what the radon levels in your home are, make it a priority to have your home tested by a professional as soon as possible.
Any home can have unsafe levels of radon, no matter the location or age. Keep your family safe from the dangers of radon in your home by testing it and taking steps to lower the levels if they are unhealthy.
Certinspectors provides radon testing and other home inspection and energy auditing services to the Greater Hudson Valley. Contact us to book an appointment.