So, what is radon? And, most importantly, what is radon testing and why does it matter?
Most dangers in the home are somewhat easy to spot. A leaking faucet, a crack in your foundation, an exposed electrical wire, peeling paint… the list goes on. But oftentimes there can be hidden dangers that are invisible to the naked eye that are just as dangerous (if not more so) than the visible ones.
One such invisible danger is radon gas.
Let’s look at how you can stay safe and protect your health with professional radon testing.
Radon is an invisible and odorless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in nature. It rises from in the ground and into the air, surrounding us all on a daily basis.
Outdoors, the radon molecules disperse into the atmosphere, posing little to no risk to our health.
However, when radon enters the home, it can build up to dangerous concentrations. Radon can easily seep through your foundation. It can also make its way into the home via gaps, cracks in the walls and floors.
The problem with radon is that it’s harmful to our health when we’re exposed for long periods of time.
In fact, amongst non-smokers, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer. More people die from radon-induced cancer each year than from drunk driving accidents!
It takes many years for radon to build up to levels that can cause cancer. However, you won’t realize that radon is building in your home because of its lack of odor or visuals.
Because radon is odorless and colorless, it’s impossible for anyone to know whether they have a problem with radon in their home or property… unless a radon test is performed, that is.
Radon testing using professional equipment and technology to test for the presence of radon in your home. Radon testing can also indicate the concentration of radon in the home as well.
Radon testing can also be performed on your home’s water and plumbing systems. Radon can easily infiltrate into your home’s water, especially if you have a well.
Radon testing can reveal dangerous levels of radon in the home, which is important for home sellers and buyers alike to ensure the long-term safety of the inhabitants.
Many sellers opt to have a radon test done before listing the property in order to ensure it’s up to safety standards before selling. Buyers often opt for this service along with a buyer’s inspection in order to determine whether they want to put in an offer or follow through with the purchase.
Only professional equipment and certified radon technicians should be permitted to perform a radon test at your home or property.
If radon is found at your home or property, try not to panic! Radon levels can be reduced to safe concentrations. Also, radon takes years and years of exposure to result in health issues, which means you’re likely in the clear as long as you take immediate action.
Once you understand that along with the levels of radon at the property, you can begin to put radon mitigation systems in place to reduce the levels in the home and/or in your water.
So, what is radon testing? Radon testing is an important part of the home inspection process, and it’s important for maintaining the health and wellness of homeowners and tenants.
If you need a radon test as part of the inspection process, or you just want some peace of mind, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to explain the entire process as well as go over the results report with you.
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