Radon Inspection
How to Test Your Home for Radon
Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that, according to EPA, is present in the environment – indoors and outside. It is a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer over time. At FYC Inspection, we offer Radon Testing as an additional service to our list of home inspection services in Marietta, GA. Here is what you need to know about radon, its danger, how to test for radon, and how you can reduce radon levels in your home.
What is Radon?
Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It can be in the air you breathe and enter your home through cracks, gaps, and other holes in the foundation.
Dangers of Radon
Radon is a health hazard and is considered the second leading cause of lung cancer, next to cigarette smoking. Since it is colorless and odorless, it’s hard to detect until a radon test is done. Radon is called a silent killer. Many homeowners have no idea how toxic this gas is. Studies show a correlation between breathing high concentrations of radon and lung cancer, according to the. Smokers are more susceptible to lung cancer due to the synergistic effects of both radon inhalation and smoking. A person who never smoked but is exposed to 1.3 pCi/L has a 2 in 1000 chance of lung cancer, while a smoker has a 20 in 1,000 chance of dying from this disease.
Radon also produces radioactive decay products called radon daughters or radon progeny. These decay products are robust and stick to surfaces as dust particles that can easily be inhaled. Inhalation of contaminated dust can also cause lung cancer.
You can’t see or smell radon. Testing is the only way to know your levels. Radon poisoning may be one of the reasons why your house could be making you sick.
How Does Radon Enter Your Home?
Radon gas can seep through cracks and other holes in the foundation, pores in concrete, and gaps in walls and floors. Common ways for radon to enter your home are as follows:
- Cracks in the floors
- Construction joints
- Gaps in suspended floors
- Service pipes gaps
- Cavities inside walls
- Water supply
- Cracks and holes in your foundation
Radon Testing
EPA highly recommends that you hire a professional to conduct the radon test, and you can Call Us Today for your Radon Testing in Marietta, GA.
The EPA also recommends that you should “consider taking action” when the radon level exceeds 1.9 pCi/L. Radon levels between 2.0 pCi/L and 4.0 pCi/l also carry some risk over long-term exposure. Lowering the radon level reduces the risk of lung cancer.
Any radon levels over the EPA-established 4.0 pCi/L are recommended to take corrective measures, i.e., installing radon mitigation which reduces the radon gas concentrations in the home. Just because the house has elevated radon levels doesn’t mean it’s a bad home; it just means the radon needs to be managed and reduced to acceptable levels with mitigation.
Radon is a health risk, and the only way to know if the home has elevated levels of radon gas is to have a test done. So take action and test.
Great professionals at great pricing for a great future. FYC Inspections is the home inspection firm for you. Call Us Today at (404) 260-4436 OR Schedule Online 24/7 Right From Our Website!
