The Significance Of Having Routine Radon Level Tests Completed In Your Home
Have you heard of radon? The dangerous radioactive gas known for being incredibly harmful to human health can appear in homes of all sizes, often going undetected for extended periods because it's virtually invisible and has no odor. The gas comes from natural materials, including the soil surrounding a building, and can enter a home unexpectedly, putting everyone at risk who lives there. Because you may have radon in the house without knowing it, routine radon level tests are necessary and can potentially save you and your family from developing harmful health conditions, such as lung cancer.
How Can Homeowners Test for the Presence of Radon in Their Properties?
As a homeowner, you will have several ways to test for radon and determine if it's present inside your property. The first way to test is to purchase an at-home kit. These kits are easy to use and require you to set them up in a specific area of the home where radon may be seeping in between openings, such as cracks within your home's foundation. After collecting samples for a set period, which is usually indicated in the kit when you buy it, you would send it to the lab to have it tested for radon and will receive the results within a few weeks.
In addition to convenient at-home testing, you can schedule professional radon testing for fast and accurate results. The professionals use advanced equipment, including portable radon detectors, to determine if you have radon in your home and may provide you with results in a few days.
What to Do if You've Detected Radon in the Home
If the results of your at-home or professional radon-level testing indicate you have a problem, speak with a radon expert who can discuss different techniques commonly used to reduce radon levels. For some homeowners, having a new ventilation system installed in the home can greatly improve the situation. However, other ways to handle radon in the home are just as efficient and may include adequately sealing any cracks and openings in the foundation and between the floors and the walls where radon could get into your place.
Living in a home with high radon levels puts everyone at risk of developing major health conditions, including life-threatening lung cancer. Protect yourself and those you love most by getting routine radon tests done to determine how much radon is in your home and whether or not you will need professional mitigation services. For more information about radon tests, reach out to a local service.