Buying a new home? Don’t skip the radon test.
According to the National Cancer Institute, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
It is colorless, odorless, and you must test for it in order to find it. Thankfully, testing can be easily carried out by a professional so that you can have peace of mind that your home is radon-free.
What is radon and how does it get into the home?
The elements uranium, thorium, and radium in rocks and soil normally decay and release a radioactive gas known as radon.
Radon gas seeps up through the ground and diffuses into the air. In some regions, radon dissolves into ground water and can be released into the air upon use of the water.
Outdoors, radon gas generally exists at very low levels. Nevertheless, inadequate mitigation processes can lead to the accumulation of radon to levels.
How do I test for radon?
Though it is possible to do your own radon test, these aren’t as sensitive or reliable as one carried out by a professional.
The test itself is simple. A device called an E-perm is left at the lowest level of the home. It remains for 48 hours collecting a sample that is then sent to a local lab for analysis. Most results come back within 24 hours.