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216-408-2863
dcsinspections@gmail.com
How do you test for Radon?
DCS Home Inspection LLC, follows strict guidelines when testing for Radon established by the Ohio Department of Health and the U.S. EPA for short term testing. An electronic, continuous radon monitor is placed in the lowest livable level of the home for a time period of 48 hours. The monitor will sample the air every hour and establish an overall average of exposure to radon over that time period. Radon Is measure in Pico Curries per Liter pCi/L. The EPA recommends average measurements over 4 pCi/L should be mitigated.
What Is Radon and What Causes Radon Gas?
Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless, odorless radioactive gas that is produced by decaying uranium. Radon is present in nearly all soils, and very low levels of radon gas are found in the air we breathe every day. Radon gas becomes trapped indoors after it enters buildings through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Indoor radon can be controlled and managed with a professionally installed radon mitigation system.
Why is Radon a Problem?
The problem occurs when radon gas enters your home and gets trapped. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer. Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.
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How does Radon enter a home?
Radon gas moves from the soil into a home. Although radon can seep directly through pores in concrete, the most common entry points of radon are gaps in walls and floors. Any house, of any age, in any state can have elevated radon levels. It really depends on the way your specific house interacts with the surrounding soil. Your neighbor’s radon level may differ significantly from yours. |
Radon Entrance Into a Home
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The House Tested High, Now What?
Don't panic, most every home has some level of Radon. If the test showed average levels of 4 pCi/L or higher, a radon mitigation system can be installed. The typical installation in an existing home involves a soil depressurization system which uses piping, and in most cases an in line fan, to vent the gasses from under the slab to above the roof line. This system will create negative pressure under the slab and pull the radon gas from the home. A State of Ohio licensed radon mitigation specialist will be able to install the correct mitigation system for the property.
To learn more about radon read the EPA's A Citizens Guide to Radon or the Home Buyers and Sellers Guide to Radon.
To learn more about radon read the EPA's A Citizens Guide to Radon or the Home Buyers and Sellers Guide to Radon.