Radon Testing
Why Radon Testing is Important
Boss Certified Master Inspector offers qualified radon testing service. We use electronic measuring devices that are placed in the lowest level of the residence for a period of 48 hours, with the results available at the end of the test.
Radon testing is the only way to know whether your home has high levels of radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer over time. Here’s what you need to know about radon testing and reducing radon levels in your home.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 1 in 15 homes in the United States are believed to have elevated radon levels.
The foundation of a structure is the primary entry for radon gas, the gas enters a structure through cracks or holes in the foundation. Once radon is trapped inside the levels of the gas can become concentrated. The EPA has established a recommended action level for radon at 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L). For radon concentrations at or above 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends that steps be taken to reduce exposure levels to below the action level.
Radon can also enter through your water supply and presents both inhalation and ingestion risks. According to a report published by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), radon in drinking water causes 168 cancer deaths annually. Of these deaths, 89 percent were from lung cancer caused by breathing in radon released from water and 11 percent were from stomach cancer caused by drinking radon-contaminated water.
Radon issues in drinking water are increasingly more common in groundwater supplied systems (private and public wells) rather than surface water supplied systems.
Additional ways that radon can enter your home or structure are cracks in solid floors, gaps in suspended floors, construction joints, cavities inside walls, cracks in walls, water supply and gaps around service pipes.
How do You lower Radon Levels in Your Home?
Caulk foundation cracks, construction joints, and other openings with polyurethane caulk.
If you have a sump pump, install an airtight cover on it (choose one that allows access to your sump).
Cover soil in crawl spaces with polyurethane plastic sheeting (with a minimum thickness of 6 mil, available at home centers) tightly attached to the walls.
You can also try sealing concrete, although the EPA has found concrete sealers to be a temporary solution at best.
Once you have made these repairs, it is suggested that you retest. If we are still getting high levels, the alternative is the radon mitigation process.
