Radon is a serious problem that is easy to fix. The EPA recommends that all homes be tested. The United States Surgeon General re-emphasized in January of 2010 that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Smoking is number one. If you smoke and the radon levels in your home are high, the risk is much higher. Testing and fixing this problem is easy.
What is radon? Radon is a gas that becomes radioactive when it passes through uranium underground. This gas rises up and can enter through the foundation and accumulate to unsafe levels inside buildings. Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Although radon is found in all types of buildings, we get most of our exposure when we're at home. Radon has been found in every state. You can see the average levels of radon on this web page: EPA's Radon Map. (Click on the map to enlarge it). Cherokee County, North Carolina is a Zone 1 county. That means the EPA predicts that if all buildings were tested, the average level would be above the safe limit of 4 pCi/L. Surrounding counties are considered Zone 2 counties. That means the EPA predicts that the average radon level in all buildings is between 2 and 4 pCi/L. In our area, we have been getting results less than 1.0, and higher than 80. Radon levels are very spotty. Two buildings next to each other can have very different radon levels. The EPA states on their web site that the only way to know is to test. They recommend all homes be tested.
What level of radon is safe? Radon in the air is measured in "picocuries per liter of air", or "pCi/L". Generally speaking, levels greater than 4 pCi/L are considered too high, although if you can reduce the levels even lower than 4.0 it's a good idea. The good news is that it is easy to get a home tested and repaired. Local companies have been successful installing radon systems that reduced the levels well below the safe limit.
How should I get my home tested? Who should install a mitigation system if I need one? Good news here too. Testing your home is easy. You could do it yourself by going to a home improvement store and buying a test kit. Follow the directions carefully to ensure the most accurate results. Or you could hire a professional radon tester.
Your Inspection Expert has tested many homes for radon. Call us now at 800-738-8781.
The cost to get a professional test is low - usually $125-$200. Your Inspection Expert charges $125 (We often offer discounts. See bottom of this page.) We invested in radon testing machines. Like the radon kits, our machines provide an average radon level. But they also take readings every hour, and provide a graph of these readings. This extra information can be helpful if someone challenges the report. Our machines are recalibrated by the manufacturer regularly.
If the report shows that the radon level is too high, you need a radon remediation contractor. Ask your professional tester for referrals or check with the state radon office. The contractor you choose should be a qualified, licensed, and preferably certified in radon mitigation, and you should get more than one estimate. We have some on our Need a Contractor? page.
The last piece of good news is that radon remediation is usually not expensive. A vent and fan system is often the recommended solution. Usually a pipe is drilled into the basement slab and a small, quiet blower is installed in the pipe.
There is a lot more that you can learn about radon by going to the Environmental Protection Agency's web site (www.epa.gov/radon/)
Call Your Inspection Expert at 800-738-8781 if you have any questions about radon or radon testing.
