Have you never checked the radon levels in your home? In the United States, one out of every 15 homes is expected to have levels of radon that are at or above the EPA action criteria. Therefore, radon testing and inspection is a process you shouldn’t neglect because the deadly radon gas might be present in your house.

You can choose to do it yourself or hire a residential radon testing company to perform the inspection for you. But remember that when you do it yourself and you are not that knowledgeable about radon gas testing, the results might not be accurate.

For precise and expert radon testing and inspection, it’s best to hire professionals who have the necessary credentials, training, and expertise.

Radon in the Home: What Causes It?

The following are the most common factors that cause radon accumulation in your home:

• Soil: A stealthy yet deadly origin of radon is the dirt beneath your home. Cracks, fissures, and mineral admixtures allow it to enter your home.
• Well water: Even though radon-contaminated water constitutes just a minor portion of the total, it can still build to deadly levels if left untreated. You can be exposed to the released gas even while you’re simply washing your hands.
• Rocks: Fissures of radioactive particles present in rocks and stones beneath your house break down into radon and contribute a significant amount of the radon gas that enters your home.
• Cracks and gap openings: Cement floors and foundations are especially troublesome due to their porous nature. Radon can easily infiltrate your home through foundation fractures, flooring holes, and around pipelines and plumbing.
• Natural stone: The natural stone in and around your property may contain trace amounts of radon. Even with low concentrations, granite is considered the most common natural stone that produces radon gas emissions.

Any of these elements can release the deadly gas into your home, trapping it and causing lethal levels.

Why It’s Important to Do Radon Testing and Inspection

A dangerously toxic gas that usually goes undiscovered, radon is responsible for nearly 20,000 lung cancer fatalities per year, as estimated by the Surgeon General’s Office and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).

It’s crucial to note that radon levels in the air can fluctuate as the days go by. The amount may either increase or decline depending on weather conditions.

Despite passing the first local radon testing, the gas can still seep into your home. Therefore, perform testing for radon every two years, as recommended by the EPA. You can also opt to have monitoring equipment permanently installed in your house.

According to the EPA, all houses should be checked for radon – whether you’re selling, purchasing, or renovating the property. Whether using a do-it-yourself (DIY) radon testing kit or hiring professional radon testing and inspection companies, they must be approved by the EPA.

Because radon levels can fluctuate at any time throughout the year, you can perform the test on a relatively short or lengthy period. Depending on the model of the device, short-term detectors measure levels of radon for as little as two days up to 90 days. Despite the availability of DIY kits, it’s still recommended to hire a local radon testing company because they have the necessary expertise to give accurate test results.

Various Types of Radon Testing

There are two types of radon test instruments: passive and active. Passive systems don’t need energy and are frequently used to gather radon or its daughter particles for extensive laboratory testing.

Passive devices may seem to be a straightforward way to do radon testing. Still, they aren’t as thorough as active devices because the levels of radon gas fluctuate so much.

Active devices can continuously detect and record radon or its daughter particles. They’re generally costlier and need highly skilled testers for proper operation.

Rely on Radon Testing Companies for Accurate Radon Testing

Performing the radon testing yourself can give you a quick estimate of your home’s radon levels, but it’s not as accurate compared to the results of a thorough inspection. Colorado radon testing companies or those in other states will be able to help you determine if your house has dangerously high radon levels. Once the inspection is done, they can also help mitigate radon and reduce it to a safer level.