Does your home need radon mitigation services?
Many people, including homeowners, are unaware of the dangers of radon exposure. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that seeps into homes over time. It poses acute dangers to human health. Radon mitigation and abatement services can reduce exposure to safe levels.
What is radon and why is it harmful?
Radon is a naturally-occurring gas that finds its way into homes through basements, crawl spaces and even the plumbing. It is harmful for humans and has been called the silent killer, because of its connection to lung cancer. In fact, it is responsible for as many as 20,000 deaths from lung cancer each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Surgeon General’s Office. This makes it the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths, according to the office of the Surgeon General.
However, many people are not even aware of the dangers posed by radon. It can be found in old or new houses, in any type of building, and in all the states of the continental U.S. Homewoners should be aware of the need for radon testing, and if the tests show dangerous concentrations of the gas, for abatement.
How can you test your home for radon?
Professional radon testing services can conduct short-term and long-term tests in your home. Short term tests can last anywhere from two to 90 days. Long term testing lasts longer than 90 days. Either type of testing can show whether your home has dangerous levels of the gas present.
The EPA?s recommended action level for exposure is 4 pCi/L. At or above this level, abatement is necessary for the safety and health of the inhabitants of the house. It is estimated that one out of 15 homes in the U.S. is above the EPA recommended action level.
How does radon abatement work?
Radon testing contractors can also carry out radon abatement procedures like installing vapor barriers, sealing crawl spaces, sump pump installation and drain system installation. Their services include inspection of existing abatement systems to ensure they are installed to code and operating correctly.
Passive mitigation systems can reduce the indoor concentration of the gas by as much as 50%. The addition of fans and ventilation can reduce levels even further.
Radon has rightly been called the silent killer, because many homeowners are not even aware of the dangers of exposure to the gas. Homes should be tested for radon exposure and mitigation procedures carried out if dangerous levels of the gas are detected.