Last month, Certified Home Inspections was brought out to investigate radon levels in twenty Crown Point homes. Of those, nearly half were found to be exposing the homeowners to elevated levels of radon gas.
In each case, the homeowners chose to play things safe, and radon mitigation contractors were brought out to reduce the levels of radon gas. However, the fact remains that radon poses a serious threat, both locally and nationally. Naturally present in the air and inhaled by most United States citizens on a daily basis, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, only behind – of course – smoking.
Despite the seemingly dire nature of radon’s ever-looming presence, there’s no need to barricade yourself indoors or stock up on apocalypse-survival kits. Indeed, everyday exposure to low radon levels is perfectly safe, and radon only poses a problem when high levels are inhaled.
What is radon?
According to cancer.gov, radon is a ‘radioactive gas released from the normal decay of the elements uranium, thorium, and radium in rocks and soil.’ In other words, it’s an invisible, tasteless, and odorless gas that exists underground, naturally seeping into the air.
When is radon a problem?
Because it originates underground, high radon levels are most often the result of foundation cracks and holes, allowing the gas to seep in and become trapped in homes, schools, and workplaces. As you might suspect, basements, crawlspaces, and even first floors are most prone to high radon levels. According to the EPA, radon levels of 4.0 pCi/l (that’s picocuries per liter) or above is considered dangerous.
How are radon levels monitored?
With scientists estimating that 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths in the US each year are related to radon, there’s no question that every home should be monitored for radon. Certified Home Inspections offers a continuous radon monitoring service using the most accurate equipment currently available, calibrated on a yearly basis. If the home is found to have high levels of radon, we will be happy to recommend several radon mitigation contractors to come in and find the appropriate solution unique to your home.
Remember, there’s no physical symptoms of radon exposure until it leads to lung cancer, so don’t take any chances. Call us at Certified Home Inspections, we’ll be happy to come by and ensure your home is healthy, your family is safe.