Radon is an odourless radioactive gas present in the soil. It is produced by the natural breakdown of Uranium and is harmless until it enters your home. Living in a radon-affected home is not advised as long-term exposure can cause lung cancer. According to The Environmental Protection Agency, lung cancer caused by radon exposure alone kills 21,000 Americans every year.
When you are looking at a new home purchase, ordering a home inspection service is a smart move. But when it comes to detecting radon presence, a standard inspection is not enough.
This is why you should get specialised radon testing along with your standard home inspection.
How does radon enter a home?
Low levels of radon are present in nearly all types of soils. However, the problem arises when it seeps through the pores in the concrete and gets trapped inside the home. No matter the location or age of the house, there’s no thumb rule for radon’s presence. Even two homes sharing a wall can have significantly varying radon levels. You can’t really tell. It depends on how your property interacts with the surrounding soil.
How is radon testing carried out?
Radon is a colorless, odourless gas, which means you are going to need a specialized testing kit to detect its presence. Radon testing is carried out using two different types of kits: Passive and Active.
Passive testing methods do not require power to function, but on the flip side, they are not as accurate as the Active Testing kit used by professionals. Hiring a radon testing expert is the best way to get accurate readings because not only are they trained to set up the device right but they also know where and for how long it should be set up.
Is radon testing expensive?
A radon testing will cost you nearly as much as a standard home inspection service, but if you buy a package, you might be able to get a better deal. You can always request a price quote from your local home inspection expert and enquire about the whole process.
My home has high levels of radon, what’s next?
The next step is to order a radon mitigation service. The experts will set up a Sub Membrane Depressurization System to force the trapped gas out of your property. At Alpha Building Inspections, we encourage our customers to go for radon testing along with standard inspection to avoid serious health hazards. Give us a call in case you have queries.
