How to Test Your Home for Radon

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that all homes be tested during a sales transaction. This is the perfect opportunity for you and your real estate professional to know the levels of dangerous radon gases in your home and take action. Schedule your Minneapolis home inspection today!

Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that, according to EPA, is present in the environment – indoors and outside. It is a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer over time. At Thompson Inspections, we offer Licensed Radon Testing Services in addition to our home inspections. Here is some of what you need to know about radon, its danger, how to test for radon, and how you can reduce radon levels in your home. 

Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It can be in the air you breathe and enter your home through cracks, gaps, and other holes in the foundation.

Radon is a health hazard and is considered the second leading cause of lung cancer, next to cigarette smoking. Since it is colorless and odorless, it’s hard to detect until a radon test is done. Radon is called a silent killer. Many homeowners have no idea how toxic this gas is. Studies show a correlation between breathing high concentrations of radon and lung cancer.

Radon also produces radioactive decay products called radon daughters or radon progeny. These decay products are robust and stick to surfaces as dust particles that can easily be inhaled. Inhalation of contaminated dust can also cause lung cancer.

You can’t see or smell radon. Testing is the only way to know your levels. Radon poisoning may be one of the reasons why your house could be making you sick.

How Does Radon Enter Your Home?

Radon gas can seep through cracks and other holes in the foundation, pores in concrete, and gaps in walls and floors.

The EPA highly recommends that you hire a professional to conduct the radon test.

You Can Call Us At (651) 487-5318 Today For Your Radon Testing.

The EPA recommends you take corrective actions at or above the established 4.0 pCi/L average. Disciplinary action typically requires installing radon mitigation that reduces the home’s radon gas concentrations. The EPA also recommends that you should “consider taking action” when the radon level exceeds levels between 2.0 pCi/L and 3.9 pCi/l as it may carry some risk over long-term exposure. Lowering the radon level; greatly reduces the risk of lung cancer. Just because the house has elevated radon levels doesn’t mean it’s a bad home: it just means the radon needs to be managed and reduced to acceptable levels with mitigation. So testing is crucial to know the levels of your home!

Radon is a health risk, and the only way to know if the home has elevated levels of radon gas is to have a test done. So take action and test.

Call us at (651) 487-5318 if you need a radon test in the Minneapolis, MN region.