You can't see, smell, or taste it. Yet there's a good chance this #2 cause of lung cancer may be an unwelcome visitor in your home. Radon is a radioactive gas that usually exists outdoors.
Released from the normal decay of uranium found in the rocks and soil surrounding a home, radon can build up within homes to concentrations that significantly increase the risk of lung cancer. Radon can get into any type of building — homes, offices, and schools — and result in high indoor radon concentrations. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.
One of the first questions we are asked by our clients is, what is the process for conducting a radon test? As soon as we receive the order, the office staff begins working diligently to schedule your test. When we arrive we start by walking the property to assess the various foundations and the best location for our monitors.
The test stays in the property for a minimum of 48 hours. Each monitor records an hourly reading and the results are based on an average of those readings. If any of the monitors in the property record an aver age of 4.0 pCi/l or above, then the reading is elevated and mitigation is recommended.
During the test and at least 12 hours prior to our scheduled appointment, the property is to maintain closed house conditions. This means that the exterior doors and windows of the property are to stay closed except for normal entry and exit. There are a few other conditions that can be read on our closed house conditions sheet that we leave at every property. The process of testing is not a difficult one, but it is so important to test your property for radon to ensure the safety of those who live or work there.
The only way to know if your home, school, daycare, or commercial building has high levels of radon is to test it. There are various ways to go about this, but hiring a licensed company like ours is the way to go!