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    • Nov 23, 2022
    • 2 min read

What is Radon and Why Test for It?

As the weather cools down and we all start spending more time indoors, we recommend testing your radon levels. Having doors and windows shut to keep the warmth in can cause radon levels to build up and become a health hazard. The higher the level and the longer the exposure, the greater your risk.


Radon comes naturally from rocks and dirt in the ground. There’s always some radon in the air around us. The problem is when excess radon gas leaks from underneath your home through cracks or gaps, and too much builds up inside.


Testing is easy and low-cost — and it could save your life.


WHY TEST YOUR HOME FOR RADON? You can’t see radon gas. You can’t smell it. But it’s dangerous. Breathing in high levels of radon can raise your risk of lung cancer. Testing your home is the only way to find out if you have a radon problem.


WHY IS RADON DANGEROUS? In the US, radon is estimated to cause over 20,000 deaths each year. There’s always radon in the air around us, the problem is when it leaks into your home through cracks or gaps. Too much of it can build up inside and cause issues.


WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU TEST HIGH FOR RADON? The good news is that radon can be removed. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends contacting a qualified professional to install a radon reduction (radon mitigation) system if your radon level is at or above 4 pCi/L of air.


Here are 3 steps to follow if you do find radon in your home:


  1. Don’t panic! Radon levels can be reduced. Take action if your radon test result is 4 pCi/L or higher. You have several options to reduce the radon level in your home.


  1. Find the Point of Entry. Radon can enter your home from the soil and your water supply. Contact your water supplier or test your private well to see if it is from water. You can treat point-of-entry radon with GAC filters or aeration devices.


  1. Mitigate the radon. If long-term test results show high radon levels after other treatments, you can hire a radon mitigation contractor. They will review the test results, evaluate the problem, create a radon-reduction system, and reduce radon to acceptable levels.



For info on how to get your home tested for radon, check out our radon testing services.


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