Radon is odorless, tasteless and invisible, making it impossible to detect without a radon test. If you have never tested your home for radon, it's impossible to know if your home is among the 1 of 6 six homes in the U.S. affected by elevated levels of this radioactive carcinogen. Unfortunately, it's usually not until they receive high radon test results from a home inspector that homeowners begin to think about the dangers of radon.
Radon enters the home through the following areas:
- Crawlspaces
- Cracks in the foundation & walls
- Floor drains
- Pipes
- Sump pumps
The obvious measure you can take to avoid the health hazards of radon is to test your home for radon every two years, which is the U.S. EPA recommendation. If you've recently purchased a home, are selling a home, or just had a home built, you may also consider testing for radon. Additionally, renovations to your home can cause new cracks in your home's foundation or other pathways for radon to seep into your home.
Seasonal changes affect radon levels, so if you live in a region with shifting seasons, you may want to test for radon using a long-term testing device. In addition to testing your home, you may also wish to take action against radon in the following ways:
- Discourage smoking in the home - smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke are at a higher risk for lung cancer from radon exposure than nonsmokers
- Radon is also an issue in schools, offices, and other buildings. Contact your school officials, office management, and other relevant personnel to make certain you, your children, and your family members are safe from radon in all indoor spaces.
- If you are purchasing a new home, ask the realtor for the home's most recent radon test results, or request a radon test before purchasing Join with others passionate about radon risk awareness to affect change in your community, state, and our country.
RadonAway© works with Cancer Survivors Against Radon (CanSAR) and LUNG FORCE, among other national organizations, to reduce the yearly radon death toll of 21,000 Americans - you can too!
What to Do When You Discover Radon in Your Home If you have tested your home and received a result at or over 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommended "take action" level, contact a radon contractor. RadonAway works with a network of certified radon contractors nationwide who have years of experience in the radon mitigation field.
Radon mitigation is not recommended as a DIY project. In fact, if you install a radon mitigation system incorrectly, you could potentially increase your home's radon level. A qualified radon contractor will evaluate your home and design an effective radon system using their professional training and experience in the field. Fill out our Find a Radon Professional form to get in touch with a radon contractor in your area today!
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