Why Getting Your Home Tested For Radon Is Important

As much as you would like your home to be safe for your family, the reality is that no home is 100% safe. There are many dangers in your home that you are probably not even aware of, and these health hazards don’t always come in the form of something you can see or perceive at first glance, which makes them even more of a threat. One of these unseen health hazards that poses a serious risk to your family is radon.

What is radon?

Radon is a type of radioactive gas formed from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water—and it is found in many homes all over the country. The gas moves up from the ground and gets inside your house through cracks and holes, and gets trapped inside.

That is how dangerous radon can be, and the fact that it is found in a number of homes across the country makes it incredibly more alarming. How then can you be sure if your family is safe from radon? The only way to find out is to get your home tested for this radioactive gas.

Here are some important reasons why you should test the radon levels inside your home:

1. Radon can’t be detected using our human senses.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless type of radioactive gas. This means that it is impossible to detect merely using our human senses. The only way to detect and test the radon levels in your home is to use a test kit designed for this radioactive gas. Radon gas test kits are readily available in most local stores. You can also hire professionals like VRK Radon to do the testing for you.

2. Radon is extremely dangerous to our health.

Exposure to radon for long periods can lead to lung cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that about 20,000 lung cancer deaths every year are caused by radon, as it is the second-leading cause of the said disease in the US, next to smoking. People who have never smoked in their lives but acquire lung cancer may be those who have been unwittingly exposed to radon for a long period of time.

3. Radon testing is required before putting up your house for sale in the market.

If you want to sell your house, you should test it for radon first before putting it up for sale. Radon testing is now a requirement requested by new homeowners during a home inspection. It has become a standard procedure before closing a deal. If you want your home to be sold quickly, make sure that you have it tested for radon before putting it up for sale to prevent unpleasant surprises.

4. Radon testing is not that expensive.

Radon testing may sound very complicated and costly to most people, but it is actually not that expensive or complex. When testing for radon, you can do it yourself using radon test kits or hire a professional to do it for you.

There are test kits sold in local stores that you can use to measure radon levels in your home. There are two types of test kits, namely:

Short term test - Best suited for testing radon levels in the parts of your house that you use as a living space. This test can last from 2 to 90 days.

Long term test - The best way to measure radon levels over time, especially since the radon levels in your house can change. Long-term tests usually take more than 90 days.

 

5. If your house was built on a concrete slab.

Homes built on a concrete slab are likely to have higher radon levels. Concrete tends to develop cracks and holes over time, and this is where radon can enter from the ground underneath. If your house has radon level 4 or higher, be sure to fix your home by sealing all the cracks and holes to prevent more radon from entering.

Conclusion

Radon testing is extremely important and it is something that should never be neglected. You may not realize it, but your family is already at risk of breathing this dangerous gas. If the exposure continues over time, you and your family could acquire diseases. If you’re not sure of the radon levels in your home, it’s best to have it tested. It is better to be aware of the possible dangers in your house so you can take the necessary steps to keep you and your family safe.