Eliminate Radon Dangers in Your Home

Since you cannot see, smell or taste radon gas, it is not detectable in your home. So, why worry about radon? The National Cancer Institute reports that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States next to smoking.

The prevalence of radon is not isolated to one geographic area or type of home. In fact, one in every 15 homes has an elevated radon level, so it’s important for you to test and eliminate radon dangers at your residence.

What is Radon Gas?

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks and water. Since the air pressure in a typical home is lower than the pressure in the soil around the foundation, the home acts like a vacuum and draws radon in through cracks in the foundation.

Radon may also be present in the water source and can be released into the air when water is used for general household purposes such as showering, or ingested when drinking. Testing for radon is the only way to determine if your indoor air quality and/or water are affected.

Testing for Radon

According to the EPA, radon gas levels can vary by day, season and geographic area. The radon levels can even be different in your home as compared to your next door neighbor’s home. Therefore, all potential homebuyers, current homeowners and home sellers should have their homes tested for radon.

The EPA recommends testing for radon under the following circumstances:

• The home was never tested.
• The home was tested more than two years prior.
• The home was renovated since it was last tested.
• You plan to occupy a lower level of the home than what was originally tested, such as the basement. 

To test a home for radon, you can order a kit by mail from a qualified radon measurement service provider, purchase a radon kit from a local hardware store or hire a qualified radon tester (often also a home inspector).

If a radon test reveals that your home’s level is dangerous, you can install a radon mitigation system.  A qualified radon reduction contractor can install a system in typically less than a day. If your home’s water source has high levels of radon, too, a point-of-entry treatment device can be installed to reduce emissions.

Ensure that your family is breathing easy by testing for radon and installing a radon mitigation system if the gas levels in your home are too high.

For more information on radon testing and your home insurance , contact your agent.