If you live in a region of the country where there are high levels of radon gas, you’re probably concerned with radon gas being trapped inside your house. Radon is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas that is formed inside the earth. It comes from uranium and therefore is a uranium gas. It slips through the ground and gets inside your house, and is virtually trapped, so you really want to get it out to protect your family’s health. It is estimated that 21,000 Americans die each year from radon gas.
How do radon tests work?
To test your home for radon, you need a radon gas kit that you can buy online through a radon gas lab, or if you hire a professional air quality consultant, they will provide the equipment for the test. Before installing a radon gas kit to measure the level of radon in your house, you need to find a place in the lowest living area of the house, and it needs to be an area where no one will be going to and from for a while—two to four days. Before setting the kit out, the site needs to be shut from outside air for about 12 hours to prevent interference with the radon gas reading. You will be able to run a heater, a house fan, or radon fan, but no air system that brings in outside air. The kit will need to be set out for at least two full days, and then the equipment needs to be sent to a laboratory for analysis.
How to pass a radon test
Once your radon sampling period is over, a radon testing laboratory technician will examine the kit and read the radon gas levels. The EPA recommends radon levels between 2 to 4 picocuries (pCi) as safe, so if your test results are between these safe levels, you have passed the radon test. But those at 4 (pCi) or above should be remediated.
Radon testing cost
It depends on the size and scope of your radon testing. One radon kit can cover up to 1,500sf, so one kit should be enough for most United States homes. You can purchase a piece of equipment to test radon, do the sampling yourself, send it back to a lab for testing, spend $50 to $60, or hire a professional for about $300. The consultant will likely have a better working knowledge of testing procedures and use professional-grade tools and equipment. He will also help interpret the results and give you helpful advice.
Radon testing near me
If you need radon gas testing performed at your home by a local expert, you can find one by doing an internet search or contacting your local building department and get a list of local consultants in your area. You can also contact the experts at 5 Microns Inc.; their industrial hygienist can assist you with radon gas testing. They are available Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to 3:30 pm. They even offer same-day service as an option. Why don’t you give them a call and ask how they can help you today.
