Tag Archives: radon testing

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What Does Radon Smell Like?

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Have you ever wondered what radon smells like? Or does it have a smell? Many people are becoming aware of what radon can do to the body. Long-term exposure can increase a person’s risk of lung cancer. 

This is why many health and environmental agencies are raising awareness of radon’s adverse effects. As a homeowner, it is essential to keep your home radon-free to ensure your family’s safety. The question is, can you detect radon by its smell? If not, what can you do to detect radon?

Does Radon Have A Smell?

Radon has caused death to millions of people’s lives. That’s why it is considered the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. To address the issue, the government and support groups are encouraging households to create a radon-resistant home. This is possible by installing radon mitigation systems that will eventually reduce the amount of radon in homes. One of the first steps to make your home radon-free is detecting whether the gas is present or not. 

Some people believe that radon smells like rotten eggs, so it is easier to determine the existence of the cancer-causing gas. However, this is only a myth because radon has no smell. Unlike others’ beliefs, radon has no color, taste, and smell, making it challenging to identify its existence. The good news is there are tests designed especially for radon, allowing you to have an accurate reading on the radon level in your home.

What to Do to Detect Radon

Since radon gas can’t be seen or smelled, the only way to know its existence is through radon testing. You may refer to “A Citizen’s Guide to Radon” published by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This guide will help you test your home for radon, especially if you consider DIY radon test kits. Not only that, but you’ll also learn what to do if your home’s radon levels are too high.

Radon testing has two types – short-term and long-term. Short-term radon testing is enough to detect radon, but if you want to monitor the radon levels at home, long-term testing is highly recommended. If you think you cannot do the testing yourself, you can hire a professional radon contractor. It would be best to look from your state’s list of licensed radon contractors.

Radon is a dangerous gas because it can cause lung cancer. Since it is naturally occurring, it’s pretty challenging to ensure that you are not exposed to this radioactive material. To address the issue, installing a radon mitigation system is ideal. Ensure to hire a licensed radon contractor and ask for the recommended radon reduction techniques suitable for your home.

Is Radon Radioactive?

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Many people know that radon can cause cancer. But not all understand what it is, how it enters one’s home and other dangers that it could bring. What is radon? Is radon radioactive? If so, what does it mean?

Understanding Radioactivity

Suppose radon is a radioactive material; what can it do to you? Does it make radon more dangerous? To understand radon more, it is essential to learn what radioactivity is. In simple terms, radioactivity refers to the spontaneous disintegration or decay of the nucleus of an atom. It happens through the emission of particles which are usually accompanied by electromagnetic radiation. 

Radioactivity naturally happens. It is exhibited by several elements, which include but are not limited to uranium, radium, radon gas, and radon’s daughters. Radiation produced by the elements can be of three types, and these are the following:

  • Alpha particle. It has relatively weak penetration power, a nucleus that includes two protons and two neutrons of an ordinary helium atom.
  • Beta particle. It has a moderate penetration power, which is a high-speed electron. Sometimes, it can be in a positron that is the electron’s antiparticle.
  • Gamma radiation. It is a type of electromagnetic radiation with very short wavelengths. As such, it results in very high penetration power. 

Is Radon Radioactive?

As mentioned earlier, radon exhibits radioactivity; therefore, it is a radioactive material. The problem with radon is its unusual property in terms of the radioactive decay chain. The gas produced by radon comes from a radioactive solid element. Then, the radioactive gas changes back into radioactive heavy metallic particles. 

The atomic size allows the transport of the radioactive atoms to pass through a relatively static environment. As a result, there is enough time for radon’s extended half-life to migrate through cracks and crevices in building foundations. This makes radon dangerous because it allows the gas to move quickly through a building or home. As a result, the air becomes contaminated.

Should You Test Your Home for Radon?

Since radon moves rapidly through the cracks in your home, it is essential to ensure that you are not exposed to the radioactive gas. The only way to find out if you have a radon-resistant home is through radon testing. Once you determine if radon exists in your home, you can contact a licensed radon contractor from your state for radon mitigation.

There are two types of radon testing that you can perform in your house. The first one is short-term, and the other one is long-term testing. It is advised to do both because short-term testing is only conducted to check the existence of the radioactive gas. To determine the radon levels and assess whether you need to take action or not, monitoring through long-term radon testing is recommended.

Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause cancer. That’s why making your home radon-resistant is a vital step to lower your risks of acquiring the diseases. You can do short-term and long-term radon testing as the initial steps in radon mitigation. Don’t hesitate to ask for professional help when needed.

Radon Exposure: What You Need to Know

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Radon is a cancer-causing gas that you cannot see or touch. Although radon exposure doesn’t kill you right away, it is still essential to avoid contact with it. Long-term radon exposure can increase your risk of lung cancer. Since this radioactive gas is invisible, you’ll never know if you are breathing it or not. In this article, learn what you need to do once exposed to radon and what you can do to avoid it.

The Significance of Radon Testing

Many homeowners ask, “What should I do if I am exposed to radon?” Before you know what to do, it is crucial to identify first if you got radon exposure. The only way to do it is through radon testing. There are two types of radon testing, short-term and long-term radon testing. Short-term testing is enough to check if radon is present in your home.

Since radon fluctuates, it’s challenging to assess whether radon in your house is harmful since the level can be low or high. On the other hand, long-term radon testing is advisable if you want to reduce the radon levels in your home. Once you conduct long-term radon testing and find consistent high radon levels, you need to call licensed radon contractors to install radon mitigation in your home.

Radon Exposure: What to Do?

Once you test your home for radon and find out that there are high radon levels, it would be best to inform your family physician of the radon exposure. The physician might recommend a chest x-ray asking you to screen yourself for lung cancer or other medical reasons. Worry not because it is an appropriate medical screening. Doing so can help the doctor assess whether you still have healthy lungs or damaged by certain factors like radon.

Remember that both smokers and non-smokers are prone to cancer. However, getting lung cancer is higher for those who smoke, especially when exposed to radon. If you are a smoker, it would be healthier to stop this vice soon, particularly if you are getting radon exposure. Ensure to contact your physician for your health concerns and a licensed radon contractor in your state for radon mitigation.

How to Avoid Radon Exposure

After testing your home for radon, your contractor might install a radon mitigation system, depending on the radon levels. You can also do the following to help prevent radon from entering your home:

Stop smoking in your home.

As stated earlier, the risk of lung cancer is higher for those who smoke. If you want to avoid the deadly disease, it would be best to stop smoking and discourage doing it to all your family members.

Open the windows and use fans and vents to increase airflow.

Natural ventilation can improve the ventilation in your home and increase the airflow inside. But remember, it is only a temporary strategy. It is still recommended to ask for your contractor’s advice.

Hire qualified contractors in your state.

Not all radon contractors have a license to perform radon mitigation systems. To ensure that you are hiring a licensed one, visit your state’s website on radon mitigation.

Lung cancer has been the cause of death for many people. The problem is, this disease is not only caused by smoking. According to the World Health Organization, radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, so it would be best to avoid it by making your home radon-free.

Radon and Lung Cancer: 5 Myths Debunked

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Not all people know about the adverse effects of radon. This is why every state is exerting much effort to raise awareness on this cancer-causing gas. Though the World Health Organization has released a statement about the relationship between radon and lung cancer, some people still lack knowledge about what this radioactive gas can do. As a result, they believe in some myths. In this article, learn the truth about radon and lung cancer.

The Truth About Radon and Lung Cancer

Radon is a radioactive gas, which the naked eye cannot see. You cannot also smell or touch it, making it challenging to identify whether it is present in your home or not. This is why radon testing is needed to determine the radon levels in your home. Although there are tolerable levels, meaning it is not that dangerous, it is still best to make your home radon-free. 

Radon and lung cancer are always related. Exposing yourself to high radon levels for a long time can increase your risk of lung cancer. According to the World Health Organization, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, making it next to smoking. If you are a smoker, the chances of getting lung cancer increase when you are exposed to radon.

Probably, some of you might ask, “What if I don’t smoke? Will I still get lung cancer?” The answer is yes because lung cancer can be caused by second-hand smoking. Another cause is high radon exposure. If you want to avoid this deadly disease, make sure to stop smoking and create a radon-resistant home.

Radon Myths Debunked

Do you know a lot of things about radon? If not, here are some of the popular myths that you should not believe.

Radon is not dangerous.

If radon is not dangerous, then there will be no reported cases of radon deaths. The truth is, the number of deaths caused by this radioactive gas is alarming. Every year, more and more people die because of lung cancer caused by radon. If you don’t want to be a victim of this silent killer, make sure to do the proper radon mitigation. 

High levels of radon can be detected.

Whether radon is high or low, you cannot detect it unless you conduct radon testing. You can perform a short-term radon test or opt for long-term radon testing.

Homeowners can just open the windows to avoid high radon levels.

Although opening your windows can improve your home’s ventilation and reduce radon, it is still not enough to make your home radon-free. Therefore, consider other radon reduction techniques recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency.

If a radon mitigation system is installed, radon testing is not needed.

Radon testing is still needed even if you have installed a radon mitigation system in your home. This is because radon fluctuates, meaning it can be high or low. As such, you need to consistently monitor the radon level to ensure that you are safe from cancer-causing gas.

If the neighbor’s home has low radon levels, so do the others too.

Radon levels vary from home to home, so make sure to ask for professional help to determine the radon levels in your home.

Radon is dangerous, so homeowners have to take the proper steps to avoid this cancer-causing gas. There are different radon mitigation techniques to consider. But it would be best to call a licensed radon contractor to ensure that your home is radon-free. Doing so guarantees that you will be safe from radon and lung cancer.

The Importance of Long-Term Radon Testing

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According to the World Health Organization, radon is a major cause of lung cancer. This radioactive material is considered dangerous since it can increase the risks of people to the said deadly disease. Whether you are a smoker or not, you can have lung cancer once exposed to high radon levels. One step that you can take to avoid radon’s adverse effects is to conduct long-term radon testing.

What is Radon Testing?

Radon testing is the process that you can use to identify the radon level in your home. You may ask for professional assistance from licensed radon contractors to conduct radon testing in your properties. Another option is to buy DIY radon test kits and do the radon testing yourself. If you have never tried it before, it is ideal to call the experts.

There are two types of radon testing to choose from: short-term and long-term radon testing. Although both can help you detect whether the cancer-causing gas is present in your home, choosing the latter one is highly recommended. To understand better, here’s the difference between the two types of tests:

Short Term vs. Long-Term

Short-term radon testing allows you to measure radon levels for 2-7 days. It is the quickest way to screen your home for radon. According to professional radon contractors, it is best to start with a short-term radon test when detecting the radioactive material.

On the other hand, long-term radon testing allows you to measure radon levels for a minimum of 90 days. Unlike short-term radon tests, this process can estimate the annual average of radon in your home. Long-term testing is more ideal because it includes both heating and non-heating seasons.

Why Long-Term Radon Testing is A Must

Some homeowners overlook the significance of radon testing because, for them, it is not necessary. And if they will test their home for radon, they believe a short-term radon test is enough. But unfortunately, it is not. Not only that, but it requires additional costs.

Long-term radon testing is a must because this radioactive gas fluctuates. Meaning, radon levels can be low or high at certain times of the year. Although there is an acceptable radon level at home, you’ll never know if it is safe unless you monitor the levels yourself. As such, long-term radon testing is a must.

Unlike short-term radon tests, a long-term radon test can tell you anything about how much radon is present, considering the different times of the year. With this process, you can monitor which area of your house has high radon levels. The surprising benefit of long-term radon tests is you can avoid unnecessary expenses. But how?

Some homeowners consider radon mitigation techniques as soon as they discover that their home has high radon levels. This could be costly since that could be the season where the radon level is high. There are times when the radon level is low, which means you don’t have to conduct radon mitigation right away.

Should You Do Short-Term or Long-Term Radon Testing?

If you cannot decide between short-term and long-term tests, you may consider both. The first one can be used to identify whether the radioactive gas is present. Once you found out that radon is present in your home, it’s time to monitor the radon levels throughout the year. If the radon level becomes alarming and you think it poses health risks, contact the radon experts and ask for the ideal radon mitigation techniques.

3 Radon Reduction Techniques Recommended by Experts

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Radon is rampant in the United States. It is not questionable since radon is a naturally occurring gas. Although you can find it anywhere, it is still challenging to identify if your home has high radon levels because the gas is inert, colorless, and odorless. The only way to determine if your home is safe from cancer-causing gas is to test your home for radon. If the results of radon tests show that your home has high radon levels, it’s time to apply proven and cost-effective radon reduction techniques.

Why You Should Reduce Radon Now

You can find radon in the atmosphere, but only in trace amounts. This is because it disperses quickly, making it not a health issue. What makes it a primary concern is when a person is exposed to high radon levels. Breathing radon for a long time at high levels can increase your risk of lung cancer. Although exposing yourself to radioactive gas will not kill you right away, it is still a threat to human health.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. This is why no one should overlook the possibility of exposing oneself to radon because most exposures occur inside homes, schools, and workplaces. Meaning no one is safe from the adverse effects of radon unless you make your home radon-resistant. 

You can take specific measures to reduce and control the amount of radon in your home. You can use DIY radon test kits to determine the radon levels, then apply the radon reduction techniques needed. If you want to guarantee the effectiveness of radon reduction, you can hire a licensed radon contractor. Based on the EPA guidance, radon mitigation is necessary if the radon levels are at or above 148 Bq/m3 (4 pCi/L).

Recommended Radon Reduction Techniques

Whether you are just waiting for your home to be built or already living in your dream house, radon mitigation is a must if your home has high radon levels. The following are the recommended radon reduction construction techniques from radon experts:

Heat Recovery Ventilator

Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) is one of the most recommended radon reduction techniques that you can do. It is also known as an air-to-air heat exchanger, which can be installed to increase ventilation by introducing outdoor air while using the heated or cooled air being exhausted to warm or cool the incoming air. 

House or Room Pressurization 

Another cost-effective method of reducing radon levels is using a fan to blow air into the basement or living area. Doing so creates enough pressure at the lowest level indoors, which can prevent radon from entering the home. But before you do this, take note that the effectiveness of this technique is limited by several factors, including home construction, climate, and other appliances in the home.

Sealing

Radon can pass through the cracks and other openings in the foundation of your home. Sealing these areas is one of the approaches to radon reduction. When you seal the cracks, you can limit the flow of radon into your home. This is one of the most recommended radon reduction techniques by experts because it is more effective and cost-efficient. Not only that, but it also reduces the loss of conditioned air. 

Radon is a cancer-causing gas; that’s why as a homeowner, you should consider radon mitigation to ensure that you and your family are safe from the gas’s adverse effects. Although there are DIY radon tests and mitigations you can do, it is still advisable to ask for professional help to apply radon reduction techniques. Licensed radon contractors know what to do to make your home radon-resistant.

How Radon Gets Into the House

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Radon can be found in soil, and since it is naturally occurring, no one can prevent its existence. Besides, it can be found anywhere, including your home. This radioactive gas is prevalent in the United States, affecting thousands to millions of households. Although not everyone is aware of its adverse effects, more and more people consider radon mitigation to make a radon-resistant home. If you have never heard of radon before, we’re here to give you a glimpse of its harmful effects. You’ll also learn how this radioactive gas enters your home and what you can do about it.

Radon Mitigation: Why You Should Consider It Now

Lung cancer is no joke because many people have died because of it. According to the World Health Organization, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Although you are not a smoker, there are still chances that you can acquire it if you are exposed to high radon levels for a long time. The truth is, radon is the second leading cause of cancer next. And if you are a smoker, you are increasing your risks of lung cancer especially if your home has high radon levels.

Since radon is inevitable, it would be best to consider radon mitigation. You may apply quick fixes while waiting for a radon contractor or hire a radon expert immediately once you found out that your home has high radon levels. When it comes to radon mitigation, there are temporary and permanent solutions, and the best one depends on your necessity. If you are creating a radon-resistant home and want to live there as long as possible, the best radon mitigation techniques should be applied.

How Radon Enters Your Home

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium. It is usually found in nearly all soils. This gas moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home. Radon can enter your house through the cracks and other holes in your home’s foundation. This is why any home can experience a radon problem, including new and old houses, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.

Simple Radon Reduction Techniques

If you want to reduce radon  in your home, here are some radon reduction techniques to consider:

  • Caulking – you can use caulking products to seal entry points in the floors and walls of the home. 
  • Sealing – draft the excluders and rubber seals to seal around doors and other access points in a building. Don’t forget to seal the large cracks and openings in your home.
  • Ventilation – open the windows and vents to ensure that air is flowing throughout the house. If your home has a suspended ground floor and space underneath, make sure to clear the obstruction to improve the ventilation.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas, and it can be found almost everywhere. Therefore, you cannot guarantee that your home is safe from this cancer-causing gas. If you want to reduce the risks of acquiring lung cancer from long-time radon exposure, radon testing and applying radon mitigation should be prioritized.

Symptoms of Radon Poisoning

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Radon is a radioactive gas found in soil that is prevalent in the United States. Since radon is naturally occurring, every household can experience radon problems. Everyone must be aware of this radioactive gas because its adverse effects include increasing one’s risks of lung cancer. The World Health Organization confirmed that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer next to smoking. WHO also stated that smokers have higher risks of lung cancer if they are also exposed to high radon levels. If you want to keep yourself safe from this cancer-causing gas, it is vital to learn the radon mitigation techniques you can apply to prevent radon poisoning and other problems.

What is Radon Poisoning?

Aside from cancer, radon can also cause radon poisoning. But what is it, and what does it do to your body?

Radon is the end product of radium decay. When large amounts of this gas enter your body, radon poisoning could occur, causing harmful physical changes. Some people experience radon problems without actually knowing it. This is because radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas; therefore, it is challenging to detect the gas using human senses. Although radon poisoning does not cause severe health problems compared to other radioactive substances, long-term radon exposure can lead to the development of lung cancer. 

Radon Poisoning Symptoms

Unless you conduct radon testing, you cannot detect radon at home. So how can you tell if there is radon poisoning? What are its symptoms?

The problem with radon poisoning is it is symptomless. So it’s hard to tell whether you are exposed to radon because it gives no meaningful indication of exposure. Besides being undetectable by human senses, it also does not produce any effects on the body. You’ll only know you’ve got radon problems once it has caused cellular changes to your body and, worse, lead to lung cancer. Therefore, everyone must take all the necessary precautions against radon exposure, especially if you are living in Zone 1 area. In this place, there are higher radon levels compared to other sites. 

Lung Cancer Symptoms

Lung cancer is not only caused by smoking because long-term exposure to high radon levels can also cause it. That’s why you also have to be familiar with lung cancer symptoms because if you are not a smoker or have never been exposed to smoking and you start to feel the lung cancer symptoms, you need to consult a doctor immediately. Some of the signs you need to remember include coughing up blood, feeling chest pain, and experiencing breathing difficulties.

Radon is very harmful to human health because it can cause radon poisoning and lung cancer. Therefore, it is a must for every home to conduct radon testing to find out the radon levels in the house. This way, homeowners can apply the best mitigation technique to create a radon-resistant home. Since radon mainly accumulates in places where the ventilation is inadequate, it would be best to use radon reduction techniques to improve the ventilation inside your home. You may consider some DIY radon mitigation or entrust the job to a licensed radon contractor.

Can Radon Contaminate Objects?

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More and more people are becoming aware of how dangerous radon is. But it doesn’t stop health organizations from raising awareness about the adverse effects of this cancer-causing gas. Since a long time exposure to high radon levels can damage the cells in your lungs, there is a need for radon mitigation to ensure that every home in the United States is safe for each family. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can enter your home in so many ways, leaving a question to most people, can this radioactive gas contaminate objects? If so, what are its harmful effects?

Radon in the Basement

As stated earlier, radon is naturally occurring. Although you cannot prevent its existence, you can avoid having high radon levels in your home. Since most houses in the United States have basements, homeowners should consider getting these areas tested for radon. Take note that radon can enter through the cracks seen in your floors, especially near the foundation of your home. Besides, basements are places where most homeowners keep the things they don’t often use. If you need these things one day, you might be concerned if radon has contaminated the objects stored in your basements.

If you are concerned about radon contamination in objects, you should not since radon decays quickly into non-noble products. Although the gas attaches itself to tangible things and the decay products sound alarming, radon concentrations at normal levels should not unto themselves be a cause for concern relative to the production of the decay products. Radon in objects is not a primary concern since the gas does not react very well with anything. For instance, when you breathe radon in, most of it gets breathed out without interacting with your lung tissues.

People should not be alarmed only with radon but with its decay products as well. The decay products are called radon progeny, particulates similar to small dust particles that can attach themselves to lung surfaces. These particles deliver a radiation dose from the alpha particles that the radon progeny emits. Most people are afraid of the health risk but it does not come from the gas itself but the progeny that the radon atoms turn into.

Radon Contamination in Objects

Radon can be found in objects, but people should not be afraid of it. If you conduct a radon test in your home and found out high radon levels in one area, it doesn’t mean that there are also high radon levels in the other rooms. What you can see in the objects you think are contaminated are the road progeny, which are like tiny dust particles. According to radon contractors, the amount of radioactivity associated with the progeny particles should not be more than the radioactivity associated with the radon gas parent.

Radon is a dangerous gas, but you should not panic when you find out that your home has high radon levels. This is because there are different ways on how to conduct radon mitigation. There are temporary solutions that you can apply to reduce radon levels. Once you have prepared a budget for more permanent radon reduction techniques, you can call the nearest radon contractor in your state to solve your radon problems.

radon levels vacant home

Are Radon Levels Higher In Vacant Homes?

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Radon is a naturally occurring gas, that’s why you can expect it anywhere, even at your home. Although it is dangerous, there is a specific radon level that is considered harmful to people. When you expose yourself to high radon levels for a long time, the cells in your lungs will be damaged, increasing your risk to lung cancer. If you want to avoid this, it is crucial to create a radon-resistant home. If you are buying a house or relocating to a new one, you must ensure that the house is radon-free by conducting radon testing. This is because you’ll never know if vacant homes have higher radon levels. If you are curious to know, then we’re here to give you the answer.

Radon Levels in Vacant Homes

Most people who are aware of how dangerous radon has the same question in mind. Are radon levels higher in vacant homes? Some homeowners believe that radon is more evident in newly built houses. Therefore, they ask the assistance of professional radon contractors to decrease radon in the place. Others who have abandoned their home for a long time also worry if cancer-causing gas is more evident after leaving it for months or years. Before we answer the question, there are several things that you need to know when it comes to radon entry. The following will help you understand how radon enters your home and answer your question of whether leaving the house vacant for a certain period can elevate radon levels.

Radon enters your home through cracks or openings in your house’s foundation. 

Whether your home is vacant or not, radon can still enter because it passes through the cracks or opening of your house’s foundation unless you have applied radon mitigation techniques. Aside from this, the differences in air pressure between the inside of a building and the soil around it can also contribute to radon entry.

Your home exchanges its air every 6-8 hours. 

According to professional radon contractors, the air in your house circulates, and it exchanges its air every 6-8 hours. Meaning, if there are high radon levels, there is a possibility that it will be reduced. This could happen through natural convection and air circulation with your HVAC system. However, it is still essential to ensure that the house was built with radon reduction techniques to remove your worries regarding high radon levels.

Leaving your windows open for a long time contributes to radon entry.

Radon experts say that unless you can have every window open when in a home, open windows can create a more significant stack effect that pulls more radon gas into your house. So make sure to improve your home’s ventilation, so you don’t have to open your windows for a long time.

Radon is indeed dangerous because it brings adverse health effects. But since it is naturally occurring, what homeowners can do is to apply radon mitigation techniques. Although there are DIYs that you can follow, it is still best to ask for radon experts’ help; doing so quill guarantee that your home is safe from high radon levels even if you leave it vacant for a long time.