Radon Detectors
Radon gas can be a major hazard for homes, as it has been linked to increased chances of lung cancer. Unfortunately, radon gas is common. It's formed by the breakdown of radioactive materials that exist naturally in almost all types of dirt. Radon gas can get into a home, and if the home wasn't built with anti-radon measures in mind, it can gradually build up over the course of several years. The EPA estimates that 1 in 15 homes in the United States have high levels of radon gas that could potentially be dangerous for the home's occupants. It's very important to know whether there is a radon gas problem in your area and in your home in particular. If there's a problem, you can easily take steps to remove excess levels of radon gas and to stop your house from building up dangerous levels of radon gas in the future. The first thing to do is to test your home, which is a fairly inexpensive and quick process.
Home Inspector Radon Testing
A home inspector can provide a one-time radon inspection test to give you an idea of whether or not radon gas is a problem in your area. To do this, radon gas levels are measured through a radon inspection process that can take up to 48 hours, at which point the radon levels can be compared to recommendations provided by the EPA. If radon levels are anywhere near a dangerous level in your area (about 4 pCi or higher), using a radon detector regularly will help you to keep your family safe. Before buying a detector, be sure to get your home inspector's advice; he or she will be able to tell you which type of detector is appropriate given your home's size and existing radon gas levels in the area.
Radon Detector Placement and Testing
Radon detectors vary greatly, but they work - provided they're installed properly and placed in an adequate location for testing purposes. A knowledgeable home inspector will be able to help you set up a new radon detector easily and can advise you on changes to make to your home that will prevent radon gas from building up. It can take a long time for excessive radon gas to become a problem, but treating the problem early will diminish the effects that the gas can have on your health and the health of your family. It can also help you to treat your radon problem without spending too much of your family's home improvement budget. With a high quality, properly installed radon detector, you'll be notified if radon gas levels become dangerous, at which point you can contact your home inspector or a specialist company to evaluate the area and remove the potentially dangerous radon gas. The detector can be set to make a beeping sound and to monitor both short and long-term levels of radon gas. A good detector and radon inspection can be an important way to keep your family safe.
