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Radon is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that has been estimated to cause 5,000 to 20,000 lung cancer deaths yearly. It is second only to smoking as a cause of lung cancer. It has been estimated that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the US has elevated radon levels.
Radon is produced when small amounts of uranium and radium in soil and rocks decay. Radon gas will also decay into smaller and radioactive particles that can be inhaled into the lungs where it can damage cells and cause lung cancer.
Radon is mainly released from soil, water and natural gas which have already been exposed to radon, from solar-heating systems that use radon-emitting rocks, and from uranium or phosphate mine tailings. Radon is naturally released in low concentrations, but inside your house, radon gas can become more concentrated. Lack of ventilation exhaust fans that bring in air from outside can increase the amount of radon in your home.
The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that homes be tested for radon, which should have a radon level of 4 picocuries per liter or less. For people selling their homes, the EPA recommends that the house be tested for radon, and radon levels be reduced, if necessary. Radon levels can be reduced by increasing the airflow into the house, keeping the vents open year round, and discouraging smoking in the house. For people buying homes, the EPA recommends obtaining radon test results in addition to information about radon reduction systems.
If you are planning to have your home tested for radon, the EPA recommends that the test be conducted in the lowest level of the home that is suitable for occupancy, and you should make sure that the test is done correctly by following the EPA Test Checklist.
Priority One Home Inspections, LLC is proud to offer Radon testing as an additional service for our clients. Tests can be performed the same day as your home inspection or an alternate time. All testing is in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency's (IEMA) Division of Nuclear Safety (DNS) program. No one is required by law to fix a Radon problem, but in Illinois, any knowledge of Radon levels in a home must be disclosed. Your accurate results are emailed to you upon retrieval of the monitoring equipment, normally forty-eight (48) hours after the test started.
Radon Testing Conditions & Procedures
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Duration: All Radon tests must be a minimum of 48 hours. A test is not over until the monitor has been retrieved.
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Closed Building Conditions: Closed Building Conditions are for the whole house, not just the basement.
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Choice of Rooms for Testing: The State of Illinois requires that each different foundation in contact with the ground be tested. Many homes normally need less than three (3) monitors. Rooms exempt from testing are: bathrooms, utility and laundry rooms, closets and parts of kitchens. Radon tests are never performed in crawlspaces. They are done in the rooms above the crawlspace.
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Monitor Locations in Rooms: Monitor locations are placed in rooms according to the standards set forth by the Department of Nuclear Safety (DNS).
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Equipment: Most professionals use Continuous Room Monitors for testing. This equipment provides hourly data recording, results the day the monitor is retrieved, and assurance against tampering. Charcoal canisters and liquid scintillation devices provide none of these. Professional Radon testing equipment is harmless to humans and animals. Recommendations to avoid the equipment stem from the desire to minimize potential interference.
For your accurate Radon test!
Call today: 866-245-4663
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