January is Radon Awareness Month

January is Radon Awareness Month

Radon is nine times heavier than air, radon levels build up on lower levels of the home because on the pressure. Two thirds of homes exceed the recommended natural level of radon concentration.

Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter of air.  4pCi/L is the recommended “action limit” but 12 years at that level is equivalent to working 5 years in a uranium mine.  2pci/L is the recommended “consider action” limit to consider radon mitigation for your home (RadonSeal, 2016).

Radon is the 2^nd leading cause for lung cancer. Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time. The test kit includes instructions to set up the kit on the lowest possible living space of your home. Let the test sit for 48 hours, reseal the test and send to the lab specified on the package. Results come back within a few weeks.

Small amounts of radon are normal, if you test below 2pCi/L go ahead and test again later in the year. If your test is over 2pCi/L radon mitigation should be strongly considered.

It is important to check your home more than once. Results may vary based on time of year and outside factors. But also over time as pressure builds.

For more information, give us a call. We’d love to help ensure the safety of your family.