The Dangers of Radon in the Home

While people did not always know about the dangers of radon in the home, it’s become clear that it’s a potential threat to your family’s health. Every year, over 20,0000 people die of radon-related causes. This article explains how radon can affect you and what you should do to protect your family.

How Radon in the Home Affects Your Health

When radioactive elements like uranium break down in water or rocks, a radioactive gas called radon is formed. Radon is harmful to humans at certain levels and it has been linked to cancer. Each year, at least 21,000 people in the United States die from lung cancer that has been traced to radon exposure.

Since this radioactive gas is naturally occurring, it’s present in many houses across the United States and in the air that you breathe outdoors. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer.

The dangers of radon in your home can only be reduced through conscious efforts. Be proactive by testing for radon before you purchase a home and test for radon regularly as a homeowner. Radon is colorless, tasteless, and odorless, so you won’t be able to detect its presence without a test.

Avoid the Dangers of Radon in the Home Through Testing

Many homeowners test their homes to verify that radon is not a problem. This is especially important to do when selling your home because most buyers want to know the levels and will order their own test. Discovering high radon levels late in the transaction can stall the sale when a buyer requests mitigation before closing on the home.

If radon levels exceed 4 pCi/L, contact a professional for radon mitigation. The seller is usually responsible for paying for radon mitigation and should hire a contractor who specializes in this area.

You may not think radon testing is necessary, but if high levels of radon are present and you don’t know, it could have serious consequences.

How Does Radon Mitigation Work?

Radon mitigation includes preventing radon from seeping into your home and ventilating existing radon gas to the outdoors. Sometimes contractors use radon-resistant construction materials to block the gas. Ask about these techniques if you’re building a new home because it is much easier to add them during construction.

Leave radon mitigation and testing to professionals instead of trying to do it yourself to keep your family and property safe.

First Impression Home Inspections provides inspection services and radon testing. Contact us to schedule an appointment in the Shenandoah Valley.