Radon….Is Your Home Safe?….You Might Be Surprised

I have a friend who is selling his house and during the inspection process, it tested high for radon. Now I have to admit that off the top of my head, I couldn’t even remember what radon was. And then it occurred to me that we live very close to one another and our homes are about the same age…could we possibly have it in our own residence and was it dangerous? So I had to do some research and I was, quite frankly, surprised at what I learned and wondered why I didn’t even know this?

Here’s a few basic facts you should consider…

1. Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels.
2. Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas, estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. In fact, the General Surgeon has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
3. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem…this means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.
4. Radon can get in…cracks in solid floors, construction joints, cracks in walls, gaps in suspended floors, gaps around service pipes, cavities inside walls and through the water supply.
5. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), renovations, changes in ventilation, earthquakes, settling of the ground beneath your home, or even just time can cause ways radon can enter….and they suggest you have your home tested every couple of years.
6. You can’t see radon, but it’s not hard to find out if you have a radon problem. All you need to do is test for radon, which is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.
7. There are many kinds of low-cost “do-it-yourself” radon test kits you can get through the mail and in some hardware stores and other retail outlets.
8. If you do have high amounts of radon in your home, there are radon reduction systems that work and aren’t too costly. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%.

For for more information on radon, testing kits and what is and isn’t acceptable radon amounts visit

https://www.epa.gov/radon