Did you know that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer? Followed closely by smoking, radon is responsible for approximately 21,000 deaths annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, it may be lurking, undetectable, now at home. The EPA estimates that 1 in every 15 homes has high radon concentrations. And 'in every area of each was found and can live in your house, but not the house next door.
Radon is a naturaloccurring gas from the decay of uranium and radium caused radioactive soil often found in rocks and soil, and sometimes in well water. The dangers of radon have been discovered in 1950 in the uranium mines that hold high concentrations of radon, but it was not until 1980, when an employee outside of a nuclear radiation alarms on his way to work, it became clear that there could be a threat to the budget.
Radon is invisible, has no odor, andTime effects appear in one person, it is likely that significant lung damage has already occurred. Radon enters buildings from the ground. Since hot air rises, it creates a vacuum has caused continuous supply of gas. Blowing through the very small space and could be through small cracks in the foundation to penetrate, around pipes, sump pumps and drains, and even through walls and floors. Radon is a faceless enemy that penetrates subtly and slowlykills.
SIX contaminated?
Contamination detect radon is simple and could save your family. Although only a few areas requiring mandatory testing radon in the sale of a home is a good idea for your home, if you're going to move, sell, or lived there for years to test. In addition, we recommend a test before buying a house can be done, and it is always a common practice to do so.
There are several ways to checkhigh levels of radon in your home. There are two types of tests to passive and active, and both are fairly easy to do alone. The first and fastest is to test a person. These are usually short and often filled the place of coal in the container of the situation, would the test and left them there for a certain period (usually 3-7 days). If radon, there are chemical changes in the position in the canister, that if the laboratory results sent inPre-paid mailer is included with the product can then be analyzed. However, because the concentrations of radon can vary from day to day or season to season change, the EPA recommends two back-to-back short-term tests to assess your situation better your chances of maximizing.
A second type of test is called short-term alpha-track detectors and contains a piece of paper, aluminum or plastic, used to be expected, the particles thrown from the decaying radon gas. Each particle will leave a small dentmay be the surface and the markings are then counted in the laboratory, so that the image proportionally, the amount of radon in the room are then calculated.
The test is active in the long term and requires the use of electricity. These are more accurate than the short-term tests, even at home for 90 days or more, and profits are more likely to experience a complete year-round average radon reading as a short-term. These are constantly monitored to record data at least once every hour, as wellmonitor their own operation. Some even have the temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and other deviations in the room. While there are some long-term tests, which are relatively inexpensive, it cost more than short-term tests, some kits cost up to $ 400, and many are managed by a professional.
Solve the problem
Now that you know how to test for radon in the home, what to do when you find that it increases the levels of radon? Despite the initialThoughts, like a deadly gas can with his family at first glance intimidating, that hundreds of thousands of homeowners in her shoes and have their homes safely.
There are several ways you can prevent radon from entering your home. If you have a place defined input, such as a sump pump to find a pipe or a crack in your foundation, you can also just his way. This is an economical solution, but can not provide complete protection, becausemay be just one of many sources of revenue. The EPA does not seal as a technique for reducing the primary.
A second option is a kind of bubble of fresh air in the building that pushes the radon gas away to create the house. An average cost of about $ 600, but while these may be effective, it is unpredictable and requires careful sealing and loose soil.
Most techniques involve some kind is to reduce fan, drawing air from the bottom of the drain in the basement andon the roof, so as to bring out the danger around and around the house, rather than increase them. This can be done for less than $ 2000. If you have a space to crawl under your house, you can also use a layer of special plastic that are sealed on the outer walls, whereby the exhaust pipe further reducing the possibility of exposure.
Regardless of detection method for solving the identification of radon in your home and the problem is to ensure that the house where you liveremains safe and comfortable. Fear not, if you find radon in preparation for the sale of your home. Take measures to prevent their entry and can be a point of sale, does not use a deterrent. If you are buying, selling or property home for many years, testing for radon is a wise choice and health savings.
