What is Radon?
What is Radon and is it a heath risk for my family?
Radon is an odorless, colorless and tasteless radioactive gas. It comes from natural radioactive breakdown or uranium in soil, rock and water and it gets into the air. The EPA (enviormental protection agency) estimates that radon causes between 8,000 and 30,000 of deaths each year. Human exposure to radon may produce lung cancer.
How does Radon enter a house?
Radon is a gas that typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into a home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. A home traps radon inside where it can build up to dangerous levels. The EPA estimates that 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States has elevated radon levels.
How can you find out if your house has Radon?
Air quality in a house can be tested with passive devises (used directly by a property owner and then have to be sent out to a lab), active devises used by professionals usually high tech mechanism that will provide a accurate reading of the radon level in a property. Click to view US radon map in your area.
What to do if your house has elevated Radon readings?
A variety of methods can be used to reduce radon levels in a home. Sealing cracks and openings in the foundation is a basic approach to reduce radon. In most cases radon mitigation involve installing a pump, pipes and fans. The cost may vary depending on the property.
Even if your neighbor property may have elevated levels of radon does not mean that your property has the same condition.
Recomendations
The EPA recommended that you hire a certified radon mitigation service provider. The National Environmental Heath Association (NEHA) has been instituted as a replacement to the EPA radon mitigate certification program. Individuals listed with NEHA have been qualified through a process of education and examination to provide high quality radon services. Click to find a NEHA certified service provider in your area.
As a standard business practice I make a suggestion to my clients to include a radon test as part of a property inspection.
Sandra DeVargas
716-316-1629
www.BuffaloNiagaraProperties
Sandra@TheDevargasTeam.com
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