RADON

What is radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil. Your home is usually lower than pressure in the soil around your home’s foundation. Because of this difference in pressure, your house acts like vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings. Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the air in your home when water is used for showering and other household uses. In most cases, radon entering the home through water is a small risk compared to radon entering your home from the soil.

Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. In fact, you and your family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure at home. That is where you spend most your time.

Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of lung cancer deaths each year. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

How do I know if my house has radon?

Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommended testing all homes below the third floor for radon.

If you are planning to test for radon in your new or present house call us. Safe Home Inspections is authorized to performed Continuous Radon Monitoring testing (48 hrs results) by the State of New York Department of Health ELAP ID# 11894.

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