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How to Test for Radon Gas |
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Radon Gas infiltration is greatly affected by the Geology of a particular area. |
My house also has a crawlspace where the gas can collect and filter up through the floor boards into the living space depending on pressure gradients (gases passively flow from high pressure to low pressure).
Houses with basements sunk into the earth also may be more likely to have elevated Radon Gas levels compared to houses with slab foundations. This is because the basement cavity creates a low pressure area compared to the surrounding earth and the Radon will flow down the pressure gradient taking the path of least resistence into the basement and up into the home carried by air drafts wafting up through the building structure.
The more air tight our homes become for the purpose of increased energy efficiency, the more Radon Gas they may tend to accumulate. But even still, no matter what style of home or how air tight it is, all homes should be tested for Radon Gas.
Radon Gas Moves Upwards Through the Home On Air Drafts Wafting Through the Home
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Air drafts wafting through the home via the chimney effect help to pull Radon Gas up from lower levels to all other levels of the home, though lower levels such as basements or the first floor may still often remain higher overall compared to the highest levels of a home. So Radon Gas detection is often done at lower levels and where air drafts are minimal. |
Keeping crawlspace vents open for increased crawlspace ventilation is important to help let Radon Gas flow outside rather than collecting and seeping upwards into the home. But this and a standard Vapor Barrier is still often not enough of a mitigation system for Radon reduction.
Why Testing for Radon Gas is so Important
Deaths from Radon Gas Exposure
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As you can see from the above chart of Radon deaths compared to other causes of deaths in the U.S., Radon Gas exposure is implicated in almost as many deaths as those caused by drunk-driving accidents and drownings combined. |
There really is no safe level of Radon exposure. Any Radon exposure, even below the recommended action level of 4 pCi/L, means some increased risk of cancer for most. In fact, your risk of Lung Cancer is estimated to rise about 16% with every 2.7 pCi/L increase in Radon Gas exposure. But if you smoke the risk will likely be much greater.
This increased cancer risk is why it is so important to know how to test for Radon Gas. Once you know your level, you can decide if Radon abatement is needed, then take mitigation actions to protect your health.
Radon is a serious chronic health hazard, but some homeowners ask about "Radon Poisoning", as if inhaling it produces immediate acute health affects like those of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.
Radon is colorless, odorless, and usually produces no immediate allergy symptoms when inhaled. You probably would never know you are breathing it. A Radon test is the only way to confirm the probability that you may be inhaling it.
Any symptoms suspected to be related to so-called Radon Poisoning are probably most noticeable as a result of the cumulative damage caused by smoking in conjunction with elevated Radon levels.
Emphysema, Pulmonary Fibrosis, COPD, Interstitial Pneumonia, persistent cough, breathing difficulty, weight loss, wheezing, infections, and Hyperglycemia can all be worsened by exposure to elevated levels of Radon Gas which introduces both toxic metals and radiation directly into the lung tissue. So "Radon Poisoning" via the air eventually may lead to Lung Cancer due to this damage. And Radon in Water may result in Stomach Cancer.
Radioactive Decay of Radon Gas produces Alpha and Beta Radiation With Toxic Radon Daughter Elements
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As you can see from the above chart of Radon Daughters, radioactive decay of Uranium within the Earth's crust can ultimate result in the heavy metal Lead and doses of radiation directly in your lungs if Radon Gas levels are elevated in your home. |
My own extensive research into how to test for Radon Gas led me to the below easy to use short term radon test kit. I tested with several kits to get an average reading at various times of the year. The Radon readings were fairly consistent.
But since my home tested below the EPA's action guideline Radon level of 4 pCi/l I have decided a Radon Mitigation System is not a priority for my home just yet. But I will be installing the below digital Radon detector to monitor Radon Gas in my home real time.
Here is the best Radon test kit and Radon Monitor to help quantify the Radon hazard in your home.
Best Short-term "Radon in Home" Radon Test Kit
 Radon Test Kit - $42.95 Retail Price: $52.95 You Save: $10.00 |
7 Things I Like About the Premium Radon in Home Test Kit:
- The Radon in Home test kit is a quick and easy way to measure the short-term radon levels in your home to get an idea of your lung cancer risk from Radon Gas. (The below Radon Detector can provide long and short-term real time levels.)
- Unlike many Radon testing kits which charge extra for the analysis, everything is included with the Radon in Home test kit with absolutely no additional fees.
- Kit includes 2 Radon test vials, and temperature / humidity indicator strips for more accurate in home Radon analysis. Most other kits cost more and only include one vial.
- Also included is simple test instructions, Chain of Custody form, return shipping label, and accredited laboratory analysis with a very quick 3 day turn-around time upon receipt by lab. There is no extra charges for anything.
- Simple to run Radon test kits provide accurate 48 - 96 hour short-term Radon levels in units of "lectrets per liter of air" (same as pCi/L, with 4 pCi/L being the EPA's recommended action level for Radon reduction measures to be taken.)
- Great value with 2 test vials included for more accurate short-term Radon detection; however, for the most accurate Radon readings, you should test your home for long-term Radon levels which the below digital Radon Monitor is best for.
- Volume discounts on the Premium Radon in Home test kit, with purchase of 2 or more kits. A larger home with multiple levels may need multiple test kits for more accurate Radon detection.
Digital Radon Gas Detector / Monitor
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The only digital Radon Detector designed for use by homeowners Cost: $129.95 Retail Price: $139.95 You Save: $10.00 |
11 Things I Like About the Pro Series 3 Radon Gas Detector:
- Continuous air sampling for Radon Gas with hourly digital LED display updates.
- Excellent Radon Safety Tool because it provides both short or long-term Radon Gas detection (7 days, and up to 5 years!).
- This is the only highly sensitive digital Radon Gas Detector available on the market today which is designed for use by homeowners for both short and long-term radioactive gas detection.
- Radon alarm sounds if long-term average Radon Gas levels exceeds 4 pCi/L or more.
- The LED display displays the average Radon Gas level up to 999 pCi/L, with an audible alarm if 4 or more is detected by the Radon sensor.
- This Radon monitor comes with a 10 foot power cord so you can position the detector for the most accurate readings away from drafty locations such as windows or doors.
- Green LED indicator lights show if Radon detection is set for short-term ("S") or long-term ("L") readings.
- You can clear the detector's memory to reset and begin taking new readings.
- This digital Radon Detector includes an automatic daily self-test, plus a manual test function if you would like to test the unit yourself.
- If the Radon sensor alarm sounds you can easily turn the alarm off or back on using the mute button.
- There is a 1 year warranty included with Pro Series 3 Radon Gas Detector
I hope my guide on how to test for Radon Gas simply, cheaply, and accurately helps you to reduce your risk of lung cancer. More guides for the mitigation of Radon Gas are in the works.
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