Why you should test your home for radon

Radon gas isn’t always the first thing people think of when ensuring that their home is safe to live in. However, the statistics show that radon gas is actually one of the most deadly in-home hazards in the US. In fact, radon gas is 48.8 times deadlier each year than carbon monoxide poisoning (21,000 deaths for radon compared to 430 for carbon monoxide). 

Seemingly every homeowner has one or two carbon monoxide detectors in their homes, so it is only logical that every homeowner has some type of radon test done every year right? Well, not so much, radon awareness is still fairly low, and since radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, it seems to be an out of sight out of mind situation with many people. 

Our main goal is to increase awareness about the dangers of radon gas within the home, and achieve zero deaths in Wisconsin from radon gas. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and for people who smoke, it increases the risk of lung cancer astronomically. 

Radon testing is the only way to know if your home has an issue, and fortunately it is an affordable and painless process to complete. 
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There are four main options you have when testing your home for radon gas including charcoal test kits, professional digital test monitors, long term canisters, and in-home bluetooth/wifi enabled continuous test monitors.

Charcoal Test Kits

The most common form of radon testing is through the use of charcoal testing kits. These kits can be completed by anyone and are very easy to set up and take down. When opened, charcoal test kits need to be exposed to the basement or lower level of the home for 3-7 days. After completion, the test kit is sealed up and mailed to a 3rd party lab. From start to finish these tests take about 1 ½ to 2 weeks to get results from. 

Professional Testing

Professional radon testing is typically performed with calibrated digital monitors like the AirThings Corentium Pro. Professional testing companies hold certifications through organizations such as the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSP). This ensures that the testing is done to protocols and the devices used are calibrated properly for the most accurate results you can get. From start to finish, this is also typically the fastest way to get results as the monitors used can generate a full report as soon as the device is retrieved from the property.

Long Term Testing

Long term testing is recommended for homeowners that have performed short term radon testing in the past with borderline results. Long term tests allow for a larger sample size and can give homeowners a better idea of what their average levels are like year round. These tests can run anywhere from 90 days to a full year.

In-home Continuous Testing Monitors
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For homeowners that want to stay on top of their radon levels at any time, there do exist monitors that can sit in the home indefinitely. These monitors are not as pinpoint accurate as a professionally calibrated monitor, but can be quite close. Through the use of an app on your phone, or by simply looking at a simple display on the monitor, you can track your radon levels hour by hour at any time. We recommend the Airthings Wave, Airthings Home or Ecosense EcoQube as the best options for this type of monitor.

Conclusion

Radon testing should be a no-brainer when owning a home in Wisconsin. The potential risk of developing lung cancer from simply living in your home is unnecessary. Radon testing is a very simple procedure, and there are multiple options depending on your needs. We have heard countless heartbreaking stories of people developing lung cancer without ever smoking, and it hurts to know that it could have been prevented. Pets are not exempt from the effects of radon gas either, we hear even more stories of cats and dogs developing lung cancer unexpectedly, only to find out that the basement they have been sleeping in every night had dangerous levels of radon gas.  We strongly urge you to take action if you have never tested. We are here to help, give us a call today!