What is Radon?
Radon can't be seen, tasted, or smelled but it may be a problem in your home. Although radon is a naturally occurring gas in our environment, it is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas, and the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the U.S., according to the U.S. Surgeon General statistics.
You cannot predict your home's radon level based on the state you're living in or local radon measurements or on test results taken in other homes in your neighborhood. Testing is the only way to find out what your radon levels are.
Nearly one out of every 15 homes is estimated to have elevated radon levels. The Surgeon General and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommend testing all homes. Millions of Americans have already had their homes tested for radon, and you should, too.
Where does Radon come from?
Radon-222 is the decay product of radium-226. Radon-222 and its parent, radium-226, are part of the long decay chain for uranium-238. Since uranium is essentially ubiquitous (being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time) in the earth's crust, radium-226 and radon-222 are present in almost all rock and all soil and water.
The amount of radon in the soil depends on soil chemistry, which varies from one house to the next. Radon levels in the soil range from a few hundred to several thousands of pCi/L (picocuries per liter) in air. The amount of radon that escapes from the soil to enter the house depends on the weather, soil porosity, soil moisture, and the suction within the house.
For more information about radon, see www.epa.gov/radon.
Click the map below to see if radon is present in your area.
Is it mandatory to test my home for Radon?
No, it is not mandatory to have your home tested for Radon in the state of GA. However, per the EPA guidelines, it is Highly RECOMMENDED to have your home tested. Looking at the map above there are many counties in GA with potential levels of exposure to Radon. Not having your home tested and being exposed to high concentration levels of Radon could lead to side effects such as lung cancer; if not caught in time.
GOOD TO KNOW
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All types of houses can have high indoor Radon( Old or New, with or without basements, drafty or well insulated; the only way to know is to test.)
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Regular exposure to only 4.0 picocuries per liter(pCi/L) of Radon is comparable in risk to smoking 8 cigarettes per day or getting 200 x-rays per year.
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The lung cancer risk increases by 16% for every 3pCi/L of concentration.
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Click the link below for more information
Whom can I have test my home?
We would love to be your first-choice of being your Radon testing company. We are IAC 2 Certified for Mold, Indoor Air Quality, and Radon testing in GA. Testing is performed in your home for 52 hrs. using a Continuous Radon Monitor (CRM) under closed-door conditions. 12 hours before placement of the device, the homeowner is to close all exterior doors, windows, and garages. When the device is in the house, it is necessary that the house stay "closed" except for momentary entry and exit. This is to get a better snapshot of the home's radon potential. 52 hours after placement, the device is retrieved and results are e-mailed to the homeowner within 12 hours. Will schedule ASAP for due diligence contract needs!
What can I do to eliminate Radon in my home?
There is no need to panic if your home has elevated radon levels, there are several ways to bring your home to acceptable healthy levels. The radon mitigation process is not as costly when compared to the dangers. We can help you explore your options for radon mitigation systems and explain how they work.
We provide testing for the following counties; Fulton, Henry, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Butts, Carrollton, Clayton, Fayette, Pike, Lamar, Douglas, Paulding, Coweta, Rockdale, Newton, Spalding, and Jasper.
Pre-Test Form
Prior to testing, a non-interference agreement form is required. Since the test is so short and results are dependent upon whether the home was kept closed to get accurate measurements, this is necessary to ensure that all parties are aware of what was expected. The form can be found HERE.
