When purchasing a home, your inspector may ask if you would like a radon testing service. If you’ve never heard of radon before, you may think this is an unnecessary step in the process, but we think testing for radon is very important. Even if you have been in your home or commercial property for a while you still may benefit from radon testing, even if it is just to give yourself peace of mind. In fact, The Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Office of the Surgeon General recommend that you test your home for radon every two years. We are going to go over what radon is, how it finds its what into our homes and businesses, and a few reasons and scenarios you may want to consider testing for it.
What Is It?
Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless gas that can find its way into the air and water in your home. For non-smokers, radon is the number 1 cause of lung cancer, so it is not something that should be swept under the rug and ignored.
How Does It Get Into Your Home Or Business?
Radon emanates from rock and soil, and can be carried into the home through these materials. Most commonly the property gets exposed to radon through cracks in the foundation, sump pumps, exposed soils, construction materials, and more. Though it is less common, radon can even find its way in through your drinking water.
Undetectable
As stated above, radon is colorless and odorless, making it undetectable. That is why testing for radon is so important. They do have kits that you can do yourself at home, but we highly recommend relying on professionals to make sure you receive the most reliable results, like our team here at Insight Environmental.
Recent Construction On Your Home
If you have had recent construction in your home, such as changing windows, adding on to your home, or swapping your heat source, it may be a good idea to contact someone to perform radon testing.
Symptoms Of Exposure
We mentioned before that radon can cause lung cancer, but there are other symptoms to be aware of. Some symptoms of radon exposure include:
- Hoarseness
- Persistent cough
- Wheezing
- Chest Pain
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
- Rapid weight Loss
- Loss of appetite
- Frequent respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia
Radon is a frightening thing to worry about being exposed to in your home or business, but being proactive hiring a professional radon testing can help you to eliminate the problem. Insight Environmental provides both short term and long term testing. It is important to note that radon levels tend to fluctuate, and can be higher during the colder months of the year. Whether you are curious about your current radon levels, looking to buy or sell a property, or have had construction recently, our team of experts at Insight Environmental can help guide you through the process and supply you with the information you need to make your property a safe environment. Contact us today to schedule your radon testing.
