Radon Testing Colorado Springs can be done in a few simple steps using an at-home kit. The kits cost $10 to $25 and require the home owner to close all windows and doors for the duration of the test.

Professional radon testing can also be performed with a continuous radon monitor (CRM) that is only available through certified professionals. These devices are commonly used in real estate transactions.

A short-term test measures radon levels for only a few days and is a good screening tool. It is quick, inexpensive, and easy to perform yourself at home. The results from a short-term test can be helpful when making decisions about whether or not to take action to fix radon. However, a single result is not enough to say for sure about the long-term average in a particular home. A yearly monitoring system is the best way to determine your year-round radon level.

When a short-term test is done, a canister is placed in the lowest portion of the house used for living (usually the basement). The device should remain in place for the period specified on the package or by the technician, and the home should be kept under closed-house conditions. This means keeping all doors and windows closed except for normal entry and exit and running the heating and air conditioning system as usual.

The EPA recommends contacting a professional for a radon mitigation system if the short-term testing results are above 4 pCi/L. However, the EPA also recognizes that this is only a snapshot of the radon in your home at one point in time and cautions that a single short-term test cannot accurately predict the average radon levels for the whole house.

This is why the EPA also recommends that homeowners should consider fixing their homes if the short-term testing results are in the 2 to 8 pCi/L range. This will reduce the risk to all household members and is much more cost-effective than waiting until a sale or other event prompts you to act.

The apparent speed and simplicity of short term radon tests can sometimes tempt people into skipping the more accurate long-term tests. This is a case of haste making waste, as the short-term test results almost always need to be verified by the longer term results before any decision can be made.

It is recommended that you have your radon levels tested before and after any major structural renovation work, such as converting a basement to living space or adding an addition. This is because the underground flow of radon can change over time, and this may affect the radon levels in your home.

Long-term tests

A long term test will allow us to measure radon levels over an extended period of time, providing a more accurate picture of your home’s year-round average. These tests can be conducted by a professional using state-of-the-art devices that will be placed strategically in your home. These devices will reduce or eliminate interference that may cause false results, ensuring you will get a true and accurate measurement.

Generally, long term tests last between 90 days and a year. They are the best way to ensure that you have a representative sample of your home’s radon levels. Because radon levels can fluctuate over short periods of time, this type of testing is necessary to get the most accurate results possible.

For the best results, these tests should be conducted in your lowest living space such as a basement or living room. Make sure to close all windows and doors during the testing period, as well as any heating/cooling system fans that recirculate air. Also, don’t use the washing machine, dishwasher or dryer during the test. These activities will affect your home’s radon levels and may invalidate your results.

While a do-it-yourself kit can be purchased at many hardware stores and online, it is recommended that you hire a professional for this type of test. A qualified inspector will be able to provide you with information about your radon level, including how it compares to the EPA’s action level. They can also provide you with options for reducing your home’s radon levels.

Radon is a tasteless, odorless gas that poses a serious health risk in your home. If not properly mitigated, radon can cause irreversible damage to the lungs and lead to cancer.

A radon test is the only way to determine how much radon is present in your home. You can then take steps to fix it, keeping yourself and your family safe from this dangerous gas.

A radon level that is above the EPA’s guideline of 4 pCi/L should not be a deterrent when buying a home, since it can usually be reduced to a lower level through simple mitigation techniques. However, if the level is very high or getting closer to 4 pCi/L, it should be corrected immediately to prevent potential health risks.

Mitigation

A radon mitigation system is the best solution to reduce radon in your home. It can significantly lower radon levels in your house for about the same cost as other common home repairs. However, the type and design of the system depends on many details of your home and your lifestyle. Your contractor will perform a visual inspection of your home and, if necessary, may use diagnostic tests to determine the best approach to your home’s radon level reduction.

Studies show that radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The risk of developing radon-related lung cancer increases with the length and intensity of exposure.

Radon gas enters homes through small pores in concrete, or by gaps in walls and floors. It can also migrate through water supply pipes in houses with wells. The EPA estimates that one in 15 homes has elevated radon levels.

The New York State Department of Health recommends that you hire a qualified radon mitigator to fix your home, because lowering high radon levels requires specialized technical knowledge and equipment. The Radon Control Program provides, free of charge, information packets on different aspects of radon and registers radon service providers (laboratories, contractors and testing companies) that have a proven level of training.

Short-term tests can be performed at any time of year, but it is especially important to test during the heating season, since radon levels tend to be higher in winter. You should also re-test after any major renovations or remodeling projects that could impact the amount of radon in your home.

When performing a radon test, keep windows and outside doors closed as much as possible for the duration of the test. You should not operate whole-house fans that recirculate air, use the fireplace or wood stove, paint, make significant remodels, or conduct other activities that can alter your home’s ventilation. You should also not move furniture to a different location during a short-term test.

If you are selling your home, it is a good idea to perform a radon test before listing it. Prospective buyers will likely perform a radon test as part of the home buying process, and if they discover elevated radon levels, you will be required to mitigate them before closing. A professional radon mitigation system can significantly improve the value of your home and increase its salability.

Testing your home

Radon is a cancer-causing gas that can cause lung cancer over time. It’s important to test your home for radon and take steps to mitigate it if it is elevated.

You can do this with short-term tests, such as charcoal canisters, or with long-term testing kits like alpha track or film detectors. These do-it-yourself test kits are inexpensive and easy to use, and can be purchased at hardware stores or online. Follow the instructions in the kit to test your home. Then send the results to a laboratory for analysis. The results will tell you if the radon in your house is above or below 4 pCi/L, the action level set by the EPA.

The EPA recommends that any home with a radon level above 4 pCi/L should be fixed. A radon mitigation system can significantly reduce your exposure to this dangerous gas, helping you and your family live longer, healthier lives.

Any area in a house can have elevated levels of radon, depending on how the house interacts with the surrounding soil. However, a basement is more likely to have higher radon levels than an upper level such as a living room or bedroom. This is because radon tends to seep through gaps in basement walls, floor drains, sump pits, crawl spaces, and service pipes.

When you’re ready to sell your home, you should take a short-term radon test and share the results with potential buyers. This will allow them to factor a radon test into their decision of whether or not to buy your house.

While you can do a short-term test at any time of year, it’s best to do this during the heating season. This will give you a more accurate picture of your home’s radon level, since the winter is when most homes experience higher radon levels.

It’s also a good idea to have a radon test done before you start renovating or adding rooms, as these changes can increase the level of radon in your home. For example, converting a basement into an office or living space could cause the radon levels in that area to rise.