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The 8 Biggest Lies and Myths About Radon Gas

Jan 10, 2018 2:54:14 PM

What Are the Biggest Lies About Radon Gas?

There are many people who do not know about radon or the full extent of the health problems high concentration levels of radon gas can cause. 

What are the Biggest Lies About Radon Gas?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is produced by the breakdown of uranium and thorium in rock, soil, and water. It is the only gas under standard conditions that has radioactive isotopes and is a health hazard because of its radioactivity level. 

Want to ensure your family is safe from Radon? Read our blog post "How to Choose the Best Radon Contractor?" here!

There are many lies floating around about radon, but today in this post, we are going to discuss:

 The Biggest 8 Lies and Myths About Radon Gas:

Lie #1: Radon Isn't Dangerous 

There may be some dispute among scientists regarding the exact number of deaths each year due to radon gas exposure. However, they all agree with the estimates that radon is the cause of thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths each year. 

These organizations include: 

Each of these organizations have done extensive research and claim that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and is the leading cause among non-smokers. 

Lie #2: Radon Testing is Time Consuming and Expensive 

It turns out that radon testing is actually easy. You have the option to do it yourself or hire a professional testing company. Either approach takes a minimal amount of effort. 

Your first option is to test yourself, all you need is a radon test kit which will stay in your basement for a minimum of 48 hours collecting data. After, you will send the package to a radon testing lab where the results will be processed. If you send it standard mail the whole process will take just under a week; the lab will process the results the same day they receive the kit, and you will be sent a data copy for your records. 

Your Second option is to hire a professional radon testing company to set up a continuous monitoring system in your home for 48 hours. When the specialist comes back to collect the monitor they will be able to give you the results the same day. 

Either way, you should not be spending more the $150 to have the test completed. Having a professional complete the testing will naturally be more expensive than purchasing a test kit and testing for yourself. 

Lie #3: Homes with Radon Problems Cannot be Fixed

A simple solution to fixing a radon problem in a given home is to have a radon mitigation system installed. 

A radon mitigation system is designed to suck the radon from underneath the foundation of the home and spit it out into the atmosphere. 

A radon mitigation installation can be completed by a licensed company in one day, between 3-5 hours depending on the type of home that is being worked on. Radon systems are designed to last many years and do not need routine maintenance. 

Lie #4: A Radon Test from my Neighbors is an Accurate Indication of Radon in my Home 

Just because your neighbor's radon levels are low, does not mean yours will be too. Not only Radon Contractor talking to a homeowner about the Myths of Radon Gascould your home be sitting on a different type of soil, but the construction will more than likely be different, and there may be more foundation cracks in the basement. 

Having cracks in the foundation of the home is enough to allow a significant amount of radon to enter. This means, you could end up having lethal concentration levels of radon gas in your home, while your neighbor does not. 

The only way to be completely sure that you are not living with a dangerous gas is to have the home tested. 

Lie #5: I've Lived in my Home so Long it Doesn't Matter if I take Action Now 

Even if you have lived in your home for 5 or 10 years, it is still crucial to your health to have your home tested and mitigated of radon. Long-term exposure to high concentration levels of radon gas can still cause lung cancer. 

You do not want to live in your home for the next 20-30 years with high concentration levels of radon. It is never too late to test your home and take action. 

Having your home mitigated of radon will reduce the risk of contracting lung cancer, even if you have lived with the elevated levels for a long time. 

Lie #6: Radon Only Affects Some Types of Homes 

Radon can be a problem in any style of home, whether it is old, new, drafty, insulated, has a basement or not, radon can still pose a threat to you and your family. 

Since radon comes from the soil and rock that the home is built on, it does not matter what style the home may be. Any house can be built on soil that contains elevated levels of radon gas due to the substrates in the soil. 

No home is more or less susceptible because of the "type" of home that it is. 

Lie #7 It's Hard to Sell a Home with a History of Radon 

Homes, where the radon problems have been fixed, will not have any difficulty selling. Actually, if a homeowner had a radon mitigation system installed, this is a strong selling point for the home. 

Obviously a home that contains a radon problem that has not been fixed will be unattractive to home buyers. However, if measures have already been taken to fix the problem, it will increase the value of the home. 

So if selling your home is in your future, take action now to have your radon levels tested and fixed before you go through the process of trying to find a buyer. 

Lie #8: Short-Term Tests Cannot be Used to Determine Whether or not to Take Action 

Short-term radon tests can be used to determine the radon levels in a home, and ultimately whether or not action needs to be taken to remove the radon. 

As long as the instructions are followed properly, such as: 

  • basements greater than 2,000 sq. ft will need more than one test kit
  • tests should be left for 48 hours
  • once the test is complete, mail to the lab immediately
  • fill out form properly
  • follow instructions on testing kit packet

It is typically advised that if the test comes back at a 4.0 or close to it, to follow up with either another short-term test kit or a testing monitor to verify the results. 

It's important to remember, that radon gas will still pose a risk even if the levels are a 3.0. The World Health Organization recommends action at a 2.7 or higher, and most radon mitigation systems can reduce the levels below a 2.0. 

Contact Radon Eliminator, Ohio's Top Radon Testing and Mitigation Contractor 

If you believed any of the above lies about radon gas, and therefore did not take the right actions to determine whether or not your home is safe, now is the time to contact Radon Eliminator to have your home tested for radon. 

Once the radon levels in your home are determined, and action needs to be taken to remove the overabundance of radon, our team of licensed technicians will install a mitigation system to remove the cancer-causing gas from your home. 

Top Radon Testing Company in Ohio

We offer Discounted Radon Testing, and Free Radon Mitigation Quotes to all Ohio residents. 

Click on the link now to schedule an appointment with Ohio's Top Radon Testing and Mitigation Contractor today. 

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