As radon awareness continues to grow every year, more and more people are finding out that their homes contain high levels of radon. This is a major health factor considering radon is the number two leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States, and the number one cause for non-smokers according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Radon causes up to 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year, and the longer you leave your family and yourself exposed to this highly toxic gas, the more damage can be caused to your family’s health. Radon is a radioactive, tasteless, odorless, noble gas that happens naturally when radium decays into the earth. If you haven’t had your home tested for high radon levels yet, it is highly recommended that you do so right away. Radon levels of 4pCi/L or higher will need professional attention.
If you find that your home has high radon levels, the EPA suggests that you use professional radon services that are trained and educated in radon removal and prevention. You may know a few general contractors who claim to know how to properly treat radon, or even decide you want to treat it yourself. But with your family’s health at risk, it is important to make sure that the job is done correctly. Working with someone without the proper training can end up causing more damage and actually increase the radon levels in your home. Working on the foundation of your home takes a skilled worker, and if improperly done, small cracks can appear and allow more radon into your home.
Every radon problem is different and needs a professional highly trained in radon services to evaluate your home and specific circumstances. A radon expert will be able to pin-point where and how the radon is getting into your house and come up with a plan to get rid of it and prevent future contamination from occurring.
Your family’s health is very important, and you want to make sure you hire a specialist who has the proper tools, training, and experience needed to get rid of your radon problem properly.
