Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Prev NEXT. Home Improvement. Home DIY. Household Safety. Charcoal canister and charcoal liquid scintillation devices absorb radon or its products on to the charcoal. In the laboratory, the radioactive particles emitted from the charcoal are counted directly by a sodium iodide counter or converted to light in a liquid scintillation medium and counted in a scintillation detector.
The alpha track detectors have a plastic film that gets etched by the alpha particles that strike it. In the laboratory, the plastic is chemically treated to make the tracks visible, then the tracks are counted. Electret ion detectors have a Teflon disc, which is statically charged. When an ion generated from radon decay strikes the Teflon disc, the electrical charge is reduced. This testing method is performed by trained and certified experts using precise, professional-grade equipment. There are some very important differences in professional and home testing kits that you should understand:.
If radon gas is identified during a professional test, the company you hired will typically help create a comprehensive plan to resolve the issue and make the home safe. Home testing kits are usually considered short-term tests. Because long-term tests capture peaks and valleys in your radon levels, they are considered more accurate. If a professional inspection company identifies elevated levels of radon in your home, they will discuss various mitigation options with you.
If, however, you performed a home test and the results came back as elevated, it is highly recommended that you contact a reputable team of specialists to come to your home to ensure that you and your family have a safe living environment.
If the company you hired confirms the presence of radon in dangerous levels, they will work with you to recommend the appropriate radon mitigation techniques and systems. The radon mitigation company you hire should select a custom radon system to make your home safe.
Because no two homes are the same, each requires a different solution because this gas may enter through several different avenues:. Homes with a basement, crawl space or slab may all require a different radon mitigation system.
At the same time, the radon gas levels and age of your home may also impact the mitigation technique. With so many factors in play, it is essential the company you choose be familiar with all the options available, including the latest technologies and techniques. Although there are several radon mitigation techniques available, including physical barriers, Radon Systems of Connecticut uses four main types:. According to the EPA, radon gas exposure is second only to smoking as the primary cause of lung cancer in the U.
In fact, the combined effect of smoking and radon exposure dramatically increases your risk of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer kills more men and women in the U. The longer you are exposed, the greater the risks to your health. Your Name. Because the air pressure inside a house is typically lower than the pressure in the soil around its foundation, radon is drawn into the home through cracks in the foundation and other openings.
The system is usually comprised of one or more PVC pipes that run from the radon-emitting soil beneath a home up through the roof.
An in-line fan draws air through the system so that it doesn't leach into living spaces. Once installed, a follow-up radon test is done. Even in houses with extremely high radon levels, you can expect a drop to levels considered safe. You can find one through your state radon office.
Most will provide a free remediation estimate, and, if the work is done, guarantee that radon levels will be acceptable. Ask the seller for a price reduction that covers the estimated cost of remediation. Relying on just one radon test done as part of a home inspection is a mistake, even if it reveals that the home has safe levels. In our tests, test kits that measure long-term levels—90 days or more—were far more accurate than the one-week tests used by most home inspectors.
That's because radon levels fluctuate day to day and season to season. In our evaluation, only one short-term radon test was accurate enough for us to recommend. Two kits undercounted radon levels by almost 40 percent. So by all means, let your home inspector test for radon and use the results as a bargaining chip to ask a seller for a credit if radon is detected. Just don't think of it as the final word. You'll still want a more thorough radon test done after the sale has closed. Need more info?
Check the radon information section of the EPA's website.
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