There are about 128.58 million homeowners within the United States alone. This number was from previous years, and so it is only accurate to state that this number is expected to rise steadily as time progresses. It is also accurate to state that because the number of homeowners is so vast, there are, in turn, a vast number of different homeowners. There is, however, one element that all homeowners have in common. This commonality involves the health and safety of homeowners, family, and the home itself. The commonality is radon gas.
If you are a homeowner or have family and friends who are homeowners, here is information you should know about radon gas and radon gas testing.
What Is Radon?
The first step in speaking about radon and radon testing is to define radon. By definition, radon is a radioactive gas which is formed naturally in the earth. Radon comes into existence when uranium, thorium, and other elements combine. These metals then start to break down under the foundation of homes. Not only that, but the radon gas also breaks down into the rocks, dirt, or soils that may be present in the location.
This wouldn’t be much of a problem, if the radon gas existed and just remained. However, this odorless, tasteless, and gas you cannot see, ends up traveling. Radon gas will travel through the cracks, holes, and spaces in your home’s foundation. Radon in your home is certainly dangerous.
This gas in your home is dangerous because it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States alone. Yes, prolonged exposure to this specific gas can really make your family sick, your friends sick, and yourself sick if you spend a lot of time in your home. But, fear not! This is where gas testing comes into the picture.
Gas Testing
While you certainly can test for this gas on your own, there are actually more benefits to hiring a professional to test for the gas and subsequently rid your home of the gas as well.
Experts: The first benefit of hiring individuals to test for this gas is simply that they are experts in this field. As previously mentioned, you can test for this gas on your own. All you have to do is purchase a testing kit from your local hardware store. However, attempting to test for this very dangerous gas all on your own can cause more harm than good. This is because you can make a mistake and then you won’t have an accurate reading of your radon gas levels. So, this could cause you to be exposed to more of the gas than you originally thought.
All in all, you should leave the testing to the experts because they know what they’re doing. This means that they won’t make any mistakes, and you’ll get the proper reading of the radon levels in your home.
Tests: Now, there are different tests professionals can use for testing the radon in your home. There is a short-term testing option and a long-term testing option. Going back to expertise, not only do professionals have the expertise but they have the experience as well. They will know if you will benefit from a short-term test or a long-term test.
So, this is the second benefit of hiring a professional to test your home for radon. It’s because they know which tests to use!
How Long Is This?: You may be asking yourself, or professionals, how long the testing will take. Do not worry, it will not interrupt your daily routine. The testing for radon is actually pretty quick, if you’re doing short-term testing. With short-term testing, the testing will only take a few days. With long-term testing, it will take more than 90 days. So, just be aware of the time differences of testing with radon.
Getting Results: Much like the time it takes for a test, your results of radon testing is immediate. You will get the results of your testing right away, which helps you get rid of the radon in your home sooner.