Reasons Why Radon Testing Should Be Your Top Priority This Year
Posted in Radon Testing, on May 30, 2024
Radon testing should be your top priority this year, but for many homeowners, it’s not even on their to-do list. Safety at home starts with air quality testing, which takes a deep dive into the minutiae of your home’s air environment. A safe air environment is more than just eliminating pollutants or pollen; it is also about assessing environmental risks, which is why we think you should test for radon gas this year. In today’s article, the SafeAir team will share what radon is, how it enters your home, and why it’s essential to test for.
Health Risks Associated with Radon
Radon gas isn’t something you bring into your home or blows in from a nearby source — it comes from deep in the earth’s surface, and it is nearly impossible to predict where or when it begins to collect.
Radon is a radioactive gas that is invisible, scentless, and leaves no trace, which is why it’s so dangerous. Radon gas is easy to breathe in, where it begins to decay and cause damage to your lungs. The effects of radon gas may take years to appear, but the fact that it's the second-most leading cause of lung cancer in Canada after cigarette smoke is reason enough to test for it now.
How Radon Enters Your Home
Radon is attracted to sub-grade levels like basements or crawlspaces because they create pockets of negative pressure in the earth. Typically, radon gas comes up through the soil and rocks and harmlessly dissipates into the air. But when it gets sucked into our homes, it can build up, greatly increasing our risk of adverse health effects in the long term.
Why Radon Testing is Important
At SafeAir, we recommend that every Ontario home with a basement, crawlspace, or partially sub-grade foundation be tested for radon gas. Depending on where you live, your home may also attract radon through your well water or native stones. Testing for radon helps you take control of your family's long-term health and wellness, especially for folks who have basement apartments, bedrooms, and rec rooms.
SafeAir and Radon Testing
Radon testing can be done as a stand-alone service or part of standard air quality testing. Either way, it takes place over 3-6 months via a small device installed in the lower level of your home. The device is small and unobtrusive, and the length of time is critical for balancing out fluctuations caused by temperature or weather.
Once the testing period is over, we send the device to a lab for analysis and help you understand the results and what mitigation you might need. Suppose we discover unsafe levels of radon gas building up in your home. In that case, the SafeAir team will suggest several remediation strategies to help reduce the levels and ensure a safe indoor air environment.
What To Do If Radon is Detected
Discovering radon at home is not a life sentence — there are plenty of ways to reduce your risk that won’t break the bank or necessitate costly renovations. Radon testing is straightforward, non-invasive, and can help reduce your family’s risk of cancer and lung disease. Call or email us today to schedule a radon mitigation appointment with SafeAir.