radon – Page 2 – blog.radontestinginma.com

July 3, 2018

Is My Radon Mitigation System Working?

Your home was tested for radioactive radon gas and the levels are elevated. OK, you now have a health issue to contend with in your home yet you know it can be fixed. You have been proactive interviewing recommended radon mitigators and identified who will fix your house with a radon mitigation system. Now what? How do I know if the system is working once installed? How do I know if my house is safe?

After 24-48 hours of the newly installed radon mitigation system running, the house should be re-tested to identify if the radon concentrations have been adequately reduced and brought into a safe range. If the levels are still elevated, an additional suction point may be necessary.

All radon mitigation systems should have an identifying manometer on the PVC piping in clear view which will show if the fan is actively pulling. A manometer is a U-shaped tube used as an instrument for measuring the pressure acting on a column of fluid. The colored liquid will be slightly uneven when the fan is actively pulling and drawing radon out from beneath a basement slab. If the colored liquid is ever completely even across, the fan is most likely not actively drawing. That’s when the mitigator should return to examine the system fan to make sure it is intact and functioning. Before calling the mitigator back to your home, check to make sure the system is plugged into electricity.

The marks on the side of the manometer are NOT the radon concentrations. The only way to identify what the radon concentrations are is by testing. Make sure to take a peek at the manometer weekly to check that the colored liquid is uneven and remember to have your radon concentrations tested every 2+/- years.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!

June 13, 2018June 13, 2018

My Real Estate Agent Said My Radon is Fine…

You found your dream home, had a home inspection which was unremarkable and the home inspector set a short term passive radon test. The test was in place for 48 hours with closed house conditions adhered to. Your real estate agent collected the passive test, sent it to the lab and called you to tell you the results are perfectly fine. OK, wait a minute…who collected the test? And what does your agent mean by the results are FINE!

Let’s get serious here…the professional who sets the test is the one responsible and should then collect the test. Standard protocol notes if the home inspector does not have time to collect the test when they are being paid good money for it, they should not be setting the test. A lot can happen in between setting the test and the final results. It is the home inspector’s responsibility to complete the job, have the results sent to the buyer and explain the results. Most real estate agents know radon can cause lung cancer, yet in my experience both as an NRPP Certified Radon Measurement Provider as well as a Bonded Real Estate Broker for 35+ years, most agents have very little understanding about exactly what radon is and how it affects the body. Agent awareness is growing due to buyer demand of increased knowledge.

When your agent told you the results are fine, what exactly does that mean? EPA action level is 4.0pCi/L however the EPA has concern between 2.0 and 4.0pCi/L. WHO, World Health Organization, says to fix your home at 2.7pCi/L. If your levels are within the 2.0 and 4.0pCi/L range, you may want to consider installing a radon mitigation system. Make sure you ask what the radon levels are specifically and if you have questions that require in depth answers, call a professional radon measurement provider or call a firm that handles radon testing to explain in further detail so you can make an intelligent decision. Without a specific level, FINE is not an adequate answer when spending the most amount of money you will ever spend at one time.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family

April 30, 2018

Rentals and Radon

Radioactive radon gas is just as dangerous a situation for tenants who rent from a landlord as it is for individual homeowners. Landlords who offer residential housing for a monthly fee have the responsibility to ensure their tenants are living in a safe environment.

Situations where a tenant needs to be concerned about the dangers of radioactive radon gas would be in basement, ground level or first floor apartments be it a brick apartment building, multi-family home or the like. In addition, many rent single family homes.

If you are a tenant and are concerned about radon in your living space, the question of how to proceed can be confusing since you don’t own the property. Speak to your landlord and ask if they have ever tested the property for radon. The landlord or management company will have the information and you have a right to have it as well. Some states have NO RULES for radon and others are very proactive making sure every property is tested prior to tenant occupation of the space. Find out if your states has any guidelines to further support your request for testing.

If the landlord feels radon is not an issue, what is your recourse? Many are not aware of the dangers of radon. That being said, share the information so your landlord can be educated as well as offer them resources such as the EPA site for increased knowledge. If your landlord will not test the property, call in a professional to test or order test kits from an approved EPA vendor. If levels are elevated and your health is at risk, share this with your landlord and ask for action.

As a tenant, you have rights! You can request a radon mitigation system be installed followed by re-testing to assure the levels are reduced adequately. Be proactive…this is your health! Long term exposure to elevated levels of radon gas have been proven to cause lung cancer. This threat is completely preventable with proper measures taken.

April 10, 2018April 10, 2018

Understanding Your Radon Results

You have recently had your home tested for radioactive radon gas or possibly you are in the process of purchasing a home and have asked to have the home tested for radon. NOW WHAT!

If you have had a short term passive test performed (2-90 days) for quick results, meaning no electronics have been used, a small canister, vial or packet filled with a medium containing charcoal is likely to be used. This medium absorbs and stores the radioactive radon daughter cells, called alpha particles. These particles are then extracted and read in a lab. There are other methods such as the Electret Ion Detectors and Alpha Track Detectors for short term testing up to 90 days yet the charcoal canisters are the most common for real estate transactions for a 2-7 day test. These tests will give you an overall average of radon collected.

Another method for short term testing is an electronic test, also know as an active test to measure radon levels. An electronic test uses a Continuous Radon Monitor which measures the alpha particles on a continuous basis giving an hour by hour reading. Continuous Radon Monitors may be preferable for a real estate transaction because they are tamper proof and some machines have a motion detector to identify if the machine has been moved. Make sure if you are having an electronic test performed that you use a professional who has been certified by the AARST-NRPP National Radon Proficiency Program.

When doing an electronic test, you will see your radon levels on an hourly basis which may fluctuate. This is normal! Radon is a concern when long term exposure is experienced. Spikes in the levels are common particularly during the night. Levels are known to fluctuate based on the season and can be higher during heating season or during heavy wind and rain.

That being said, if you view your radon results via the electronic method and see hourly changes, take a deep breath and know that is normal. We live on Planet Earth which is constantly changing so rely on the overall average for mitigation versus your hourly read for peace of mind. If your levels are between 2.0pCi/L and 4.0pCi/L, you may want to have a radon mitigation system installed to reduce levels and re-test. EPA action level is 4.0pCi/L yet the EPA has concern between 2.0pCi/L and 4.0pCi/L. The WHO, World Health Organization, recommends fixing your home at 2.7pCi/L.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!

http://radontestinginma.com/citizens-guide-to-radon.html

http://radontestinginma.com/home-buyers-sellers-guide-to-radon.html

March 13, 2018March 13, 2018

Should I Buy a Home With Elevated Radon Levels?

Should I buy a home with elevated radon levels is a question frequently asked and the answer is yes. Go ahead and buy your dream home with the understanding that the home needs to be “fixed”and this should be done prior to taking occupancy. “Fixed” means installing a radon mitigation system by a professional mitigator based on the construction of the home for maximum results. After the system is installed and running a minimum of 24-48 hours, the home should be re-tested to determine if the system is drawing enough radon out of the house to be deemed safe. Testing is the ONLY way to know!

New construction homes are frequently built with a passive system in place. If the home is tested and the radon levels come back elevated, the appropriate size fan can be added to the passive system to activate it. Testing post fan installation is imperative to identify if the home has had the radon levels reduced adequately for the home to be deemed safe for occupancy.

EPA action level is 4.0pCi/L however the EPA has concern between 2.0pCi/L and 4.0 pCi/L. If the seller of your dream home refuses to install a radon mitigation system, buy the home anyway and install one after you close then re-test. A radon mitigation system is one of the least expensive home improvement projects and by far, one of the most beneficial.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!

February 9, 2018February 9, 2018

U.S. Surgeon General Health Advisory on Radon

“Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the county. It’s important to know that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques.”

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!

http://www.adph.org/radon/assets/surgeon_general_radon.pdf

February 4, 2018

Why is Radon a Risk for Lung Cancer?

The risk of living with radon.

Radon is inhaled and can be exhaled before it starts the decay process. Radon has a half-life of 3.8 days. Radon decay products inhaled can get lodged in the lungs by sticking to the lungs mucous and mucous membranes. It is these decay products that emit alpha particles which give off gamma and beta radiation. These alpha particles pummel lung cells which can cause both physical and chemical DNA damage which may result in lung cancer.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!

Image courtesy of EPA’s A Citizens Guide to Radon

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018

Average US Radioactivity Exposure

One third of our exposure to radioactivity is from radon gas.

January 23, 2018December 25, 2018

Radon and DNA’s Fate

Long term radon exposure can present a significant health risk with lung cancer being at the top of the list. Lung cells that are continuously pummeled with radon daughter cells, also known as alpha particles, will face potential risk. Those exposed lung cells will either be killed, damaged yet eventually repaired over time or seriously damaged with no potential for repair. The exposed lung cells which have suffered irreparable damage may reproduce abnormally resulting in mutation.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!