Testing Your Home for Radon -Everything You Need to Know

Irrespective of where you live, it’s essential to test your home for radon. Radon is a radioactive gas and one of the leading causes of lung cancer in non-smokers. Radon seeps into buildings from the ground and can’t be seen, smelled, or tasted. Luckily you can always consider consulting radon testing in Belvidere, New Jersey, to help you with the test and take preventive measures.

Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that doesn’t have a strong smell or taste, so it cannot be detected easily. When inhaled or ingested, it can cause lung cancer, or sometimes problems with bone marrow may lead to leukemia. 

Possible symptoms of radon gas exposure

Symptoms may include: 

  • Unusual fatigue or weakness
  • Irritation of your eyes; 
  • Noisy breathing
  • Nausea
  • Shortness of breath.

All you need to know about radon testing

  1. Radon is one of the most common environmental pollutants. An estimated 3 to 10 million homes in the US have radon levels at least twice the level deemed dangerous by the EPA.
  1. Radon gas naturally makes its way into most homes through the rock and soil you build your house on. It can also be released from above-ground chemical reactions, including those caused by water changing its form after being absorbed into soil. 
  1. To test for radon gas, the EPA recommends you look for four key signs: 
  • Elevated levels of radon in your home
  • Increased levels of radon outside your home
  • An increase in the amount of radon gas collected after changes are made to your home (for example, stabilizing soil, changing heating system, etc.).

How to test radon?

Two major ways to test for radon are:

  1. Radon testing by walking around your house with a Geiger counter: The initial testing when you build, buy, or renovate your home is done in this way. You will need to rely on a trained radon-certified professional and choose a certified level II or certified level III testing device. There are two types of qualified professionals: radon-certified contractors and radon specialists. Some states also have certification programs through the EPA.
  1. Testing with kits can be purchased at hardware stores, online, or from home improvement centers. Kits typically include a short-term test, which determines if levels in your home are above or below four pCi/L (picocuries per liter), and a long-term test, which verifies that levels stay below four pCi/L.

If your home is less than a year old and the levels are below three pCi/L, there is no need to do any further testing. If your radon levels are between 3 and 4 pCi/L, you should consult a certified radon service professional for additional guidance.