4 Facts About Radon

When you own a home or when you go to buy a new home, there are a few different things that you should have the home tested for, including radon. A harmful substance that is often found in both new and older homes, radon may cause certain types of cancer if it is not mitigated properly. To help you understand a little bit more about radon, this article will go over four facts about it. 

1. It's a Gas

Radon is a gas that comes from the soil after uranium has broken down. Because of this, radon can seep from underneath the soil that your house is built upon and into your home through your home's foundation. 

2. It's Toxic

One of the scariest things to know about radon is that it's not a gas that's okay to breathe — it's a toxic one. In fact, when a person is exposed to radon, it enters the body in the form of radiation and can cause a host of health issues including lung cancer. 

3. It can be easily tested

If you live in a part of the country that is known to have a lot of radon present, then there may be tons of companies around you that test for this toxic gas. During testing, you will hang a small little filter inside of your basement for a couple of days and then mail it out to be tested. At the lab where it is tested, they will be able to pull the radon levels form it to see how much is actually in your home. If the number is high and excess the EPA's suggested limit, then you can have it taken care of. 

4. It can be mitigated

If you have radon in your home, you may think that you are stuck with it and that you may have to risk getting lung cancer, but luckily for you, it can actually be mitigated. With a mitigation system, a company will come out to your house, drill a hole in your basement foundation and then insert some piping in it that extends all the way to the exterior of your home and even out of your roof. This tubing system also includes a small fan that will draw the radon out of your home and will emit it back into the environment so that you don't have to worry about it being harmful. 

To learn more about radon testing and mitigation, reach out to a company in your area. 

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