Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that’s produced when radium breaks down in soil and water. Typically, radon is released into the air as an odorless, tasteless, and invisible gas. But when radon builds up in the home, it becomes dangerous.

Radon can build up in areas of the home where ventilation isn’t effective such as basements. When you’re exposed to radon for a long period of time, it can be dangerous to your health, which is why radon inspections are so important.

How does radon impact your health?

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today. It’s also the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

In 2005, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General at the time, issued a national health advisory against radon gas. Every year, radon is responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths and 2,900 deaths occur among Americans who never smoked.

Radon causes lung cancer because, when you breathe in the gas, radon gets into the lining of the lungs. This gives off radiation. Over time, the radiation can damage the lung cells and lead to lung cancer.

How do I test my home for radon?

Radon levels vary from one home to the next. That means, even if your neighbor had home inspection services test for radon and the test came back negative, your home could still have high radon levels. The only way you can know if there’s radon in your home is to test for it professionally.

There are two types of radon testing: short-term and long-term. Short-term testing measures radon for two to three days. During this test, you’ll need to keep windows and doors closed for as long as possible. You also want to avoid using fans or air conditioning that brings in the air from outside and could give you an incorrect reading.

Long-term tests offer the most accurate results. These tests measure radon for 90 days. Long-term tests are typically placed in the basement or the lowest level of the home, which is where radon accumulates.

When it comes to radon testing, it’s best to leave home inspections up to the professionals to prevent short-term or long-term testing from giving you an inaccurate reading. The last thing you want is for a radon test to come back negative because the test was done incorrectly.

Looking for home inspection services for radon testing? Gerard Home Inspection offers both short-term and long-term radon tests to determine whether your home is safe or not. For more information on radon testing or to schedule other home inspection services, contact Gerard Home Inspection today.