How To Test for Radon and Ensure Safe Levels in Your Atlanta Home
Exposure to radon, a radioactive gas, is the
second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. This radioactive gas
comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and gets
into the air you breathe in your home. As radon has no odor, taste, or color,
the only way to know if you and your family are at risk is to test the levels
in your house. Here’s what you need to know about Radon testing
Atlanta and ensuring safe levels in your home.
What Are the Recommended Safe Radon Levels?
The EPA and World Health Organization
recommend Safe radon levels below 2.7 pCi/L (picoCuries per liter) in
indoor air. At this level, your lifetime risk of developing lung cancer from
radon exposure is very small.
How Radon Gets into Your Home
Radon is a gas that comes from the breakdown
of uranium underground. It can enter your home through cracks or openings in
the foundation floor and walls, as well as through spaces around pipes and
wires, floor and wall joints, construction joints, cracks in solid floors, and
porous concrete walls or floors. Warm air rising in the house can pull radon in
through these openings.
When To Test for Radon
Radon levels tend to fluctuate from day to day
and season to season. You should test your home's air for at least 91 days to
get more reliable results on the home’s year-round average. Winter is often the
best time for Radon TestingAtlanta homes, as doors and windows are kept closed,
conditions that can cause radon levels to spike.
Professional
radon tests performed by certified mitigation contractors are also available.
Those with more complex homes often choose professional testing. Professionals
provide Inspection Reports for Homeswhich further makes it easy to
assess the situation.
What To Do If You detect elevated Radon Levels
The EPA recommends fixing homes with radon
levels at or above 2.7 pCi/L. Reducing high levels requires drawing the radon
gas from under your home’s foundation and venting it above the roof, where it
can dilute in outdoor air. This is best done by qualified radon mitigation
professionals familiar with the latest codes and standards. A vent pipe and fan
systems are often installed to reduce radon.
Key Takeaway
Take control of indoor air quality and protect
your family’s health by testing for radon today. Consult a radon mitigation
specialist if your radon level is 4 pCi/L or more. Act now to ensure your
Atlanta home has safe radon levels.
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