Can i test radon myself

There are over 20, radon-caused deaths every year. Radon contributes to over 20, American deaths each year. Request a service appointment today. Not every house has or will have elevated levels of radon, but one in 15 does, and there is no way to know if your home is affected without testing as radon gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Any home with a radon level of 4. There are two types of tests, passive and active, and there are three subtypes of passive tests, including charcoal, alpha track, and electret.

Only charcoal and alpha track tests are available as a DIY radon test kit. Active tests are always conducted as professional radon testing. If you're debating between a DIY radon test kit or professional radon testing, you should consider the reason behind the testing. If you merely want to know if a radon problem exists in your home, DIY testing can save you some time and money.

If you need test results for a real estate transaction, you need professional radon testing. If you're considering a DIY radon test kit, you need view the test only as a means of determining if there is a radon problem at all. The accuracy of a DIY radon test kit is always uncertain because it's conducted by an amateur. A DIY radon test kit will either be charcoal or alpha track. Charcoal tests absorb the radon in the air for a specified amount of time, and once in the lab, the radioactive particles emitted by the charcoal are counted or converted to light, giving a radon level readout.

Alpha track tests use a plastic film that is etched by the alpha particles that strike it. In the lab, the tracks are counted, giving the radon level. The instructions for your specific DIY radon test kit will be the same, or similar to every other test. Follow the instructions carefully. You can expect the following:. It can enter buildings through cracks in floors or walls, construction joints, or gaps in foundations around pipes, wires or pumps. Radon levels are usually highest in the basement or crawl space.

When someone breathes in radon gas, it goes into their lungs, exposing them to small amounts of radiation. This may damage the cells in the lining of the lungs and increase a person's risk of lung cancer. The risk is higher in those who have lived for many years in a radon-contaminated house. Exposure to the combination of radon gas and cigarette smoke creates a greater risk for lung cancer than either factor alone.

You can hire a professional tester or do it yourself with a kit you buy at a hardware store or online. Follow the instructions for leaving the kit in your house for the required number of days. Then mail it to a lab and wait for the results. If radon levels in your home are high, you can take steps to lower them. The most common method is to have a vent pipe system and fan installed, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside.

It is also possible for radon to enter your home through your water supply, though this poses a much lower risk than when it comes through the soil. If you have a private well, you can have it tested for radon. Radon Eliminator S.

Ohio Mitigation License RC Home What is Radon? Reliable Radon Removal. Radon Eliminator Blog. Radon gas comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in rock and soil. As uranium decays, it produces radon gas that rises from the soil. We'll take a look at that question in the article below. You need to ensure you place your test kit correctly, and you can skew your test results by accidentally turning on a fan, opening a window, or running the air conditioner.

This process can take several weeks, so if you need prompt results, a DIY kit may not be in your best interest. Professional Radon Testing For most situations, getting your home tested by radon mitigation contractors is in your best interest. The electret test uses a statically charged Teflon disc.

Active tests are the only ones that require electrical power. Contact A Professional Radon Company While you can test your home for radon yourself, it's usually better to leave this work to the professionals. To make sure your home doesn't have a radon problem, contact Radon Eliminator to test it. If a problem is found, they will fix it. Click the button below for your discounted test. Topics: Radon Testing. About this blog Our primary goal at Radon Eliminator is to share the essential information as it relates to radon, its health effects and what you can do to protect yourself and your family.