What is Radon? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It comes from the decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. Radon gas is colorless, odorless, and without taste. The presence of radon in a home cannot be detected by human senses. The only way to know if your home contains radon gas is to test. EPA recommends  that homes with high Radon concentration above 4 pCi/L be mitigated. There are many straight-forward reduction techniques that will work in almost any home. At Radalink, we want to make radon testing reliable, accurate and much easier for our clients.

 

Studies find direct evidence linking Radon in Homes to Lung Cancer: Two studies show definitive evidence of an association between residential radon exposure and lung cancer.  Two studies, a North American study and a European study, both combined data from several previous residential studies.  These two studies go a step beyond earlier findings.  They confirm the radon health risks predicted by occupational studies of underground miner’s who breathed radon for a period of years.  Early in the debate about radon-related risks, some researchers questioned whether occupational studies could be used to calculate risks from exposure to radon in the home environment.  “These findings effectively end any doubts about the risks to Americans of having radon in their homes,” said Tom Kelly, Director of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division.  “We know that radon is a carcinogen.  This research confirms that breathing low levels of radon can lead to lung cancer.”

 

What are the Health Effects from Exposure to Radon? No immediate symptoms. Based on an updated Assessment of Risk for Radon in Homes, radon in indoor air is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. Smokers are at higher risk of developing Radon-induced lung cancer. Lung cancer is the only health effect which has been definitively linked with radon exposure. Lung cancer would usually occur years (5-25) after exposure. There is no evidence that other respiratory diseases, such as asthma, are caused by radon exposure and there is no evidence that children are at any greater risk of radon induced lung cancer than adults.

 

What is  the Average Level of Radon Found in a Home? Based on a national residential radon survey completed in 1991, the average indoor radon level is about 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) in the United States. The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.

 

What can I do to protect myself and my family from radon? The first step is to test your home for radon, and have it fixed if it is at or above EPA's Action Level of 4 picocuries per liter. You may want to take action if the levels are in the range of 2-4 picocuries per liter. Generally, levels can be brought below 2 pCi/l fairly simply. The best method for reducing radon in your home will depend on how radon enters your home and the design of your home. For example, sealing cracks in floors and walls may help to reduce radon. There are also systems that remove radon from the crawl space or from beneath the concrete floor or basement slab that are effective at keeping radon from entering your home. These systems are simple and don't require major changes to your home. Other methods may be necessary.

 

 

Because radon is a known Class A carcinogen, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General recommends that ALL HOMEOWNERS and ALL HOMEBUYERS test for indoor radon.

In 2005, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a Health Advisory warning Americans about the health risk from exposure to radon in indoor air. 

Radon-induced lung cancer can easily be prevented by testing your home and reducing concentrations that are at or above EPA’s 4 pCi/l Action Level.

Homes with elevated radon concentration can easily be fixed with the installation of an Active Soil Depressurization System (ASD) by a certified or state licensed radon mitigation contractor.

ASD systems also decrease moisture and other soil gases entering the home, reducing molds, mildews, methane, pesticide gases, volatile organic compounds and other indoor air quality problems.

 

For more information about radon, please go to http://www.epa.gov/radon/ or

www.dep.state.pa.us/brp/Radon_Division/General_Radon_Info.htm

 

Value for your money..... Naturally, you want to get the most value for your money. In paying for an inspection, you should receive a professional, narrative inspection report meeting industry standards provided by a highly qualified Inspector. You may find a cheap inspection or you may find a high-quality inspection, but you won't find a cheap, high-quality inspection. At Choice Home Inspections, you will get the best value for your money.....

 

Inspection Fees**: Single-family homes: $275.00 and up Apartment buildings: $375.00 and up Condominiums: $275.00 and up Outbuildings*: $50.00 and up * price with home inspection for barns, sheds, extra garages, summer kitchens, etc.   Radon Testing Fees: Test with inspection: $120.00 Test without inspection: $140.00 Retest: $100.00   Septic Inspection Fees: Starting at: $250, Call for details (completed to PSMA standards, click here for septic info)

Wood Destroying Insect Report Fees:(WDI) WDI report with inspection: $75.00 WDI report without inspection: $100.00   Water Testing Fees: Coliform Bacteria test*: $80.00 Bacteria & Chemical test**: $135.00 Chem5 test***: $165.00 other water tests are also available, call for prices. * Coliform bacterial includes Fecal Analysis if Coliform is present. ** Chemical test includes: pH, Hardness, Iron, Manganese, N Nitrate, N Nitrite, & Total Solids. *** Chem5 test includes: Bacterial, N Nitrate, N Nitrite, and Lead.

Member: National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI)

**Please review the NAHI Standards of Practice and the NAHI Code of Ethics at www.NAHI.org for complete details.

 

Karl V. Orwig, Home Inspector & Certified Radon Tester

Providing Experience, Integrity, & Knowledge