Radon Gas Testing

Radon Testing: Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in the U.S. It is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter a home through cracks and openings in floors and walls that are in contact with the ground. Testing your home is simple and inexpensive. Learn more about Radon.

LIVING IN A HOME WITH A RADON REDUCTION SYSTEM Maintaining Your Radon Reduction System Similar to a furnace or chimney, radon reduction systems need occasional maintenance. If you have a fan-powered (or active) system, you should look at your warning device, usually a manometer, on a regular basis to make sure the system is working correctly.  It is a good idea to retest your home at least every two years to be sure radon levels remain low. Remember, the fan should NEVER be turned off; it must run continuously for the system to work correctly. The filter in an HRV requires periodic cleaning and should be changed twice a year.  Also, the vent that brings fresh air in from the outside needs to be inspected for leaves and debris. The ventilator should be checked annually by a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning professional to make sure the airflow remains properly balanced. HRVs used for radon control should run all the time.

Required Testing should be conducted if you remodeled your home, or make major structural changes to your home, such as converting an unfinished basement area into a living space. If you are planning to add a new foundation for an addition to your home, ask your radon contractor what measures should be taken to ensure reduced radon levels throughout the home. After you remodel, retest in the lowest lived-in area to make sure the construction did not reduce the effectiveness of the radon reduction system. BUYING OR SELLING A HOME? If you are buying or selling a home and need to make decisions about radon, consult EPA’s “Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon.” If you are selling a home that has a radon reduction system, inform potential buyers and supply them with information about your system’s operation and maintenance. If you are building a new home, consider that it is almost always less expensive to build radon-resistant features into new construction than it is to fix an existing home that has high radon levels. Ask your builder if he or she uses radon-resistant construction features.