How long does it take to test for radon?
Short-term kits measure radon for 2–90 days for quick results. Long-term kits measure radon in your home for over 90 days and are more likely to tell you your home’s year-round average level.
How accurate are radon test kits?
Accuracy is one of the most important factors to consider when testing radon levels in your home. The longer period of time a radon test kit is able to test the home, the more accurate the results will be, as longer testing allows you to determine the average level of pCi/L in your home without the influence of random positive or negative spikes.
What is radon testing and why is it important?
Radon testing is the only way to know whether your home has high levels of radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer over time. Here's what you need to know about radon testing and reducing radon levels in your home. What is radon?
Should I get a radon test before changing my lifestyle?
Before making any lifestyle changes in the home that would cause someone to spend more time in the basement or lower level (like converting a basement to a bedroom) for specific information and resources in your area for testing and for a list of qualified radon testers.
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How often should you check your radon system?
every two yearsTo provide peace of mind, 2the EPA recommends testing your home after any lifestyle changes, renovations and every two years as part of routine home maintenance.
How accurate is a 48 hour radon test?
"Short-term radon test kits are not effective in measuring radon gas exposure: Findings show radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise up to 99 percent of the time." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 December 2019.
How long are radon detectors good for?
Long term testing is preferred (>3months, but annual is best), however short term testing can provide adequate results in real estate transactions. EPA recommends that testing device(s) be placed in the lowest level of the home suitable for occupancy.
Do radon kits expire?
There is no expiration date on the test kit as long as plastic bag is not opened.
What can throw off a radon test?
Turn off all air moving devices during the test. This would include ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, regular fans, HEPA or any other kind of filtering device that moves air. Do not operate fireplaces or heating stoves during the test unless they are your main source of heat.
How often are radon tests wrong?
About 40% of the short-term tests incorrectly indicate that the radon level is below the Action Limit (“false negatives”). Although the home should be mitigated, the homeowner may feel confident that there is no radon problem. Even the 90-day radon tests show false negatives in two out of eight tests (or 25%).
Do air purifiers help with radon?
Air Purifiers are great for mold, dust, allergies, bacteria and viruses, and odors, but many people do not know that they can also help with toxins, gases and chemicals such as radon. The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter.
Does running furnace affect radon test?
2 Winter is a good time to test for radon gas. Winter is a good time to test for radon because you are, in-most cases, measuring the worst case scenario for your home. With the hatches battened down and the furnace running, you are creating a scenario that can cause radon levels to be higher.
How accurate are home radon detectors?
The National Radon Safety Board evaluates radon measurement devices in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency. It requires that the individual relative error of each device be less than or equal to 20.0% and that the precision error of all devices be less than or equal to 20.0%.
What are the first signs of radon poisoning?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.Persistent cough.Hoarseness.Wheezing.Shortness of breath.Coughing up blood.Chest pain.Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.Loss of appetite.More items...
How do you ship a radon test?
If you have more than one test, you can ship them all in one box or package. Each test must be sealed individually in a return mailer. Mail the package immediately to Alpha Energy Labs at 2501 Mayes Road Suite #100, Carrollton, TX 75006. We must receive the radon sampler within 10 days of stopping the test.
What does radon come from?
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes.
Which radon test is most accurate?
The Radon Eye RD200 tops our list for its fast, accurate readings. After setting up this radon detector, you'll get your initial reading within the first 10 minutes with a more accurate reading appearing within the next 60.
How accurate are radon monitors?
The monitors had a range of uncertainty from 2%–15% with a range of precision from 1%–24%. The monitors performed better at higher radon levels than at levels near the Canadian guideline level of 200 Bq m−3, and slightly better during 'summer' conditions than during 'indoor winter' conditions.
Are radon testers accurate?
Results presented in this report support EPA's position that radon testing devices provide accurate and reliable results and that EPA's measurement recommendations raise the probability that high homes will be identified and fixed.
Does running furnace affect radon test?
2 Winter is a good time to test for radon gas. Winter is a good time to test for radon because you are, in-most cases, measuring the worst case scenario for your home. With the hatches battened down and the furnace running, you are creating a scenario that can cause radon levels to be higher.
What does radon test mean?
What Do The Test Results Mean? Radon is measured in units of picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon in homes that have a radon level at or above 4 pCi/L of air. The lower the average pCi/L level in the air you breathe, the lower your risk of getting lung cancer.
What should I do if my radon level is higher than 4?
What You Should Do. Higher than 4 pCi/L. Take a second test to make sure the first test results were accurate. You can use another short-term test, or you can use a long-term test. Contact a licensed professional to install a radon reduction system if: –The average of both short-term tests is higher than 4 pCi/L, or.
How to determine if you are exposed to radon?
Testing your home is the only effective way to determine whether you and your family are exposed to high levels of radon.
Do you have to test for radon in a basement?
If you are planning any major structural renovation, such as converting an unfinished basement area into living space, it is especially important to test the area for radon before you begin the renovation. If your test results indicate a radon problem, radon-resistant techniques can be inexpensively included as part of the renovation. Because major renovations can change the level of radon in any home, always test again after work is completed.
Where to place measuring device in home?
Open the package and follow the directions, which will instruct you to place the small measuring device in the lowest finished level of your home.
What to do if you have already tested your home for radon?
If you are thinking of selling your home and you have already tested your home for radon, review the Radon Testing Checklist to make sure that the test was done correctly. If so, provide your test results to the buyer.
Can a buyer ask for a new radon test?
A buyer may also ask for a new test if your state or local government requires disclosure of radon information to buyers.
How long does it take to test for radon?
Most are activated charcoal-based (like this Health Metric version) or use electret ion methodology; both measure radon levels for two to seven days. You mail the tests to a lab for the results. Short-term tests are available at home centers, hardware stores, and online retailers.
What is the EPA recommended radon test?
If an initial short-term test registers 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, the EPA recommends doing a second radon test. A long-term test will give you the most accurate information, but a short-term test is acceptable if you need the results quickly, such as for a real estate transaction, or your first levels registered 8 pCi/L or higher. If a second test registers above 4 pCi/L, consider taking steps to reduce radon levels in your home, the EPA cautions.
What is radon?
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that’s produced by decaying uranium. It’s present in nearly all soils, and very low levels of radon are found in the air we breathe every day, according to the American Cancer Society.
Why is radon a problem?
The problem occurs when radon gas enters your home and gets trapped. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that lung cancer caused by radon exposure kills about 21,000 Americans every year. (This may be how this woman got lung cancer at 31-years-old —without ever smoking a cigarette.)
How do you test your home for radon?
Conduct the test in the lowest livable area of your house that is regularly used 8 to 10 hours per week.
What should you do if your house has high levels of radon?
If a second test registers above 4 pCi/L, consider taking steps to reduce radon levels in your home, the EPA cautions.
How do you lower radon levels in your house?
You can start by trying these easy repairs to reduce radon levels. These efforts alone rarely reduce levels significantly, but if your level is only slightly elevated , these repairs might make the difference. They will also make other radon reduction methods more effective and cost-efficient. (Here are some other secrets that home inspectors don’t usually spill .)
What is the CDC's Radon Communication Toolkit?
CDC’s Radon Communication Toolkit is designed for environmental and public health professionals to use to increase awareness and understanding of radon, its health effects, and the importance of testing for radon among the communities they serve. The toolkit contains customizable fact sheets, infographics, newsletter articles, and social media posts. View large image and text description
How to test for radon in home?
Having your home tested is the only effective way to determine whether you and your family are exposed to high levels of radon. Steps you can take to measure and reduce radon levels include: 1 Purchasing a radon test kit#N#Find a Radon Test Kit or Measurement and Mitigation Professional#N#external icon 2 Testing your home or office#N#Testing is inexpensive and easy — it should only take a few minutes of your time. It requires opening a package and placing a small measuring device in a room and leaving it there for the desired period. Short-term testing can take from a few days to 90 days. Long-term testing takes more than 90 days. The longer the test, the more relevant the results are to your home and lifestyle. 3 Sending the kit to appropriate sources to determine radon level#N#Follow the directions on the test kit packaging to find out where to send the device to get the results. 4 Fixing your home if radon levels are high#N#Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction: How to Fix Your Home#N#pdf icon#N#[413 KB]#N#external icon
What is the radon level in a home?
EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon in homes that have a radon level at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air (a “picocurie” is a common unit for measuring the amount of radioactivity).
What is radon gas?
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes. Because radon comes naturally from the earth, people are always exposed to it.
How long does it take to get radon test results?
Long-term testing takes more than 90 days. The longer the test, the more relevant the results are to your home and lifestyle. Sending the kit to appropriate sources to determine radon level. Follow the directions on the test kit packaging to find out where to send the device to get the results.
How long does it take to get a blood test?
It requires opening a package and placing a small measuring device in a room and leaving it there for the desired period. Short-term testing can take from a few days to 90 days. Long-term testing takes more than 90 days. The longer the test, the more relevant the results are to your home and lifestyle.
Can you get lung cancer from burning wood?
Whether you burn wood, coal, or other substances that add particles to the indoor air. The chances of getting lung cancer are higher if your home has elevated rad on levels and you smoke or burn fuels that increase indoor particles. CDC’s Radon Communication Toolkit is designed for environmental and public health professionals to use ...
What is a long term radon test?
Long-term radon test kits, as the name suggests, are designed to test the home over a longer period of time. One style is a single-use device collected at the end of the usage period and sent to a laboratory for testing. This type of device is more accurate than the short-term kits because it allows for a larger data set to be collected and reviewed, instead of the results being swayed by radon spikes, unpredictable highs or lows in radon levels that can cause false test results.
How accurate is a radon test?
The longer period of time a radon test kit is able to test the home, the more accurate the results will be, as longer testing allows you to determine the average level of pCi/L in your home without the influence of random positive or negative spikes.
What is a corentium radon detector?
The Corentium Home Radon Detector is one of the first continuous radon test kits to use batteries, making it completely independent from outlets. The device is portable and can be placed in any location you want to test. For best results, always follow manufacturer guidelines.
How does a radon test kit work?
The alpha-track radon test kit—and long-term testing method—tests levels of radon by means of polycarbonate plastic sheets that the homeowner places the test kit in the lowest livable level of the home. Radon gas emits alpha particles, which create tracks on the sheets. Higher levels of alpha tracks indicate high levels of alpha particles and radon. Once the alpha-track radon test kit has been in place for the manufacturer’s suggested time period, the homeowner removes it and sends it to a lab for testing.
Why do charcoal detectors absorb radon?
Charcoal devices absorb radon so that the radioactive particles can be counted at a lab for accurate radon level estimates. Alpha-track test kits have a plastic film that becomes marked by alpha particles that strike it. These tracks are then counted at the lab.
How long does it take to get radon test results?
Short-term radon tests take between two to 90 days to collect readings from your home, depending on the manufacturer. You must then send these test kits to a laboratory to have the results calculated and returned to you. The lab fees and shipping costs are sometimes included with the product you purchase, so be sure to understand whether you will need to pay the fees.
Why are radon test kits so easy to use?
Radon test kits are designed to be easy to use, both for the benefit of the consumer and to ensure accurate test results. Difficult-to-use kits can produce results impacted by user error, whereas easy-to-use kits will provide more accurate readings.
What is the acceptable level of radon gas?
What is an acceptable level of radon gas? Radon Act 51 passed by Congress set the natural outdoor level of radon gas (0.4 pCi/L) as the target radon level for indoor radon levels. Unfortunately two-thirds of all homes exceed this level. The US EPA was tasked with setting practical guidelines and recommendations for the nation.
What is the radon level in the air?
Depending on your geographic location, the radon levels of the air you breathe outside of your home may be as high as 0.75 pCi/L.
What is the EPA action level for radon?
The US EPA was tasked with setting practical guidelines and recommendations for the nation. To this end, the US EPA has set an action level of 4 pCi/L. At or above this level of radon, the EPA recommends you take corrective measures to reduce your exposure to radon gas.
Is radon gas safe?
This is the simpler of the two questions. A safe level of radon gas is no radon gas. Radon gas is a carcinogen which causes lung cancer. The US EPA has put it plainly, stating, “Any radon exposure has some risk of causing lung cancer. The lower the radon level in your home, the lower your family’s risk of lung cancer.” The average person receives a higher dose of radiation from the radon levels in their home than from their combined exposure to all other radiation sources, natural or man-made. Radon gas is a naturally-occurring byproduct of the radioactive decay of Uranium in the soil. Depending on your geographic location, the radon levels of the air you breathe outside of your home may be as high as 0.75 pCi/L. The national average of outside radon levels is 0.4 pCi/L and it is estimated by the National Academy of Sciences that outdoor radon levels cause approximately 800 of the 21,000 radon induced lung cancer deaths in the US each year. Your risk of lung cancer increases substantially with exposure to higher radon levels. Lung cancer risk rises 16% per 2.7 pCi/L increase in radon exposure. World Health Organization, 2009 studies show that radon is the primary cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked. However, the absolute numbers of radon-induced lung cancers are much larger in people who smoke, or who have smoked in the past, due to a strong combined effect of smoking and radon.
Can you breathe radon?
You have no choice but to breathe the air in your home. A simple and inexpensive radon test can give you the information you need to make an informed decision about what level of radon gas exposure is acceptable to you. Your Test Results.
Is radon a natural or man made gas?
The average person receives a higher dose of radiation from the radon levels in their home than from their combined exposure to all other radiation sources, natural or man-made . Radon gas is a naturally-occurring byproduct of the radioactive decay ...
Can radon cause lung cancer?
World Health Organization, 2009 studies show that radon is the primary cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked. However, the absolute numbers of radon-induced lung cancers are much larger in people who smoke, or who have smoked in the past, due to a strong combined effect of smoking and radon.
