Radon gas can go undetected. It is an odorless and colorless radioactive gas that comes from decaying uranium. It is highly important to detect this in a home should it be present. This is because radon, when it reaches an enclosed space, gets trapped. Radon can leak into your home and use the cracks and holes as a pathway.
A study has shown that radon gas is a carcinogen, a substance responsible for lung cancer. Research has also proved that radon poses a risk to cigarette smokers. However, this does not mean that non-smokers are exempt from the harmful risks of radon gas. As a matter of fact, the probability of lung cancer is higher for non-smokers compared to smokers. This is if the level of radon is high. And what better way to find out than to conduct radon tests.
How is a radon test performed in Orlando, FL?
Perform the radon test in a livable area. A good place would be a space that is used for up to 10 hours a week. You cannot perform the test in a kitchen, laundry room, hallway, and most especially not a bathroom. There is an active device that can be installed to gauge if a home’s radon levels are high. If time is not an issue, it is advisable to test long-term. Ideally, it would be in a span of 90 days. Most buyers, however, can only accommodate short-term testing, which will only take 48 to 96 hours. Please note that if you go for short-term radon testing, make sure not to conduct one during storms, days when humidity is high, or when winds are high.
Radon mitigation
Radon mitigation can be utilized when radon levels are high. Some of which involves using a PVC pipe to draw radon gas up from the soil and out of your house to ventilate your home.
Placing a vent pipe in the sump pit (if you have a sump pump) or a hole made underneath your concrete floor slab is the most effective system. You can also place a special in-line radon fan in the attic or outside the house to draw air through the vent and radon from under the basement floor.
Professionals can charge between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars to install a radon mitigation system. Of course, this depends on your home and your radon levels.
It’s important to act if your house has high radon levels. But make sure to be objective and not rush to move out of your house.
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