What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occuring process of radioactive decay from radium and uranium found in rocks and soil. You can't see it, hear it, taste it, or even smell it. Homes in Utah with deep basements very often have high levels of Radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It is especially dangerous for people who smoke. The EPA recommends that homes have radon levels of less than 4 pCi/L. In reality, radon will probably not cause problems to non smokers if it is less than 20 pCi/L. Different areas generally have lower radon levels and even individual homes in the same neighborhood can have drastically different radon levels.
Get a Radon Gas Test
The best way to make sure you are not buying a house with high levels of radon is to simply get a radon test done. There are several ways to get radon tests done. You can purchase a self radon kit, hire a professional home inspector who does radon tests, or higher a radon mitigation specialist directly to perform the radon test. If you do a self test radon kit and the levels are high, you may also want to get a professional test done as these "test radon yourself kits" are often done improperly or the results can be inaccurate from interference.
Radon Mitigation
When radon gas levels are too high they can be remedied. Radon mitigation isn't cheap, but it is possible. A certified radon mitigation specialist can give you a bid on possible solutions for your radon problem. One of the easiest thiings to do to reduce radon is to open basement windows to allow cross ventalation. Other radon mitigation techniques include installing fans to move basement air above the roof, sealing cracks and crawlspaces with gas membranes and calk. A certified NRPP radon specialist can help you too determine what needs to be done to lower your homes radon levels.
