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, feel 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. It's estimated that one fourth of all Utah Homes have radon levels above the recommended action level. 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. Radon levels also vary by the season; rainy and snowy seasons see higher levels than do other times of the year.

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. Self test kits can be purchased from places like Lowe's or Home Depot for about $12. These kits are to be placed two feet off the ground in the lowest level of the home for 48 to 72 hours, and are then mailed of to a laboratory that examines the results and then sends you the report.The cost of the kits include the lab results, but not postage to mail them off. 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.

To have an honest professional radon mitigation specialst perform your test, call Utah Radon Check: (435) 764-8951. They can provide you with detailed reports that show the different fluctuations in the radon levels based on the time of day.

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.

One of Northern Utah's best radon mitigation companies is Radon Check. They offer affordable and reliable radon mitigation systems that generally lower your radon levels below 2 pCi/L
Call Radon Check at (435) 764-8951 to find out what they can do to reduce your families future risk of lung cancer.