mitch@mitchell-home-inspections.com

410-989-1970 (call or text any time)

RADON TESTING - $150 for each test

 Proudly Serving Maryland Counties Anne Arundel, Howard & Prince George's since 2014

MORE ABOUT RADON

We offer Radon inspections for your potential new home or your current residence.  Read on to learn more about the potential dangers of Radon.

RADON IS A CANCER CAUSING, RADIOACTIVE GAS:
You can't see radon. And you can't smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home.

Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.

Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems. Sometimes radon enters the home through well water. In a small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon, too. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves.

RADON GETS IN THROUGH:

1. Cracks in solid floors
2. Construction joints
3. Cracks in walls
4. Gaps in suspended floors
5. Gaps around service pipes
6. Cavities inside walls
7. The water supply

Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That's because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state. Contact your state radon office for general information about radon in your area. While radon problems may be more common in some areas, any home may have a problem. The only way to know about your home is to test.

SHORT-TERM TESTING:
The quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in your home for two days to 90 days, depending on the device. "Charcoal canisters," "alpha track," "electret ion chamber," "continuous monitors," and "charcoal liquid scintillation" detectors are most commonly used for short-term testing. Because radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season, a short-term test is less likely than a long-term test to tell you your year-round average radon level. If you need results quickly, however, a short-term test followed by a second short-term test may be used to decide whether to fix your home.

LONG-TERM TESTING:
Long-term tests remain in your home for more than 90 days. "Alpha track" and "electret" detectors are commonly used for this type of testing. A long-term test will give you a reading that is more likely to tell you your home's year-round average radon level than a short-term test.

EPA Recommends the Following Testing Steps:

Step 1. Take a short-term test. (We run two tests simultaneously and take the average which is a widely accepted practice).  If your first short-term test result is more than twice EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and you need results quickly, you should take a second short-term test immediately.  If you have more time then follow up with (Step 2)

Step 2. For a better understanding of your year-round average radon level, take a long-term test.

Step 3. If you followed up with a long-term test and your long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or more then you need to fix your home. If you followed up with a second short-term test: The higher your short-term results, the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher.

RADON PROBLEMS CAN BE FIXED:
Radon reduction systems work and they are not too costly. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.

HAVE YOUR HOME TESTED:

It’s the only way to know if you have elevated Radon. It’s worth it to you and your family! If you would like me to do a Radon Test, call me today at 410-989-1970