Testing Radon When Moving Into a New Home
In terms of getting your radon levels checked out when buying a new home, you may wonder whether it’s important to accomplish or if you can put it off. It is important to check your radon levels when moving to a new house right away so that you don’t become exposed to the gases for too long or at a high level.
Radon gas is a radioactive gas that is emitted from the earth’s crust naturally. You breathe in radon every day, but in homes and buildings with high levels, it can cause lung cancer. It is said to be a silent killer as it is odorless, colorless, and doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms if you end up getting radon poisoning.
A large intake of radon is the number one reason for lung cancer and around 21,000 people die because of radon-related lung cancer each year. It is the number one cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers and kills more each year than drunk drivers, carbon monoxide poisoning, and house fires.
Radon tends to come and go rather quickly but it can get trapped in homes and buildings through any small openings and cracks in the foundation. Certain causes include little airflow throughout a building, the weather that you’re currently located in, and the building materials you use. Good ventilation and airflow throughout the home are some of the ways to help reduce radon levels to a safe level.
Anyone who breathes in large quantities of radon for a long time has a higher chance of getting radon-related lung cancer, but a good average to look at is typically 1 in every 30 people are sensitive to it. Radon is 10x more dangerous to children as they are still developing physically and tend to breathe more often than adults, so getting your radon tested is especially important if any children are living in the home.
Putting off checking your radon levels when buying a new home can lead you to become exposed to them for too long, and the more exposure you have, the more at risk you are of getting radon poisoning. It’s important to take care of high levels right away to keep yourself and your family safe.
If you’re looking to get your levels checked and any problems fixed when it comes to radon, feel free to give us a call and book an appointment. We’d be more than happy to help keep you and your family safe.