Radon is a deadly gas and the more we find out about it….the more dangerous it really is. Right now the D.E.P has Radon as the 2nd leading cause for lung cancer in the United States. Before you know it health insurance companies are going to require you have your home tested for Radon before they insure you. If you have never tested your home you should before it’s too late.
Before you do your at home radon testing there are some tips you need to know.
See…I’m a nationally certified home inspector and I do Radon testing as an additional service for my home inspection business. Here I will share some of my tips for best testing results.
The easiest way to get started is by saying….fresh air is the enemy of Radon.
What this means….is the more efficient your home is….the higher the chances of high Radon levels. Older more inefficient homes let in more fresh air from older windows, bad door seals, weaker foundations…..even these small amounts of fresh air into the home can drastically lower your homes radon levels.
The biggest tip I can offer to get the best results is if your going to perform a home radon test you want to test completely stagnant air. What this means is “closed home conditions” its a term professional testers use to describe a home that has been vacant or no windows, doors, vents, heaters and ac’s have not been run within the last 24 hours.
Doing this will nearly guarantee more accurate results than placing the test under lived in conditions. With people opening windows, shutting doors and running appliances it moves air in the home and adds fresh air into the home. The more fresh air moving into the home the lower your homes radon levels. This is the most important tip to get from this article. If your going to pay the money and conduct the test you want to do it right…and closed home conditions is the way to go.