HOW TO TEST YOUR HOME

You can't see radon, but it's not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home. All you need to do is test for radon. Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.

The amount of radon in the air is measured in "picocuries per liter of air" (pCi/L). Sometime test results are expressed in Working Levels (WL) rather than picocuries per liter (pCi/L). There are many kinds of low cost "do it yourself" radon test kits you can get through the mail and in hardware stores and other retail outlets. Make sure you buy a test it that has passed EPA's testing program or is state certified. These kits will usually display the phrase "Meets EPA's Requirements." If you prefer, or if you are buying or selling a home, you can hire a trained contractor to do the testing for you. Make sure you hire an EPA or NEHA qualified or state-certified radon tester. Call your state radon office for a list of these testers.

There are Two General Ways to Test for Radon

Short-Term Testing:

The quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Short-term remain in your home for two day to ninety 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 test 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. If your results is 4pCi/L or higher*, take a follow-up test (Step 2) to be sure.

Step 2. Follow-up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test:

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

   

• If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.

   

The higher your initial short-term test result, the more certain you can be that you should take a short-term rather than a long term follow up test. If your first short-term test results is several times the action level --- for example, about 10 pCi/L or higher --- you should take a second short term test immediately.

Step 3. If you followed up with a long-term test: Fix your home (if your long-term test results is 4 pCi/L or more*.

• If you follow 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*.

*0.02 Working I\Levels (WL) or higher.

WHAT YOUR TEST RESULTS MEAN

The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air. The U.S. Congress has set a long-term goal that the indoor radon levels are no more than outdoor levels. While this goal is not yet technologically achievable in all cases, most homes today can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below.

Sometimes short-term tests are less definitive about whether or not your home is above 4 pCi/L. This can happen when your results are close to 4pCi/L. For example, if the average of your two short-term test results is 4.1 pCi/l, there is about a 50% chance that your year-round average in somewhat below 4 pCi/L. However, EPA believes that any radon exposure carries some risk --- no level of radon is safe. Even radon levels below 4 pCi/L pose some risk, and you can reduce your risk of lung cancer by lowering your radon level.

If your living patterns change and you begin occupying a lower level of your home (such as a basement) you should retest your home on that level.

Even if your test results is below 4 pCi/L, you may want to test again sometime in the future.

FIXING YOUR RADON PROBLEM

While in some cases you can treat the problem yourself, you should always consider the use of trained personnel. Trained radon reduction contractors offer their services in many areas. Call your State Radon Office (see below), or your local government to locate one.

You will find more information n how to reduce radon levels in your home in EPA?s booklet, ?Radon Reduction Methods: A Homeowner?s Guide,? which is also available from your state.

The two most common radon reduction strategies are:

1. 1. Prevent radon entry by sealing cracks, sump pimp openings, and other areas where Radon can get in.
2. 2. Ventilate the soil surrounding your home so that radon is drawn away before it can enter your home.

Remember, high levels of radon are extremely dangerous to you and your family. If your test results were high, you should take action. Most homes with radon can usually be fixed for between $200 and $1,500.

:Lowering high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills. You should use a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems. The EPA Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) Program tests these contractors. EPA provides a list of RCP contractors to state radon offices. A contractor who has passed the EPA test will carry a special RCP identification card. A trained RCP contractor can study the radon problem in your home and help you pick the right treatment method.

check with your state radon office for names of qualified or state certified radon contractors in your area. Picking someone to fix your radon problem is much like choosing a contractor for other home repairs --- you may want to get references and more than one estimate.

If you plan to fix the problem in your home yourself, you should first contact your state radon office or EPA?s technical guide, ?Radon Reduction Techniques for Detached Houses?.

You should test your home again after it is fixed to be sure that radon levels have been reduced. Most radon reduction systems include monitors that will alert you if the system needs servicing. In addition, it?s a good idea to retest your home sometime in the future to be sure radon levels remain low.

RADON AND HOME SALES

More and more home buyers and renters are asking about radon levels before they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is often little time to deal with radon and other issues. The best thing to do is to test for radon NOW and save the results in case the buyer is interested in them. Fix a problem if it exist so it won?t complicate your home sale. If you are planning to move, call your state radon office for EPA?s pamphlet ?Home Buyer?s and Seller?s Guide to Radon? which addresses some common questions during home sales.

• Buyers often ask if a home has been tested, and if elevated levels were reduced.
• Buyers frequently want test made by someone who is not involved n the home sale. Your state office has a list of qualified testers.

 

• Buyers might want to know the radon levels in areas of the home (like the basement they plan to finish) that the seller might no have otherwise tested.

Today many homes are built to prevent radon from coming in. Your state or local area may require these radon-resistant construction features. Radon-resistant construction features usually keep radon levels in new home below 2 pCi/L. If you are buying or renting a new home, ask the owner or builder if it has radon-resistant features.

For further information about radon and testing, contact the radon office in your state.

Information taken from (ANR-464)

A citizens Guide to Radon (2nd Ed.)