Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon Click on this link to go to the EPA’s website
October 23, 2011 by certaintyinspections
Filed under Radon Gas
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html
Understanding My Radon Gas Test Results
May 7, 2011 by certaintyinspections
Filed under Radon Gas
There are Two General Ways to Test for Radon:
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.
How To Use a Test Kit:
Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.
If you are doing a short-term test, close your windows and outside doors and keep them closed as much as possible during the test. Heating and air-conditioning system fans that re-circulate air may be operated. Do not operate fans or other machines which bring in air from outside. Fans that are part of a radon-reduction system or small exhaust fans operating only for short periods of time may run during the test. If you are doing a short-term test lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your windows and outside doors at least 12 hours before beginning the test, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoJw5fXzAUA
High Radon On Slab Home Found On Charlestown Indiana Home Inspection
All of Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky is in the moderate to hot zone for radon gas, however, the Charlestown Indiana area has been known to have a very hot level of radon gas. Recently Certainty Home Inspections performed a radon gas test on a slab home in the Charlestown Indiana area and discovered that the home had a radon level of 258. This test was through the roof and needless to say we recommended mitigation for radon gas. A common misbelief is that radon is not found on slab homes, this statement is simply not true. All types of homes can have radon gas trapped inside the home including basement homes, slab homes and even some crawl spaces. For more information on radon please visit the radon gas section , please click here.
Radon In Water
Most radon-related deaths in the US are due to radon gas accumulated in houses from seepage through cracks in the foundation, 30 to 1,800 deaths per year are attributed to radon from household water. High levels of dissolved radon are found in the groundwater in some areas flowing through granite or granitic sand and gravel formations. If you live in an area with high radon in groundwater it can get into your private well. Washing dishes, showering, and laundering can disturb the water releasing radon gas into the air you breathe.
How do I remove radon from my drinking water?
Radon can be removed from water by using one of these two methods:
• Aeration treatment – spraying water or mixing it with air and then venting the air from the water before use, or
• GAC treatment – filtering water through granular activated carbon. Radon attaches to the carbon and leaves the water free of radon. Disposing of the carbon may require special handling if it is used at a high radon level or if it has been used for a long time.
In either treatment, it is important to treat the water where it enters your home (point-of-entry device) so that all the water will be treated. Point-of-use devices such as those installed on a tap or under the sink will only treat a small portion of your water and are not effective in reducing radon in your water. It is important to maintain home water treatment units properly because failure to do so can lead to other water contamination problems. Some homeowners use a service contract from the installer to provide carbon replacement and general system maintenance. Remember to have your well water tested regularly at least once a year after installing a treatment system to make sure the problem is controlled. For more information pertaining to radon in water visit www.epa.gov
