What is Radon

Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is formed as natural deposits of uranium throughout the earth’s crust decay. As radon decay products are inhaled, they can alter the cells in the lungs. These alterations can increase the potential for getting lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. An estimated 14,000 people die of radon related lung cancer each year. The amount of radon in a building is dependent upon several factors. These factors include the geology, a driving force, pathways into the building, and the ventilation rate. As the concentration of uranium in the underlying soil increases, so does the strength of the radon. Radon is transported to buildings more easily through permeable soils. Buildings can create pressure differentials that will draw in the soil gases. Radon can enter the building through many paths such as cracks in the foundation, utility penetrations, sumps, and floor drains. The ventilation rate of the building affects the final radon concentration.

EPA has made the recommendation of no long-term radon exposures above 4 pico curies/liter (pCi/L). This action level was based on both health and economics. The only way to tell if a building has elevated levels of radon is to have it tested.

Major Radon Entry
A. Cracks in concrete slabs.
B. Spaces behind brick veneer walls that rest on uncapped hollow-block foundations.
C. Pores and cracks in concrete blocks.
D. Floor-wall joints.
E. Exposed soil, as in a sump or crawl space.
F. Weeping (drain) tile, if drained to an open sump
G. Mortar joints.
H. Loose fitting pipe penetrations.
I. pen tops of block walls.
J. Building materials, such as brick, concrete, rock.
K. Well Water.


About our Radon Equipment

At Quality Home Inspections, we consider the type of continuous radon monitoring system we use a more accurate and informative unit (compared to other equipment being used) that will provide the proper information to determine if mitigation treatment is needed.  We will place the unit in the house for at least 48 hours.  After picking up the unit from the house, we will deliver the results the next day.