Radon is a gas you cannot smell, taste, or see, and it is literally everywhere. Did you know that Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers? It is responsible for over 21,000 deaths every single year in the United States alone. Despite it being so deadly, very few families are aware of its dangers and do not take the proper steps in making sure their home is safe from Radon.
In order to raise awareness, the EPA started proclaiming that January is National Radon Awareness month. Here are a few fast facts about Radon, what you can do to protect your own family, and then what you can do to raise awareness about Radon to those around you.
Radon Facts (The Bad)
Radon comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil
Radon cannot be detected with our natural senses
You cannot see, smell, or taste Radon
Radon causes more annual deaths than drunk driving, carbon monoxide, and asbestos combined
Your home’s Radon levels are constantly changing. This means that you may have had Radon testing in your home a few years ago and your Radon levels may have been low, but if you are not testing your home at least once every two years, you may be living in a Radon-dense home
Your old Radon mitigation system may not be working properly. If your system was installed several years ago, it is time for a regular maintenance check to ensure it is still pulling enough Radon from your home
The EPA recommends home owners take action when Radon levels are over 4.0 pCi/Ls. Some areas, like Pittsburgh, Colorado, and Iowa have average Radon levels well above the 4.0 recommended action level
Radon Facts (The Good)
Radon testing is cheap, easy, and fast
Homeowners can purchase Radon testing kits for an all in cost of around $60 and can get results within a week
Radon professionals can use advanced Radon testing devices such as Continuous Radon Monitors to get precise Radon levels hour by hour. Most professionals charge around $100 for a test and typically can get you results for a short term test in 48 hours
Radon mitigation systems are affordable and effective
Most Radon removal systems can be installed for around $1000 dollars
Certified Radon Professionals can build custom-made Radon mitigation systems that do not compromise the aesthetics of your home
Radon professionals can get your home’s Radon levels well below the EPA recommended action level, making your home safe for you and your family to live in.
The best Radon professionals will walk you through each step and use high quality Radon fans to ensure your home’s levels are as low as possible
Test for Radon- The only way to know if your home is in danger of Radon is to test for it
Hire a Radon Professional to install a Radon removal system- If your results are high, hiring a Radon professional is the most effective way to make sure you get a proper mitigation system for your home
Continue to test- To ensure your home continues to stay safe from Radon, continue to test your home once every two years to ensure your Radon levels are still low, and your Radon mitigation system is working properly
How Can You Raise Radon Awareness?
Radon is deadly, and is claiming more and more lives every year. However, there are still not enough families educated on what Radon is and the damage it can do. Taking the proper steps to raise awareness about Radon and its harmful effects will help save more lives. Here are a few things you can do to raise awareness to your friends, family, or community:
Tell your family and friends- There is no need to keep Radon a secret. Educate your friends and family on the dangers of Radon and encourage them to have their home’s tested, or at least do some research on their own. There are so many great resources online with plenty of Radon information.
Tell your community- Whether it is a school, church, or other type of group gathering, the more people aware of Radon, the more lives we can save. Getting more people involved in the fight against Radon is the best way to raise awareness. Informing people of their area's average Radon levels is typically a great place to start!
Use Social Media- Social media is a great tool for raising awareness for Radon. By sharing this article, you could be saving a life.
Radon is a serious concern and does not have the attention that other home dangers like asbestos or lead paint have. However, Radon is even more deadly and is not something to be taken lightly. January is National Radon Awareness Month in order to promote the harm that Radon causes families. The number of lives Radon is claiming continues to grow, and the only way we can win the fight against Radon is to take the proper steps to keep our own families safe, and then encourage others to do the same.
Home Radon Pros is a Radon company in Pittsburgh, PA. Home Radon Pros strives to educate as many families, schools, communities, and business we can in order to save lives from the dangers of Radon. We personally lost loved ones to Radon and have since worked to prevent other families from going through the turmoil we had to. Be smart and be safe, test for Radon.