Pittsburgh Radon Testing
Why should you consider Radon testing in Pittsburgh? Because 4 out of 10 homes in Pittsburgh test high for Radon. What exactly does a “high” level of Radon mean? Living in a space with a Radon level of 4 pCi/L (picocuries per litre of air) is the same risk of lung cancer as smoking 10 cigarettes a day. Although these numbers are scary, there are steps you can you can do to protect you and your family. Radon testing is the first action to take in order to protect your loved ones from the dangers of Radon gas.
How Do I Test For Radon?
Radon testing can be done in a variety of ways and is fairly easy and cheap to do. A Radon test can be either short term or long term. Short term Radon tests typically last anywhere from 48 hours to several days where as a long term Radon test typically lasts for 3 months to a year. Radon testing can be done by a professional Radon company, like Home Radon Pros, or can be done on your own. Each method comes with its pros and cons, but the most important thing to remember is that every home is different and that a test at your neighbor's home may not be the same as a test in your own.
Continuous Radon Monitor
Charcoal Radon Test
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Most accurate results
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Certified for real estate transactions
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Detailed hourly report can detect errors/tampering
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Mainly used for short term Radon test
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Most expensive method
Home Radon Device
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Accurate results
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Certified for real estate transactions
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Only 1 Radon level provided. Tampering possible. Multiple tests deployed for accuracy
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Mainly used for medium to long term tests
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Medium priced method
At Home Radon Test Kit
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Results are 90% accurate
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CANNOT be used for real estate transactions
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Detailed hourly report via app on phone
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Can be used for any test duration
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Devices range from $130-$175
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Accurate results IF done correctly
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CANNOT be used for real estate transactions
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1 level provided. If not done correctly, will result in error and require additional test
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Can be used for any test duration
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Cheapest method
What Radon Test is Best?
Everyone has a different preference when it comes to selecting the best Radon testing device or method for your home. If you are concerned about accurate results and getting them quickly, having a Radon professional use a Continuous Radon Monitor would be your best choice. If you want your own personal device that you can use, and give to your friends and family to get a gauge on Radon levels in your homes, devices such as the Radoneye or Airthings Radon monitors might be the best option for you. If cost is an area of concern for you, the at home tests can get you an accurate result, if they are done correctly. Throughout the years, we have dealt with a lot of homeowners who end up having to do multiple at home test kits because they did not do them right in the first place.
Regardless of your decision, we are here to help you make the best choice for you to keep you and your family safe. Our team is standing by for those with questions about Radon testing in West Virginia or Pittsburgh.
What is a High Radon Level in Pittsburgh?
Once you have tested your home for Radon, the next step in the process is to determine what your Radon level means and how it is impacting those living in your home. The EPA recommends that any home over 4.0 pCi/L should take action to mitigate. The WHO has a more conservative action level of 2.7. Pennsylvania is the third highest state when it comes to Radon levels. Pittsburgh counties have some of the highest average Radon levels in the country. 4 out of 10 homes have elevated Radon levels in Pittsburgh. For all homes in Pittsburgh Radon testing should be completed in order for families to understand their Radon levels.
No level of Radon is safe and you cannot fully remove Radon from your home. Knowing your Pennsylvania county and the average Radon level in it, can help you make the decision if Radon testing is something you should consider. Below are the percentage of homes in each county that are ABOVE the 4.0 mark.
41%
55%
47%
53%
38%
41%
Why is Pittsburgh Radon Dangerous?
Pittsburgh families are in danger of Radon due to several factors:
- Pittsburgh is an older city, which means a lot of our homes are older. This means our foundations may have more cracks, floors and walls have more gaps, and ventilation systems not as efficient as they could be. This allows radon gas to seep into your home at higher doses.
- Many homes in the Pittsburgh area have basements, and or crawl spaces, these are hot beds for radon gas to be trapped, and eventually move throughout your home.
- The mountainous terrain of Pittsburgh leads for the composition of the ground underneath your home to move more frequently. This causes radon levels to constantly change over time. This means that testing your home for radon once, may not necessarily give you an accurate reading for the future.
- Fracking impacts Radon levels for the same reasons as the terrain shifting would. As the ground underneath homes in the Pittsburgh area is being impacted, radon gas will have an easier way to move up into your home.
- The climate in Pittsburgh, as we all know, is not very consistent. Temperature changes can drastically affect radon levels. Again, the best way to get the most accurate reading of radon levels in your home is to have your home tested for radon more than just once.