Sunday, April 7, 2019

Useful Information Regarding Radon Mitigation

By John Lee


Radon is a very harmful and poisonous gas and this is well-known fact. Normally, people develop cancer when they are exposed to it for a prolonged duration. That is why it is important to have residences and offices tested once or several times every year. Properties of the gas that make it even more dangerous are tastelessness, lack of odor, and invisibility. This is what Radon mitigation is all about.

Testing can take two forms, that is, short-term and long-term. Short-term testing usually lasts somewhere between 2 to 7 days. The test kit is installed in the house and left there for that entire period. When the period elapses, the test kit is collected and the data on it read. The data indicates the level of radon in the house. The unit for expressing the level of the gas is pCi/L.

Studies have shown that subsequent tests indicate higher concentration levels if the initial test detected levels of 4 pCi/L. This has been proven to be true in 18 percent of all cases. To ascertain the credibility of the test results, subsequent tests need to be carried out in the same location in the house. A second test can be conducted immediately or later on.

To get outcomes with more accuracy, first and second tests are computed to find the average in some cases. Short-term test devices exist in many varieties. Charcoal canisters, continuous radon monitors, and electrets are examples of these devices. All the devices that American firms use as test kits are considered to be equally reliable and effective. Therefore, a test kit can be purchased from a certified firm without one having to worry about the results.

On the other hand, long-term tests usually last between 3 and 12 months. These tests are the best and results obtained from them are highly accurate. They give average exposure over a given period. This is important because the level of radon varies from one season to another. The level can also vary even within the same day.

There are a number of factors that influence the rate of entry of radon gas. One of these factors includes the number of openings through which the gas can come in. In addition to this, places with low pressure seem to attract the gas most. Thus, the rate and amount of gas making its way into a residence will be influenced by the interior pressure. Exhaust systems, wind conditions, temperature just mention but a few all influence the pressure inside a home.

Winter is the best period for conducting tests. This is when gas levels are at their highest. Alpha track and electrets detectors are the two major classifications of long-term test devices. The two have equal reliability. It is wise to test a home first before purchasing. This can save one a lot of money that would otherwise need to be spent on remediating radon.

It is important to have a professional do the job. A good company is one that is certified and licensed. One should check to ensure that the company has a license and a certification certificate before hiring it.




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