(Newswire.net — April 6, 2013) Cincinnati, OH — According to the EPA, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and overall the second leading cause of lung cancer that has caused nearly 20,000 deaths nationwide. $2 billion dollars have been spent directly and indirectly in health care costs related to radon-induced lung cancer.
What is Radon?
Radon is a tasteless, odorless invisible gas which comes from a natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. It gets into your home through cracks and other openings in the foundation. Your home then traps the radon inside where it can build up. It does not matter if your home is new or old; any home is at risk of radon poisoning.
The picture shown above was taken from the EPA’s official website and the counties shown in red are at risk for high radon poisoning. The surrounding areas even though not in red are still affected by radon and should have their homes tested.
So when should you do radon testing?
Testing for radon should be done before doing any type of renovations due to the way radon can get into the home through any cracks, construction joints, gaps, suspended floors, cavities in the wall and so on.
“If you are planning any major structural renovation, such as converting an unfinished basement area into living space, it is especially important to test the area for radon before you begin the renovation. If your test results indicate a radon problem, radon-resistant techniques can be inexpensively included as part of the renovation.” – EPA
Also testing should be done every couple of years but radon levels can fluctuate during heating/cooling seasons as well. It is recommended that short term radon testing be done in the spring and then again in the winter time.
One such company in the Cincinnati area that specializes in short term radon testing is Secured Spaces Radon Testing. They use uses femto-Tech 510 Continuous Radon Monitors that provide hour-by-hour reporting throughout the 48 hours.
If your home does test positive for radon the cost of fixing your home is the same for any other minor repair. Secure Spaces Radon Testing can recommend the next steps to take if your home does test positive.
Procrastination on getting your home tested for radon is never an option and can be downright dangerous. The cost of testing is far cheaper than the cost of waiting for the worst to happen.
Secured Spaces Radon Testing
Kathryn Kirchmer – Licensed Technician RT758
P.O. Box 498837
Cincinnati, Ohio 45249
513-850-3202
Katie@CincinnatiRadonTesting.com
www.cincinnatiradontesting.com