Testing for Radon
The only way to determine the level of radon inside your home is to test
for it. Radon is a colorless odorless gas, so testing must be done with
specific monitors and test kits designed for this purpose. There a two
different methods for testing radon: long term and
short term.
Integrity Radon Control, LLC. does not perform radon tests. We use the services
of professional inspection companies that will give unbiased, third-party measurements
of our work. This service is included in our mitigation system price.
What the results mean
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), and this measurement
indicates the concentration of radon gas in the home being tested. The Environmental
Protection Agency recommends that homes with a level of 4 pCi/L or higher should have
mitigation systems installed to reduce the high levels of radon. As the nation's
second leading cause of lung cancer, radon is estimated to cause 22,000 deaths per year.
That is why a radon mitigation system is a must for homes with high levels of radon.
Short Term Test:
Shot term tests remain in the house for 2-90 days. For this reason
they are the fastest method of determining radon concentrations.
Charcoal canisters, electret ion chambers, and continuous monitors are
the most common types of testing equipment.
Long Term Test:
Long term tests are conducted in a time period exceeding 90
days. Alpha Track and electret test are the most common types. Though
this type of testing takes more time to gather information, it is also
more likely to give you a better year round average of exposure.
Each type of test has specific uses. It is very important that the
testing device is EPA approved.
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