Are Home-Use Radon Test Kits Accurate?

Radon is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas that is a known carcinogen.   It is created as a result of the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil, and enters homes through sump pumps, crawl spaces, cracks in foundations, and other small fissures.   Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, but is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.   One of the best things you can do to ensure a healthy home is to test it for radon.

When testing your home for radon, accuracy is the most important factor to consider.   While the best way to get an accurate result is to have a professional radon mediation company perform the testing, there are options for DIY homeowners.   Remember, however, that a short-term test, favored by real estate agents for a quick result that may be required for a home sale, may not be accurate.   The longer period of time a radon test kit is able to test the air in the home, the more accurate the result will be.   A 48-hour test may not provide an accurate reading, since radon levels can spike and change rapidly.

A long-term testing kit will be much more accurate, but the testing period should be at least 90 days.   If the long-term average level of pCi/L in the home is 4 or less, remediation is not necessary.   If the result shows a figure of over 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends a radon removal system be installed in the home.

Home test kits are available in a wide variety of price points, with various features and methods of obtaining the results.   Make sure to select a long-term test, as short-term results can give a false sense of alarm or, worse, a false sense of security due to their inability to predict long-term exposure to radon.

For more information, please contact:

Illinois Valley Radon Mitigation, LLC

717 Bellevue Avenue

Ottawa, IL 61350

815-313-5892

www.illinoisvalleyradon.com

Email:   tami@illinoisvalleyradon.com