Test Your Home for Radon (USA)

Have you any idea if you have radon in your home? You can't see it, smell it or taste it, but if you are being exposed to it, it can kill you. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the USA and claims as many as 21,000 lives per year. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is released from uranium tainted soil and rocks. It seeps up from the ground and can enter your home environment through porous building materials or leaks in your foundation. To find out if you or your loved ones are being exposed to dangerous level of radon, here is a test that you can carry out at home.

Things You'll Need

 * 1 EPA-approved, short-term charcoal radon kit
 * 1 measuring tape
 * 1 pair scissors

Steps

 * 1) [[Image:Radon2.png|175px|thumb| Approved radon kit |right]] Assemble the Things You'll Need. These are listed above.
 * 2) [[Image:Radon3.png|175px|thumb| Shut all windows and doors |right]] Lock down.  Before you can get an accurate sample of the air in your home, you'll need to close all of your exterior doors and all of your windows. Note you will have to keep them closed at least 12 hours prior to starting the test.
 * 3) [[Image:Radon4.png|175px|thumb| Comes with tough packaging - get the scissors |right]]Open the radon kit. Open your kit - the chances are that you will probably need the scissors to cut through the difficult packaging.  Inside your kit, you should find:
 * 4) *[[Image:Radon5.png|175px|thumb| 2 vials |right]]One or two test vials, depending on the manufacturer.
 * 5) *[[Image:Radon6.png|175px|thumb| Enter data here |right]]An information card
 * 6) *[[Image:Radon7.png|175px|thumb| Envelope |right]]A pre-addressed envelope for the radon test lab; and
 * 7) *Depending on the brand of kit you have bought, information about payment for the laboratory analysis
 * 8) [[Image:Radon8.png|175px|thumb| The living area is a good choice |right]][[Image:Radon9.png|170px|thumb| But not the kitchen |right]]Find a place to conduct your test. The test zone should be where you spend a good amount of time. Do not use a kitchen or bathroom. If you have a basement, consider making that your test zone.
 * 9) [[Image:Radon10.png|175px|thumb| Place 6 inches apart |right]]Position the vials in place. You'll need to find a surface about 20 inches off the floor to place your vials. Place both vials 6 inches apart. Use the measuring tape to make sure.
 * 10) [[Image:Radon11.png|175px|thumb| In position minus lids |right]]Remove the caps from each of the test vials.
 * 11) [[Image:Radon12.png|175px|thumb| Let the time pass |right]]Hurry up and wait. Wait a minimum of 48 hours but no more than 96 hours (2 - 4 days) for your vials to take a sample of your air. Do not disturb the vials. Do not use your fireplace, open any windows, use any coolers (air-conditioning, evaporative coolers, swamp coolers) or operate any fans. Try to avoid opening your doors as much as possible.
 * 12) [[Image:Radon13.png|175px|thumb| Fill out the data |right]]Put a lid on it. When enough time has passed, fill out the data card provided by the manufacturer. Put the caps on the vials and put everything - including a lab fee if necessary - into the envelope provided by manufacturer of your kit.
 * 13) [[Image:Radon14.png|175px|thumb| Mail it quickly! |right]]Mail it. It is recommended that you mail your test vials within a day, if possible, so that the lab can get the most accurate results possible.
 * 14) [[Image:Radon15.png|175px|thumb| Read by mail or online |right]]Read the results. The lab will either mail you your results make them accessible online within a couple of weeks. Reading the results of your radon test might be confusing, however, the most important thing to understand is that the amount of radon in the air is measured in pico Curies per liter of air (pCi/L). The average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pico Curies per liters of air. Some experts believe 0.4 pico Curies is ideal  but most experts believe any level of radon is unsafe. However, if your test results come back as 4 pico Curies or higher, you should get another kit and redo the test to make sure that your results were accurate.
 * 15) [[Image:Radon17.png|175px|thumb| Learn more about what you can do |right]]Get radon active. If the results from your second test come back showing that you have a level of 4 pico Curies or higher, the government recommends you take action to have your home fixed. One of the things that the EPA recommends is the installation of a special vent pipe system and fan to divert radon from your residence.
 * 16) [[Image:Radon18.png|175px|thumb| Visit the EPA website |right]]Get more information on radon from the Environmental Protection Agency. Visit the EPA's website Radon. This will also provide you with any information you may need on either having a professional test or repairing your home, so that you can ensure you have a healthier home for you and your loved ones.

Tips

 * Elevated levels of radon can be found in both new and old buildings, whether they are homes, workplaces or stores etc.
 * Radon can penetrate all types of foundations, including crawlspaces and slab-on-ground basements.
 * Be careful to place your test away from areas that have temperature differences of +10ºF from room temperature, in high humidity zones or on hot surfaces.
 * If you have more than one room to check, it may be more cost effective to rent or purchase a detector from radon-b-gone.com, or any other company making a certified radon detector.
 * Some states and counties offer "Free Radon Test Kits". Check to see if you're able to take advantage of these programs first before buying a kit.

Warnings

 * This article only discusses the method for a short term test. A long term test takes about 91 days to a year and examines the normal living conditions without closed building conditions during a variety of seasons (radon levels vary from season to season).  This should be performed by a qualified radon measurement professional trained in correct placement of radon measurement devices and the interpretation of the results.  Ask your local department of public health and/or environment for details of such professionals.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Remove Cigarette Smoke, Chemicals and Odours from a Bedroom
 * How to Avoid Poisoning from Household Chemicals
 * How to Protect Your Kids from Secondhand Smoke
 * How to Stop Secondhand Smoke Coming Into Your Apartment
 * How to Prevent Secondhand Smoke from Entering Your Garage

Sources and Citations

 * VideoJug A video of testing for radon. The original source of this article. Shared with permission.
 * Radon - EPA website
 * Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, (2004), Dealing with Radon in Real Estate Transactions - source of additional information under Tips and Warnings