What is Radon?
Radon is the colorless, odorless and radioactive gas that is produced by the decomposition of uranium within the soil, rock and water. This gas is easily drawn from the ground into the homes through cracks and other holes in your home. Your home traps the gas and from time to time it builds up in plenty and might have bad effects on those breathing it and may reach concentrations that increase the chance of developing lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US after tobacco. But thankfully this may be prevented through awareness and testing.
Is radon testing important before buying a home in Colorado?
In short… YES!
As mentioned above radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans annually and these numbers are quite more than breast, prostate, liver and colon cancers combined! Radon decays quickly giving off tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled these radioactive particles can damage the cells that line the lungs. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer which is the only type of cancer proven to be associated with inhaling radon. Unfortunately, about 50% of homes in Colorado have a high level of Radon and it is said that about 500 people die thanks to lung cancer per annum. Colorado is understood as on number 1 when it involves the presence of high radon gas levels, every two out of 4 homes in Colorado have high levels of this gas.
Radon gas occurs by decomposing of uranium, a metal that is usually found across many areas in Colorado. The presence of this metal in most of the realm is that the only reason for prime recorded levels of Radon. When the uranium within the ground decomposes it releases radon gas as a result. The gas then escapes from the bottom and into the outdoors moreover as the house’s indoors. Radon can also enter your home through well water most of Colorado’s deep wells are found to possess high levels of dissolved radon, contributing greatly to the cases of stomach cancer as a result of contaminated water ingestion.
If you’re thinking of buying a home, testing for radon in Colorado is extremely important. As a buyer, you certainly want to check before buying a home. You’ll attempt to accept an earlier test result from the seller or ask the seller for a brand new test to be conducted by a certified radon tester. The home inspection is that the ideal time to make sure this testing is done. Even if the home has an existing radon mitigation system in place, testing is a reasonable insurance policy to make sure it is working properly. Before you accept the seller’s test you ought to determine the results of the previous testing. This is actually called a “post radon mitigation test”. Like who conducted the previous test, the house owner, a radon testing professional or some other person. Where within the home the previous test was taken, especially if you will conceive to board in a lower level of the home, as an example the test may are taken on the primary floor. However if you wish to use the basement as a living space test there and what if any structural changes, alterations or changes within the heating, ventilation and air-con system are made to the house since the test was done. Such changes might affect radon levels so if you accept the seller’s test confirm that the test should have been followed what we above discussed. But if you opt that a replacement test is needed discuss it with the seller and confirm that test is completed as soon as possible. Confirm that the test is finished within the particular level of the home that might be used regularly meaning the highest or lowest level that you are going to use as lebensraum whether it is finished or unfinished.
A certified radon tester, such as PineBreeze Radon Mitigation, can facilitate this process and give an accurate certification. If you opt to finish or renovate an unfinished area of the home within the future a radon test should be done before starting the project and after the project is finished. Generally, it is more cost-effective to put in a radon-reduction system before or during renovations instead of afterward. Radon resistant techniques work, when installed properly and completely, these simple and cheap techniques can help to scale back radon levels.
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