Serving the Tri-State New York area for over two decades
ABOUT RADON
Why is radon unhealthy?
The by-products of radon gas can attach themselves to the lung lining
and shoot off radioactive alpha particles that irritate and sometimes
mutate the cells. This can lead to lung cancer. In fact, health
agencies consider radon to be, after cigarette smoking, the second
leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
As the EPA and Surgeon General suggest
“All homes should be tested for radon”.
How does radon get into a home?
The house itself is the main culprit. By means of convection (“stack
effect”) a house draws the gas up from the underlying soil into
basements and crawl spaces where it collects. Radon levels in a given
house depend on several factors: the strength of the stack effect, how
much radon is being given off by the soil, how porous the soil is, and
how easy it is for the gas to get through the house foundation.
Because of these variables, one house can have low levels but the
house next door can have high levels.
How do you test for radon?
Easy. Inexpensive (as cheap as $10) do-it-yourself test kits are
available on-line or at most hardware stores. Or, you can hire a
professional to do the testing for you. Most home inspection and
environmental consulting companies perform radon testing. In a real
estate transaction, it is recommended that an independent,
professional, third party do the testing. If you discover radon levels
over 4 pCi/L (pronounced “PEE-ko cure-EE’s per liter”) the EPA
suggests you lower the levels to as far below 4 pCi/L as possible
(normal outdoor air levels average about 0.4 pCi/L).
How do you lower radon levels?
First, and easiest, is by letting in fresh air; however, this tends to
be impractical during the colder winter months, and when using air
conditioning in the summer.
Trying to seal out the gas with paints and caulking can be difficult
and usually ineffective in the long-term. Radon is a gas and can enter
through pinholes and hairline cracks making it very difficult to
achieve a 100% seal.
The most common mitigation technique is to divert the flow of gas out
from under the house via a vent system. Usually this is combined with
an electric exhaust fan. This type of system, in effect, asks the
radon to follow it rather than the pull of the house’s stack effect.
How much does it cost?
Testing:
• Contact us for a free quote.
• Do-it-yourself test kits cost about $10.
• Professional home testing costs $150
• Multi-family properties and larger business campuses usually cost
less per unit.
• Our professional testing services include a written report with
recommendations.
Testing
• Rapid response
• Quick turn-around of test results
• Competitive rates
High radon levels can impede or even kill a real estate sale if not
properly addressed. Testing as early as possible in the sale process
will help you and your client make timely, well-informed decisions,
and can sometimes lessen or even avoid mitigation costs all together.
Types of Tests Provided
•Activated Charcoal / Short-Term (2-7 day) testing with results
provided by an independent laboratory.
•Electronic Monitoring / Short-term (2-7 day), with results
available at the end of the testing period.
•Water testing - Typically done for properties served by well water.
Includes on-site sampling and results provided by an independent laboratory.
Written report
All radon surveys are accompanied by a full written report, including
an explanation of the testing done, findings, and recommendations.
