What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is invisible, tasteless and odorless. The greatest source of radon gas in indoor air or drinking water is derived from the soil under and around a home.
Simply put, radon comes from the breakdown of uranium inside the earth. The majority of homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut, whether slab or basement, are built on concrete. Although extremely hard, concrete is actually porous. Naturally rising radon gas is drawn into a house from soil directly under the home due to the lower level of the house being negative in pressure as compared to the soil. This negative pressure is mainly caused from air in the home being warmer than the air outside and escaping out from the top of the home. As a result, radon laden soil gas is drawn into the house through cracks and openings in the lower level concrete slab, foundation or crawl space.
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It is important to note that radon is found in most homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut. However, radon levels can vary drastically from house to house. To ensure radon levels in your current home or potential property are at a safe level for you and your family, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends professional radon testing during the home buying process.
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Certified Radon Professional
Onega Inspection Services is certified by the NRPP, widely recognized as the leading certification program for radon professionals; requiring bi-annual documentation of competence, expertise and performance to demonstrate skill, knowledge and professionalism in radon testing.
Which Type of Radon Monitor Do You Use?
Years of professional radon testing has shown us that the most accurate results can only be obtained with continuous radon monitors.
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Continuous radon monitors are electronic monitors which work by continuously measuring and recording the amount of radon or its decay products in the air of a home. At Onega Inspection Services, we use continuous radon monitors by Airthings Corentium Pro, certified by the AARST-NRPP. In addition to providing hourly radon levels, these monitors also report on humidity, barometric pressure and fluctuating temperature within a home.
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Each radon monitor is placed in accordance with EPA guidelines and includes a full Quality Control Plan.
What Should I Expect During a Radon Test?
During a radon test, a monitor will be placed in the home, under "closed-house conditions," 48 hours prior to or following your home inspection.
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Upon completion, a detailed report will be published detailing hourly radon readings within the home. The overall radon level is calculated from an average throughout the 48 hour testing period.
What if Radon Results are High?
The EPA recommends that you take action to reduce a home’s indoor radon levels if the radon test result is 4 pCi/L or higher.
There are several methods to reduce radon in a home, the most popular being a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. The cost of making repairs to reduce radon levels depends on how your home was built and other factors. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs.