Radon Test
What should I know about Radon and How do I Test For It?
Goal: To tell you how to test for radon, how to stop this radon gas and give an answer as to what a radon mitigation system is.
Radon? What is it? More and more people are asking themselves this question. But, is it important to know? Absolutely important! Knowing about radon is to know what your home's level is and if it is safe to breathe the indoor air in the dwelling. How do we know what a home radon level is? Simply Test for it. The best way to test for radon is to hire a Florida certified Radon Tester. Radon Authority is FL certified to radon test any home or institution in the Tampa, Sarasota, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Lithia or Orlando areas. If you are reading this article, more than likely, your home is in the area that we radon test. When we arrive at your home to set up the radon test, we will talk to you and explain the best location we feel would give us a solid measurement as the indoor air will be sampled for approximately 48 hours. The whole purpose for radon testing is to determine the need for radon mitigation. If a radon test shows elevated levels, it would be wise to install a radon mitigation system. This radon mitigation system will be designed to stop excessive radon from getting into your home in large quantities. Radon Testing your home is the only way to know if you are living in a safe environment when radon is concerned.
Why is radon so feared?
More than a decade has passed since media hyped skepticism and panic regarding what the risks and radon effects are. Recently, research has evolved making two aspects clear: Higher levels of radon can cause lung cancer. There are proven effective ways to reduce elevated radon levels.
While experts still debate and research the quantities and length of exposure causing lung cancer to develop, radon concerns are real and have become factors to deal with in homeownership. Many more home inspectors are now offering radon test services. Radon Authority provides these radon services to home inspectors as well as the general public.
What really is radon gas and what causes it?
Radon is colorless, radon is odorless and it's a radioactive gas which is formed as uranium decays. Present in almost all ground and soils, very minimal levels of this radon gas can be located inside air we breathe daily.
What makes radon problematic?
The whole process becomes problematic when this gas enters into a home and becomes trapped. Exposure to high levels getting into the lungs can cause lung cancer.
How does radon gas enter a home?
In Florida, radon gas moves from the soil into a home, but it can also be found in concrete materials. In many other parts of the country radon only enters through the house, whereas in Florida, it can become part of the building itself. Oddly, your neighbor’s radon level may be lower or higher yours.
Radon Authority radon experience is a great asset
Our advice as radon experts is to test for radon as soon as you move into a home. Even better would be to radon test prior to moving in. Our health is such a precious commodity. Why risk lung cancer because you put off radon testing? Take my advice and give yourself piece of mind knowing your level is low or being able get immediate radon mitigation to fix the problem. Again, you don't know if you have a radon problem until you test.
Gregg Zetzman, Owner of Radon Authority
Our services take us to many states to find and determine just how to get rid of this nasty and toxic pollution. Contact us
Owner-Operator of Radon Authority
More than 30 years experience testing and mitigating radon.
Licensed, Certified and Insured
Florida General Contractor (CGC) License #CGC1507691
Florida Radon Mitigation Specialist Certified #R2506
Florida Radon Testing / Measurement Certified #R2505
National Radon Safety Board member
InterNACHI Member
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Austin Zetzman
Florida Radon Testing and Mitigation Technician
More than 16 years experience testing and mitigating radon.
Florida Radon Mitigation Specialist Certified
Florida Radon Testing / Measurement Certified
Radon Causes Lung Cancer
Leading Cause of Lung Cancer for Non-Smokers
This gas called Radon cannot be seen by the naked eye. It can't be touched or grasped. This toxin does not have an odor and can’t be smelled. There is no taste or flavor to recognize. Human beings just need to test for this gas in order to recognize that it is presently in the air. Categorized as a Class A carcinogen, radon has been known and documented as the number two cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Radon causes over 21,000 cancer of the lungs deaths per year (that means one every 25 minutes). In our state of Florida, out of every five homes, one home tests elevated levels of radon. Since 4 pCi/L is the EPA action level, it is recommended that all types of Florida buildings can contain these high levels. These buildings include all structures, including manufactured homes, schools and high-rise condominiums.
Radioactive breakdown, is where radon comes from. Considering all of this naturally forming radium, most Florida soils contain it. Florida soils include particles of uranium. This soil gas, arrives into a building by entering into small openings seeping up into and through the foundation of the structure. The buildings act like a small trap similar to smoke trapped underneath glass. Concentrations of radon can and have increased to many times that of outdoor levels under these circumstances. You do not have to wonder what your level is. You do not have to live many years in your home without knowledge about radon, because now you know better and are informed. All you have to do is test. If you have an elevated radon, its time to hire the best and most experience company, hire Radon Authority, Florida’s premier radon reduction services company. Call (941)-706-1815 (813) 737-7537
When to Mitigate
Mitigate radon when radon becomes a health-hazard. If your radon values are below 8 pCi/l (picoCuries per liter) you should consider re-testing it has been said by some agencies. Other experts, such as EPA, determine 4.pC/l as the action level. WHO has established a lower reading. The fact is, no radon level is safe. The purpose of retesting is to confirm your radon levels and evaluate the need for mitigation. Once you receive your new test results, you need to average the two test results. Radon even exists outdoors in the air as well as the soil. Radon gets indoors when it seeps in through cracks and openings in the foundations and building materials, but in Florida, radon can actually be present in those materials, such as block, concrete materials and cement products. Florida is different than most of the country in this sense. Therefore, radon mitigation is analyzed and designed differently than most of the U.S. It really takes an expert with many years of experience to determine just how radon abatement will be implemented. Often, Radon Authority will receive a call from people or home inspectors that think they have a radon mitigation system but aren't really sure about it. There are also times when a home inspection pro doesn't even know what a radon mitigation system looks like. Whether the remediation installation is done correctly, under EPA recommendation or not, these radon systems are just sometimes hard to actually determine what they are.
Radon Authority is often asked how high a radon testing level can get. We have tested and mitigated radon levels much higher than 100 pCi/l. Just imagine not knowing these high levels were in a home for many years and nobody who lived in the home ever knew. When a radon test is performed and the test shows elevation, we advise to take immediate action should be taken to reduce and further exposure.
From Sarasota to Venice, from Port Charlotte to Englewood, from North Port to Fort Myers, from Captiva to Sanibel, from Bradenton to Ellenton, Radon Authority Mitigation and Testing is there to provide only the BEST expert services (941) 706-1815
From Apollo Beach to Tampa, from St. Petersburg to Palm Harbor, from Lithia to Polk County, from Lakeland to Orlando, Radon Authority provides radon testing and radon mitigation services with experience and expertise. Contact Radon Authority (813) 737-7537
Call us (941) 706-1815
Gregg Zetzman
Owner-Operator of Radon Authority
More than 30 years experience testing and mitigating radon.
Licensed, Certified and Insured
Florida General Contractor (CGC) License #CGC1507691
Florida Radon Mitigation Specialist Certified #R2506
Florida Radon Testing / Measurement Certified #R2505
National Radon Safety Board member
InterNACHI Member
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Austin Zetzman
Florida Radon Testing and Mitigation Technician
More than 16 years experience testing and mitigating radon.
Florida Radon Mitigation Specialist Certified
Florida Radon Testing / Measurement Certified
Radon Causes Lung Cancer
There are ELEVATED RADON LEVELS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA
Homeowners, sellers and buyers from northern states who call our office requesting radon inspections or radon testing often ask for a radon test. There is no license to test for radon in Florida, but there is a certification through the state radon department, which is required when offering radon services. Radon Authority will always send a certified technicion to test radon in homes. Florida Department of Health is the agency that runs the radon program. You can view it here.
Florida does have areas with known elevated levels of radon gas, These radon maps have changed as more and more test results are accumulated. Views of a map showing counties or searched by zip codes on the website of Florida Department of Health. Here's a unique breakdown of FL counties reporting levels of radon gas above EPA guidline 4.0 pCi (picocurie). The EPA strongly recommends radon mitigation at this level and above.
Counties shown in red have reported findings over 4.0 pCi:
- Alachua
- Marion
- Polk
- Lee
Counties colored tan have reported findings over 2.0 pCi: Moderate but not typically requiring mitigation
- Leon
- Columbia
- Union
- Hillsborough
- Sarasota
- Charlotte
- Collier
- Martin
- Palm Beach
- Broward
- Miami-Dade
Understanding certain property reports higher radon levels than in other counties, but that does not mean that these elevated radon levels are present. Sampling air should be done every two years.
Is there RADON TESTING REQUIREMENTS IN Florida?
When buying a home, Florida does not presently require radon testing, but it does require the real estate transactions to provide a disclosure statements. Florida does require testing for State, regulated, licensed owned, or operating as facilities and daycare centers. Here are the counties shown on the map below:
By ordering a radon test, you determine just how risky the dwelling will be to live in and what may need to be done to remediate the problem, if there is one.
When scheduling a home inspectors do not forget to test radon by getting a radon inspection as well. The BEST radon inspector is the company that specializes in radon testing and radon mitigation systems.
hire Radon Authority, Florida’s premier radon reduction services company. Call (941)-706-1815 (813) 737-7537
From Sarasota to Venice, from Port Charlotte to Englewood, from North Port to Fort Myers, from Captiva to Sanibel, from Bradenton to Ellenton, Radon Authority Mitigation and Testing is there to provide only the BEST expert services (941) 706-1815
From Apollo Beach to Tampa, from St. Petersburg to Palm Harbor, from Lithia to Polk County, from Lakeland to Orlando, Radon Authority provides radon testing and radon mitigation services with experience and expertise. (813) 737-7537