Why Every Home Needs to Be Regularly Tested for Radon

Your home should be a place of safety and security. Its primary purpose is to provide shelter and protection from the outside. Unfortunately, there are many dangers that can hide inside of your home. One particularly common threat is completely undetectable to human senses: radon. 

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, causing roughly 21,000 deaths every year. The only way you can find out whether or not your home has radon is to actively test for it. But before we get into that, it’s important to understand what radon is and how it gets into your home. 

What is Radon? 

Radon is a naturally occurring element that takes the form of an odorless, colorless gas. Trace amounts of radon can be found in most of the air around us. At these small levels, radon is harmless. However, should it become more concentrated, radon can actually be very dangerous. 

Radon can enter homes through cracks in the foundations, holes in walls, and more. Over time, it can build up more and more, eventually reaching dangerous amounts. This often occurs in basements, crawlspaces, and other cramped areas. 

However, even if your home doesn’t have a basement or crawlspace, radon buildup can still occur. The only way you’ll know if there are unsafe amounts of radon in your home is to have your home tested.  

Testing Your Home for Radon 

Thankfully, testing a home for radon is relatively easy. Test kits can be purchased online or at a local store. Alternatively, you can call a professional and have them checked. If radon levels are too high, radon mitigation will need to be performed immediately. 

Don’t put off checking your home for radon. Every home and building should be tested every 2-5 years. 

Some areas are at greater risks than others. Northern, landlocked states like Ohio have the highest levels of radon in the US. For radon mitigation in Dayton, Ohio and the surrounding communities, contact Air Duct Cleaning today!