Winter months are an ideal time to test for radon. January is the month for us to learn about the risks and more importantly to test our homes and encourage our family, friends and neighbors to test their homes.
What is Radon?
It is a naturally occurring gas that is odorless, invisible and tasteless. This happens when uranium decomposes in soil and rock creating the gas. Uranium is often found in high concentrations in rocky granite soils. As it is released into the soil, it can seep undetected into homes and buildings through foundations and cracks. If it is trapped in your home, it can reach harmful levels.
Breathing air with high levels over long periods of time increases your risk for developing lung cancer. Radon kills nearly 21,000 people each year and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after tobacco smoke. Smokers may have an even higher risk lung cancer than nonsmokers.
Test your Home
Verify that your home is safe by ordering a test kit. Kits can be purchased online or you can contact your local health department. There are some organizations, such as the American Lung Association, that also offer free short-term test kits.
What types of test kits are there?
Short-term testing takes anywhere from two to 90 days (depending on the test used) and is the best first step in testing your home for radon. They indicate the average level of radon in your home during the testing period. Long-term tests are the most accurate, but they take more than 90 days to complete. Long-term testing is recommended as a follow-up when a short-term test kit indicates that levels are near or slightly above 4 pCi/L. Order a long-term test kit from the National Radon Program.
How to Test
How do I test during a real estate transaction? The National Radon Safety Board recommends hiring a certified radon assessor to perform a test during a real estate transaction. These testers are trained to use tamper-proof equipment and can provide results quickly within the due diligence period. How do I take the test? Once you get your test kit, follow the instructions included in it. You can also watch our radon test kit instruction video.
Can I tell if my home has a high radon level without testing? No. How radon enters a home is complex and cannot be determined without testing. Factors that influence levels include: the intensity of the radon source, the way the house is built, the activity of the occupants in the house, weather changes outside, and the geology under the house.
Live Smart feature articles, brought to you by CSU Extension experts, deliver science-based, practical knowledge that encourages lifelong physical, financial and emotional health and well-being to Coloradans.