Radon Testing
Signet Environmental
Radon Testing
The EPA recommends you know what the indoor radon level is in any home you consider buying regardless of the zone as nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4pCi/L or more) which can cause cancer. Signet Environmental offers hi-tech Lake Tahoe radon testing, Truckee radon testing, Nevada City radon testing and Grass Valley radon testing.
What is radon?
Radon is a cancer causing, radioactive gas. It comes from a natural breakdown of uranium in the soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks, expansion joints and other holes in the foundation.
Is radon really that dangerous?
You cannot see, smell, or taste radon. But it still may be a problem in your home. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Is radon really as dangerous as cigarette smoke?
Radon is regarded as a Group A carcinogen; that is, it is known to cause cancer in humans with prolonged exposure. It has been shown in carefully controlled studies on animals, and on hard-rock miners, and most recently confirmed in residential case-control studies, that the effects of radon gas can significantly increase the potential of lung cancer. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and Surgeon General recommend that people not have long-term exposures in excess of 4.0 pico Curies per liter (pCi/L).
The EPA estimates that radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. alone each and every year, according to EPA’s 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). The number of deaths from other causes are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 1999-2001 National Center Injury Prevention and Control Report and 2002 National Safety Council Reports.
How does radon enter your home?
Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Common ways for radon to enter your home are as follows:
• Cracks in solid floors
• Construction joints
• Cracks in walls
• Gaps in suspended floors
• Gaps around service pipes
• Cavities inside walls
• The water supply
What is the remedy if a house tests high for radon?
The EPA recommends fixing your home if the results of one long-term test or the average of two short-term tests show radon levels of 4pCi/L or higher and with today’s technology, radon levels in most homes can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below for about the average cost to replace carpeting.
Sub Slab Depressurization is the most common and most reliable radon reduction method. This method prevents radon from entering your home by drawing radon from beneath the house and venting it with a fan to the outside, where it is diluted.
How much does a radon test cost?
Testing can be inexpensive, easy, and worth the effort especially if it can save your family from future health issues. Long-term test kits from 3 months to a year give an accurate average radon level during normal use of your home, whereas short-term test kits only require a 3-7 day test period but are just a snapshot in time. Both can be purchased online at radon.com for $32 and $17.95 respectively with lab fee and shipping included.
For real estate transactions where timing, testing competency, and questions as to who would pay for mitigation should high radon levels be found are at issue, it may be more prudent to hire a certified radon measurement professional who can provide instant and verifiable results after a 48-hour radon test with a continuous radon monitor. Signet Environmental offers highly trained, Certified Radon Professionals which can be verified through the National Radon Proficiency Program CRP website.
How much does radon mitigation cost?
The cost to reduce the radon level in a home which is referred to as “mitigation” (typically paid by the seller in a real estate transaction) can vary widely depending on the specific requirements for the system and the environment for which the system will be installed. Our experience in the central Placer and western Nevada County areas has been a cost between $4000 to $6000 and in the Lake Tahoe area, average costs to remediate run between $6000 and $8000.
Should I test for radon?
AirChek, supplier of one of the most widely used radon tests in the world reports that 25.2% of homes tested for radon in Nevada County and 7.3% of homes tested for radon in Placer County came up above 4 pCi/L, the action level for mitigation (see map below).
California’s Indoor Radon Program along with California Geological Survey, is in the process of developing detailed Radon Potential Maps for counties in our state. These Radon Potential Maps are more detailed than the EPA Map of Radon Zones and are used to speculate where high levels of radon (greater than 4 pCi/L) might be found and are designed to assist national, state and local governments and organizations to better target their radon program activities and resources.
Although only Zone 1 areas on the EPA Map of Radon Zones are predicted to exceed the maximum EPA established radon level of 4pCi/L, the California Radon Potential Maps clearly show there are pockets of high radon levels in many counties regardless of the zone designation. The bottom line is even these maps WILL NOT tell you how much radon is in your home or any other location. The ONLY way to know if radon is present is to test.
To date, 11 maps have been completed with only one featuring sections of Nevada and Placer counties which covers the greater Lake Tahoe region. According to the study, the highest radon potential areas found during the mapping process are located in the South Lake Tahoe area, the Truckee area, and in an area immediately north of Emerald Bay. Very high and high radon potential areas account for 28.9 percent of the Lake Tahoe radon potential map area. Moderate and low potential areas account for 40 percent and 23.5 percent respectively. Unknown radon potential areas account for 7.6 percent.
Sun Radon Model 1030
What can I expect from a Signet Environmental radon test?
- A radon test using a professional CRM test unit.
- A guarantee of routinely calibrated equipment with verifiable certificates.
- A trained and NRPP Certified Radon Professional.
- A comprehensive radon test, closed-house protocol information packet delivered to the home occupant with verification questionnaire.
- Easy to read and understand radon test report with hourly radon readings, air temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and test period tilt alerts.
- Remediation recommendations based on the test results.
Call Signet Environmental for Northern California radon testing, Placer County radon testing, Nevada County radon testing, Tahoe radon testing, Truckee radon testing, Nevada City radon testing, Grass Valley radon testing, Colfax radon testing and Auburn radon testing.
If you desire an NRPP Certified Radon Measurement Professional for the indoor radon test of the property you manage, own or are considering purchasing, call Signet Environmental today at 530-273-1300 ext. 101.
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