January Is Radon Action Month

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The EPA has designated January as radon action month.  This is a good time to have your home checked for radon if you have never done so.  Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is now the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, next to smoking.  The radon gas comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil.  Once it enters your home it either sticks to the walls, floors and ceilings or attaches to dust particles in the air and then you breathe them in.  If you are a smoker, radon greatly increases your chances of lung cancer.  The EPA has set 4.0 pCi/l as the action level to install a mitigation system in your home.  The test can be performed with a home kit but these can sometimes have false results due to water adsorption in the charcoal.  West Virginia requires all radon testers to be licensed.  A licensed tester will set a detector in your home for 48 hours and give you accurate results.  Don’t wait until you have lived in your home for 10, 20 or 30 years before you test and find out you have high levels.  Contact Mountaineer Inspection Services today to schedule a radon test for your home.  304-709-3200