Radon comes from the natural breakdown on the element uranium that exists in soil, rock, and water.

Radon moves up through the ground  to the air above. It then travels into your home through tiny cracks and crevices in the foundation, walls, joints, and other building materials that make up your home. Your home traps the radon inside, where it can build up.

Any home can have radon. That means new and old homes, well-sealed or drafty homes, those with or without basements, and even those that have no direct contact with the ground soil.  Condos and townhomes can also have radon, even on the upper level floors due to building materials.

Testing is the only way to know if you have high radon levels in your home.

The EPA and U.S. Surgeon General strongly suggest testing all homes for radon. Data gathered by the EPA national radon survey indicate that high radon levels are present in about six million homes throughout the United States.

Because radon concentration inside a home is affected by structural factors as well as geographical factors, each individual home must be tested to determine its radon levels (That means you can’t count on your results to be the same as your neighbors!)

The presence of high radon levels in your home negatively affects your health and that of your family and friends.

“Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. On January 13, 2005, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a national health advisory on radon.”

– EPA

There are several proven methods to reduce radon levels in your home, but the primary one being the installation of a ventilation system and fan. This method reduces radon by pulling it from beneath the house and using the vents to redirect it outside and out of your home.  Radon reduction systems work. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99 percent. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs. Your costs may vary depending on the size and design of your home and which radon reduction methods are needed.

Remember to test your home for radon after installing a method of solution to make sure that the levels have been adequately reduced!