Radon comes from uranium found in just about any soil and can cause cancer to people who breathe it in. If your home's foundation is in bad condition, such as has holes or cracks, radon can get into your home through these openings. Because the home is older, the foundation is also older and may have these problems. Because of this, you need to have your home tested for radon before you move in. Below is more information about this so you will be sure your home is safe to move into.

Testing Your Home

You cannot see or smell radon so there is really no way to know if it is in your home. The only way to know for sure is to have it tested. There are some pest control companies that can test your home for radon or you can hire another professional. 

There are also radon tests that you can purchase, which are generally inexpensive, and do the test yourself. No matter who does the testing the test kit is left in your home for a certain number of days. The test is then sent to a lab to have the radon levels checked. If the radon levels are above 4.0 pCi/L,  this is considered a high level. 

Lowering the Level of Radon

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to lower the level of radon in your home. A common way is to install a vent pipe system with a fan. The fan removes the radon from your home and then vents the radon outside. This pipe system is installed in the basement or the crawlspace. Because radon is so dangerous, hire a professional to install the vent pipe system for you. Along with the vent pipe system you need to repair your foundation and ensure there are no cracks or holes. Hire a professional to do this for you. After a certain amount of time your home will be retested for radon to see if the levels have been lowered.

There are also things you can do along with installing the vent pipe system to help with this problem. Use vents and fans to circulate the air and open windows. You also need to seal all cracks in walls and flooring using caulk, plaster, etc.  

Talk with the pest control company or professional that you hire to check for radon levels to learn much more about this. 

For more information on radon inspections, contact a professional near you.

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