What is Radon?
Where is Radon found?
Why you should test for radon?
Testing is inexpensive and is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend radon testing on ALL homes below the third floor regardless of the type of foundation the house is built on, basement, crawls space, or slab on grade.
How Does Radon Get Into Your Home?
What your radon test results mean?
What if my results are high?
The equipment HIA uses for radon testing: We use the E-PERM® System, a passive device used to measure radon concentrations in the air. This radon mitigation system consists of a charged Teflon disk or electret which is screwed into an ionization chamber to establish an electrostatic field. When this happens a passive ionization chamber is formed.
Over time, radon gas diffuses passively into the chamber. The alpha particles emitted from the decay of radon ionize the air molecules. The ions are attracted to the charged surface of the electret and over time neutralize and reduce the charge that was originally present. The electret charge is measured before and after the exposure, and the rate of change is proportional to the concentration of radon in the area.
Radon testing protocol for Occupants
To ensure accurate readings for analysis, the occupant of the house will be asked to maintain the conditions listed below during the radon testing period. Occupants should follow these procedures carefully or the test results may be deemed invalid:
- Windows and doors must be kept closed at least 12 hours prior to placing the testers and throughout the test period. Doors may be opened during the radon testing for normal entering and exiting. Windows must be kept closed because, when open, they can raise or lower radon levels.
- Please do not operate any whole-house fans, fireplaces, or wood stoves, unless they are a primary heat source, and keep all dampers closed if not in use.
- You may operate the heating and air conditioning normally.
- The dryer, range hood, bathroom fan, or attic ventilating fan can be operated. This equipment should only be operated normally because any exhaust fan or any combustion appliance may increase the negative pressure in the dwelling, which can raise or lower any radon concentration.
- Please do not touch, cover, or move the detectors, tampering with the detectors or refusing to follow these protocols will void the radon testing.
