Signs of Radon Gas in Iowa

Radon is one of the most prominent carcinogens in Iowa. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, the first being cigarette smoking. In Iowa alone, radon causes around 400 deaths every year, and five out of every seven homes in the state contain a radon level above 4.0 pCi/L, which is considered to be dangerously high. It is clear that radon gas is a major concern for homeowners in Iowa. So what should you do to find out if your home has elevated radon levels and to start the radon reduction process in your Iowa home?

Radon is a radioactive gas that has no color, no taste, no smell, and is chemically unreactive. These properties make radon impossible for the average person to detect on their own. This means that the only way to find out if your home has a radon problem is to invest in radon testing. Though you can buy DIY radon-testing kits, the best solution is to contact a qualified radon tester for professional radon testing. This gives you more accurate results for increased peace of mind.

It is important to understand where radon comes from and how it works. Then you can get an idea of what to do if radon is discovered in your Iowa home. Radon comes from the soil, where it is produced during the decaying or uranium in the ground. As the radon seeps up through the ground, it may enter your home through cracks in the foundation. Radon can also invade your water, especially if your home has well water. For radon reduction in Iowa to prevent these problems, contact Ameriserv Radon Mitigation today.

Radon Reduction in Iowa from Ameriserv

First, you should have your home tested for radon to determine the radon levels in your home. Radon levels above 4.0 pCi/L are considered hazardous. Since radon has no visible or easily detectable signs, the only way to find out the concentration of the gas in your home is to administer a radon test:

• DIY Radon Testing: This is a less expensive (we offer DIY testing kits for $15) option, and while DIY tests are usually not a completely accurate representation of radon levels in your home, they can give you a good idea of any problems. If your DIY radon test result is positive, it should be followed by a professional radon test.
• Short-Term Radon Testing: This is a professional radon test that can be administered in 3-90 days, and is usually a good way to find the general radon levels in your home. If your short-term radon test indicates a high concentration of radon, you may want to consider long-term testing.
• Long-Term Radon Testing: This is the most thorough of our testing methods. Long-term test normally take about 90 days or more, and give you a much more accurate idea of average radon levels in your home throughout the year.

If you have invested in multiple radon tests, and they all indicate high levels of radon, it is time that you considered some radon reduction methods from Ameriserv. In as little time as a single day, we can install a radon mitigation system that will greatly reduce the radon levels in your Iowa home. These systems use PVC pipes and fans to channel radon from low areas such as the basement out of the home, keeping you and your family safe from the dangers of radon.

Contact us right away to learn more about our radon testing and reduction methods in Iowa.