Category Archives: Radon Levels

The Costs and Benefits of Radon Test in Iowa

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Radon Testing Can Save Your Life

You may think that getting radon testing done in your Iowa home, business, church, or school will be expensive, but this is not necessarily true. We here at Ameriserv Radon Mitigation of Iowa offer long-term tests, short-term tests, and radon kits.

Long-term tests stay in your home for about 90 days. These tests are administered by our professionals. These tests give an accurate representation of what your home’s radon gas levels are year-round.

Radon testing costs and benefits in Iowa

Short-term tests stay in your home anywhere from 2 to 90 days (depending on the specific device). These tests are also administered by our professionals. These give a result that represents the levels during that time. Radon gas levels may fluctuate throughout the year, and from season to season.

If it is found that your home has higher radon gas levels than the allowable 4.0 pCi/L after taking a short-term test, it is likely that you will have to take another short-term test, or a long-term test, just to be sure.

The last type of testing is a radon kit. These are tests that are administered by you. They are the cheapest, and one of the quickest ways to test for radon gas levels in your home, business, church, or school. We here at Ameriserv Radon Mitigation of Iowa offer these radon kits for only $15.00!

Radon tests are the best way to know if your Iowa home, business, church, or school is falling victim to high radon gas levels. Radon gas is a dangerous gas that can not be seen, smelled, heard, or tasted. Because of this, the only way to tell if you are being affected by it is through regular testing.

Radon gas is dangerous because it can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer. In fact, on average about 400 Iowan deaths a year are caused by lung cancer due to high radon gas levels. So, getting a simple radon test could save your life. Paying a little money, and taking a little bit of your time could save your life, so do not wait!

The Side Effects of Radon

The entire state of Iowa is in “Zone 1” which basically means that all of Iowa is likely to have elevated levels of radon gas. In fact, about 5 out of 7 Iowa homes are likely to have high levels of radon gas. Because of this, radon testing in your Iowa homes, businesses, churches, and schools is even more important. Some ways to tell if you could be experiencing the side effects of radon gas include:

  • Persistent cough
  • Wheezing
  • Heavy breathing
  • Lung infections

These are also early signs of lung cancer, so if you experience these health problems, make sure to consult your doctor immediately, and get your home tested by us here at Ameriserv Radon Mitigation of Iowa. If we test your home and your results come back as high levels of radon gas, we offer a mitigation service to install mitigation systems.

To learn more about our radon testing or mitigation services, our service area, or to schedule a radon test, give Ameriserv Radon Mitigation of Iowa a call! We want to help you feel safe and healthy in your Iowa home. Contact us today!

Everything You Need to Know About Radon

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What is Radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas. It forms What to know about radonnaturally from the decay of uranium that is found in rock, soil, and water. Once it is produced, radon moves from the ground into the air. Some of it remains below the surface and dissolves in the water that flows underground.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, only second to smoking. When it moves up through the ground to the air above, it can get into your home through:

  • Cracks in floors
  • Cracks in foundation
  • Construction joints
  • Gaps in floors
  • Gaps around pipes

Once it is inside your home, it builds up and becomes trapped. Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get into your lungs from the air you breathe. As they keep breaking down, the particles release small bursts of energy which can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer. Breathing radon does not cause any of the short-term effects such as shortness of breath, coughing, headaches or fever.

Radon Testing

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that the action level for radon is 4 pCi/L. However, any level of exposure is unsafe. Since there are no warning signs that you have a build-up of radon in your home, testing is the only way to know if you are at risk. Testing is inexpensive and only takes a few minutes.

AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa does both short-term testing and long-term testing. Short-term testing is the quickest was to detect radon. This is done when the results need to be determined quickly such as in a real estate transaction. The methods of doing this are:

  • charcoal canisters
  • electret chamber
  • continuous monitors
  • liquid scintillation

Radon levels change on a day-to-day basis and season to season. By doing long term testing which lasts 90 days or more, you will get a more accurate idea of what the year round average of the radon level is in your home. We use electret detectors or alpha track detectors for long term testing.

The electret detectors have a Teflon disc that is statically charged. When an ion generated from radon decay strikes the Teflon disc, the electrical charge is reduced and in the laboratory, the charge reduction is measured and the radon level calculated.

The alpha track detectors have a plastic film that gets etched by alpha particles that strike it. In the laboratory, the plastic is chemically treated to make the tracks visible then the tracks are counted.

If a level of 4 pCi/L is detected, immediately action needs to be taken to reduce the level. pCi/L means picocuries per liter. The lower the number the better, but any level of radon can be dangerous. If your home if found to have radon, AmeriServe Radon Mitigation of Iowa can help.

Prevent Radon from Entering your Home

When you have had your home tested and need to get the Radon mitigation in Iowaradon level reduced, AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa can perform radon mitigation.

Radon mitigation is the process of removing radon from your home to the outside. A hole is drilled into your foundation or slab, which creates a suction point. then we use a PVC pipe connected through this hole to use as a vent for the radon gas. Then a fan is connected to this system so that the air flows in the right direction.

Lowering high radon levels requires an expert with the technical knowledge and equipment to handle the job. AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa has the experts that are licensed and certified who can test and reduce the radon in your home. They are professionally trained by the State of Iowa and certified by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

We will test your home again after mitigation to be sure that the radon levels have been reduced. Our services include a 5 year warranty on the mitigation systems.

The risks of living with radon can be high. There is more to know about the risks of radon and cancer than most other cancer-causing substances. We know more about this because these risks are based on studies of cancer in underground miners.

The risk to your health from radon depends on how much radon is in your home and the amount of time you spend in your home. If you have not had your home tested for radon, don’t hesitate. The sooner it gets tested and the sooner the radon level gets reduced, the safer you will be.

Radon can be present in all types of homes.  Construction material and the location are all factors that can affect radon levels. If your home tests high for radon, AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa will perform professional radon mitigation at an affordable rate.

Radon Detection in Your Iowa Home

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Radon is a radioactive gas that is created from the breakdown of uranium. Since radon is odorless and tasteless, every home should be tested for radon gas. Radon can enter your a home’s structure through cracks in solid floors, construction joints, wall cracks, and gaps in suspended floors. It is a silent killer that causes lung cancer.  At AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa, we can test your home for radon to protect your family. According to EPA, Iowa is  high risk because of high radon levels in homes. We are your radon detection Iowa team here to serve you. We have more than 50 years of experience.

Radon Detection Iowa

Family in autumnHow does AmeriServ test your home? Radon gas can be detected using two different radon testing techniques. At AmeriServ Iowa Radon Mitigation, we can use short or long-term testing. Short-term testing is the quickest way to detect radon gas. These tests consist of charcoal canisters, electret ion chambers, liquid scintillation, and continuous monitors. Radon results should be lower than 4 pCi/L. Our professional team can administer these quick tests to make your family safe and secure. We are your radon detection Iowa team.

Long-term testing last 90 days or longer. We use alpha track detectors and electret detectors. This type of test will give you a clear indication of radon levels. It measures your radon levels year around. It is the most accurate testing system.

If you have radon levels above 4 pCi/L, your home is considered a danger zone. We recommend radon mitigation for your home. Any amount of radon, is considered unsafe. We take accurate tests to make sure your family is safe. AmeriServ is your radon detection Iowa team.

Radon Detector Iowa

Radon mitigation is a process that removes radon gas from your home. Our AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa team can install a radon mitigation system in your home. After our professionals confirm high radon levels in your home, we can determine the best system that your home needs. We can control the direction of the radon gas so it is redirected out of your home. This involves using a PVC pipe. The pipe connects through a hole to use as a vent for the radon gas. A fan is used to blow the air out in the right direction.

If you are worried about radon gas in your home, then hire our radon mitigation Iowa team to test your home. We even offer a referral program so you can get paid every time you refer a friend. Tell your family and friends about your great experiences with AmeriServ. We have fast, friendly professionals that care about our clients. Contact AmeriServ so we can be your radon detector Iowa team!

New Construction Needs Radon Testing, Too!

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 New Construction Radon Testing Iowa

Building a new home is an exciting but stressful process. AmeriServ offers new construction techniques that will help you protect your home and family from radon. Radon is the result of naturally decaying radium and uranium. Iowa is rich in these materials, so it is important that you, as an Iowa resident, make sure your home is radon proof.

Radon is the second leading cause of caner, right behind cigarettes. Don’t put your family at risk, call AmeriServ today, we guarantee to give you  peace of mind. For new construction radon testing Iowa services, count on our Iowa Radon Mitigation team.

Iowa Radon Mitigation systems installed during the construction process are considerably cheaper than installed systems on an already built structure. As a homeowner, planning ahead and installing preventative systems is a responsible choice. Radon systems can help prevent radon from entering your home, thus, preventing you and your family from the possibility of lung cancer. If you have the right mentality from the beginning, you can effectively prevent any fear from radon related diseases. Radon is a colorless and odorless gas. Meaning, without the proper safety precautions you may have absolutely no idea whether or not radon has infiltrated your home.

 Iowa Radon Testing and Mitigation Services

All work that AmeriServ performs is insured and guaranteed to last. We performed many business and home radon tests. We are your leading radon mitigation Iowa service provider. Radon can be a scary concept, and we understand that, if we find radon in your home we will do everything in our power to stop it.  Installing new construction radon systems is an easy and cost effective way of  preventing a radon scare. Our profession employees and contractors will install our mitigation services and air purifier systems. The radon in you home will be directed to the outside of your home. When it comes to radon problems, call AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa.  Find out what we can do for you!

Health Concerns About Radon

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What are the Effects of Radon on Your Health?

Health Risks Iowa

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People throughout the world have concerns about the effects of radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that is produced from the decay of uranium beneath the soil. It is a definite hazard and is very common. Uranium has been present beneath the soil since the earth was formed. Decay will continue at the present rate for millions of years. Radon gas is more pronounced in some areas than others, and it presents a clear cut danger to those who breathe in the toxic gas. Radon gas will get trapped in attic and basement areas and can also be found in spring water and hot springs. At AmeriServ, we can be your radon mitigation Iowa service provider to eliminate radon gas.

What if you have been exposed?

People who live around radon exposure are at high risk for lung cancer. In the US radon-induced lung cancer accounts for 21,000 deaths per year.  From that huge number 2,900 have never smoked.  Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Most radon induced lung cancers develop from low to medium amounts of radon exposure. Lung cancer is treatable, but the survival rate is one of the lowest for those who have cancer. From the time lung cancer is diagnosed, 11-15 % of those afflicted will live beyond five years. In many cases lung cancer can be prevented. Lung cancer surpasses breast cancer as the number one cause of death among women.  A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer.

At AmeriServ, we can test your radon levels today! Let us be your radon mitigation Iowa service provider.

Radon Testing Iowa Solutions

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The Importance of Radon Testing in IowaCommercial Building Inspector Iowa

Your family could possibly be at the risk of developing lung cancer from the radioactive, colorless, odorless and tasteless gas called RADON. AmeriServ ‘s Radon testing team can do a radon test that will monitor your home or business for up to 48 hours to determine the level of RADON you are being exposed to daily. Doesn’t that seem like a sensible thing to do? More than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are attributed to breathing radon.   It is impossible to completely eradicate RADON. The dangerous gas is a product of thorium and uranium breakdown with the soil. It is a slow and natural process and it emits gas into the air so the exposure is everywhere.

Radon Tests in Iowa

Ameriserv Radon Mitigation Iowa is a leader in Iowa for testing for radon. The EPA has standards that gauge the level of radon that is threatening to your health.  Levels are measured in picocuries.  These are scientific measurements that express the units of radioactivity that is being emitted. The “harmful” level would be if your test came back at 4 pCi or above. If the radon test shows levels above 4 a radon mitigation Iowa plan would be put into place to rid your structure of this harmful gas. Consider radon testing and radon mitigation today and give Ameriserv Radon Mitigation Iowa a call.