What is Radon?

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell or taste. It comes
from the natural decay of uranium that is found in soil. It moves up through the ground to the air above and enters homes and buildings through cracks and other open spaces in your home’s foundation. When it does enter your home, it becomes trapped and will build up causing many health problems. It is estimated that radon causes thousands of deaths per year. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer second only to cigarette smoking.

Why So Much Radon in Iowa?

Radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). All of Iowa is located in Zone 1 indicating that Iowa home’s have a very high potential for elevated levels of radon gas throughout the entire state. The average radon concentration in Iowa home’s is 8.5 pCi/L which is more than six times the national average. The EPA recommends that homes above the level of 4 pCi/L should have mitigation measures installed to reduce the exposure.

Iowa has such high numbers because the glaciers during the ice age moved over, ground up, and carried rocks from which is now Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario to Iowa. The glacier’s movement pulverized the rocks into smaller chunks, increasing the surface area of the once whole rocks. Since radon is formed by the decaying process of uranium and radium which is found in rocks, Iowa has these high concentrations of radon.

Radon enters the home in many ways such as:

• Cracks in floors
• Construction joints
• Cracks in walls
• Gaps in suspended floors
• Gaps around pipes
• Water supply

Radon Detection in Iowa

AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa can help with your radon detection in Iowa. The experts at AmeriServ will measure the radon that is in your home and if it is high, will install a radon system to lower your radon that is in your home.

The quickest way to detect radon is through short term testing. There are several methods of doing this. A few of these are:

• Charcoal canisters – these canisters containers activated charcoal. Radon is absorbed onto the charcoal then measured
• Electret ion chamber – this method is used to measure radon in water.
• Continuous monitors – this monitor gives hour by hour measurements of radon
• Liquid scintillation detectors – this method is similar to charcoal measurement except the analysis is accomplished by treating the charcoal with scintillation fluid and then analyzing the fluid using scintillation counter.

Short term testing is usually completed in 2 to 3 days and is the best method is you are in need of the results quickly due to a real estate transaction or other reasons for quick results.

Long term testing will last for 90 days or more. The radon in your home can fluctuate throughout the year due to weather conditions, operation of furnaces and fireplaces, and the opening and closing of windows and doors. That is why the long term testing will give a more accurate reading to tell you your home’s year-round average radon level. Alpha track and electret detectors are used for this type of testing.

The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L. If your home is tested and the results come back with a level of 4.1 pCi/L, then this level carries some risk. Mitigation systems installed by AmeriServe Radon Mitigation of Iowa can reduce this level significantly even if the level is very high.

The professionals at AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa has the experience and radon detection methods to measure your home for radon. If we find that the level is high, we will install a radon mitigation system. We will determine what system best fits your home. These mitigation systems redirect the radon gas out of your home. One way to do this is to drill a hole in your foundation or slab that in turn creates a suction point. Then we use a PVC pipe connected through this hole to use as a vent for the radon gas. A fan is then connected to this system to ensure that the air flow is in the right direction. This is usually installed in the attic of your home. This system is known as a soil suction radon reduction system and does not require major changes to your home.

Don’t let the worry of radon building up in your home cause you to lose sleep. Let the experienced, licensed, certified specialist perform your radon test and recommend the best system for your needs. We are your radon detection experts in Iowa. Contact us today!

Radon Screening Levels in your Des Moines, IA Home

Radon that enters an enclosed space, such as your home, the
radon can accumulate and the levels can become high. Radon is produced by decaying uranium and radium that are naturally found in soil and rock. It is drawn into homes through cracks in the foundation or slab and through unsealed pipes, sumps, drains, walls and any other opening in your home.

The radon levels in your Des Moines, IA home can be tested by AmeriServe Radon Mitigation of Iowa. Radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The smaller the number the safer you are. However, even small amounts of radon is not safe. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that 4.0 pCi/L is the level that action needs to be taken for indoor air quality. This means that radon levels need to be immediately reduced through mitigation.

Remember though, any level of radon can be dangerous, which is why radon reduction systems are important to have installed. Radon is the second cause of lung cancer after smoking. To better understand radon levels, here are some examples of comparison:

• Radon level of 4.0 pCi/L is equivalent to the radiation from 100 chest x-rays
• Most hospitals only allow people to have four chest x-rays in a year. That is .16 pCi/L per x-ray and .64 pCi/L per year.
• 1 pCi/L is the equivalent to 2.5 cigarettes a day

Radon Testing in your Des Moines, IA Home

Ameriserv Radon Mitigation of Iowa can detect the radon level of your home through short-term testing or long-term testing. Of course the short-term testing is the quickest method. This is done using several different methods. The most common methods short-term testing are:

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

Charcoal canisters and liquid scintillation detectors absorb radon onto the charcoal then the radioactive particles emitted from the charcoal are counted in a laboratory.

The electret ion detectors have a Teflon disc which is statically charged. The ions produced by the decay of radon inside the detector strike the disk, reducing the surface voltage. Then the voltage reduction is measure in a lab and the radon concentration is calculated.

Continuous electronic radon monitors for short-term testing usually provide a more precise measurement of radon than the charcoal canister method.

Short-term testing is usually done when the results are needed quickly such as in a real estate transaction. Radon levels can be affected by the time of day, the varying temperature changes during the day, and the changes from season to season. That is why the long-term testing is more accurate.

Because radon levels can vary from day to day and from season to season, long term testing can be done to get a better ideal of the radon level.  This usually takes 90 days or more and gives a more accurate idea of the year round average of radon levels in your home.

Radon testing and mitigation should be done by a licensed, certified specialist. AmeriServ Radon Testing and Mitigation Service has the specialists you need for all of your radon testing and mitigation needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us to get your home tested and keep you and your family safe from radon. We guarantee all of our work and have a 5-year warranty on our radon mitigation systems.

Schools are one of the most important parts of our society. But what happens when they become a dangerous place for children? What do we do then? Radon has recently been found in some schools, which, because they’re filled with children, is a serious problem. That’s why we have school district radon testing Iowa to help you out. We are your Iowa Radon Mitigation team.

What is radon? Radon is a gas that can be…well…anywhere, really. It can be anywhere where there’s soil or water, which, in reality, is everywhere. The danger of radon depends on the amount there is and the concentration in any given place. Radon is much more dangerous to children, mostly because they’re smaller, but also because their lungs are still developing and are, yes, smaller. It is proven that a ten year old child receives twice the dose of radon than an adult who’s been exposed for the same amount of time. And schools are filled with tons of children that are younger than ten, so what are the limits of harm to them?

School District Radon Mitigation Iowa

The reason that radon is so dangerous is because it causes lung cancer. In fact, radon is the second largest cause of lung cancer in the nation, next to smoking. Lung cancer is deadly and saddening, and we’re on a mission to cure and prevent it, not encourage it! Also, radon is called a “silent killer” because it’s undetectable to the five human senses. It’s in the air, so you can’t feel it, you can’t smell it, you can’t taste it, and it’s clear, so you can’t see it either! Well, what do you do then? You need to get your school tested. If high radon levels are found, you need to take action to lower them. You need our school district radon testing Iowa and our school district radon mitigation Iowa services. Prevent children from getting hurt by this terrible silent killer. If you need school district radon mitigation Iowa, we’re your people! Call us, and we’ll test your school! We offer radon cities in the following cities plus more in Iowa: Des Moines, Carroll, Harlan, and Urbandale.

Radon in schools is certainly a topic of concern for all. At AmeriServ, we can be your school radon mitigation Iowa service provider. A nationwide survey of levels of radon in schools estimates that nearly one in five of every school in the US has at least one frequently occupied room with short-term radon levels that are higher than the EPA recommended mitigation levels. Iowa schools and home stand at a higher risk than most because of the high levels of radon in the Iowa soils. Typically a school building will have higher levels in some rooms than others, meaning the testing is not the same throughout the building. It is necessary to test all frequently occupied classrooms that have contact with the ground in order to identify where the elevated levels are occurring. The school radon mitigation Iowa service team is at your service to protect schools and remedy any potential radon problems. AmeriServ is your Iowa radon mitigation team.

School District Radon Testing Iowa

Of course parents and families worry about potential dangers and risks while their children are at school. Worrying about the actual air they are breathing can be unsettling because we all know it is very difficult to protect people from something that has no smell, color or taste. The EPA has classified all 99 counties in Iowa as a “Zone 1” meaning they have the highest potential for indoor radon concentrations above 4 picocuries per liter.  The EPA does maintain, however, that “there is no known SAFE level of radon.” There is no doubt that radon is a problem in Iowa because it’s in the air.  That air surrounds Iowans on a daily basis. Iowa’s child care facilities are required to test for radon every other year but there is no requirement yet for K-12 schools regarding radon screening or mitigation.

For any questions or concerns about school radon mitigation in Iowa schools or Iowa school districts, please give AmeriServ Radon a call today. We are your radon mitigation Iowa team!

What is a safe level of radon?

How do you know your home is a healthy place when radon is odorless, tasteless, and colorless? This is why it is called the “silent killer” and is the number two cause of lung cancer in the United States. How do you know what level is an acceptable level? How do you know if you even have radon in your home at all? This is a task for AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa. We can teach you about the radon levels that could be present in your home. Know that no level of radon is safe, but there is a point where it becomes dangerous. For your radon levels Iowa questions, we have answers for you!

Dangerous Levels of Radon in Iowa

Radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The smaller that number, the better. No matter what amount of radon is in your home, though, it can pose a danger. The bottom line is that any level of this dangerous gas poses a threat to you and your family.

The EPA says that 4.0 pCi/L is the action level for any space, however the World Health Organization actually states it is a lower rate of 3.0 pCi/L. At this level, the home needs to mitigated to lessen the radon levels right away. The EPA says radon is a larger threat to children than adults, but it is dangerous to everyone. It is also more hazardous to smokers who are already at risk of lung cancer.

Radon enters a home through cracks, holes, or other openings (usually in the floor.) The pressure inside of your house is lower than the pressure surrounding it. This causes the “stack effect.” Like a vacuum, the radon infested air is sucked into your home. Radon levels generally rise when it gets chilly out because windows and doors are staying closed, so the radon has no way out.

The average radon level outside is .4 pCi/L. The national average for homes is 1.5 pCi/L. Iowa’s radon levels are even proven to be greater than other states. Chances are, if you live in an Iowa home, you have some sort of radon danger in your home. Let us help keep you and your family safe from that danger.

You might still be questioning how dangerous these various levels of radon are. To put it in perspective, even 1 pCi/L is equal to smoking two and a half cigarettes per day. The radiation in a 4.0 pCi/L level of radon is equal to the radiation from 100 chest x-rays. Hospitals will only allow you to get 4 chest x-rays in a year because they emit so much radiation. Radon is no doubt, a very dangerous gas.

How to Control Radon Levels in Iowa

The only way to know that radon is in your home is to do a test for the gas. AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa can perform a quick, inexpensive test in your home to test for levels or radon gas. It is the very best way to know how to proceed. Once your home has been tested, AmeriServ can provide you with radon mitigation Iowa services. We can even install a radon mitigation Iowa system in your home to constantly lower its radon levels.

With 50 years in the construction world, we have the know how and expertise to set your home up right. You can count us to provide you with a quick solution that with keep you safe and provide you with peace of mind. This is not something you want to wait on. Radon levels in Iowa have been proven to be unusually high. Don’t take a chance, call AmeriServ with all your concerns about radon levels in Iowa today. We are here to serve your radon mitigation Iowa needs. Call us today for an appointment. Learn more today by visiting our FAQ page.