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A Citizen’s Guide to Radon in Iowa

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Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon

Radon causes thousands of lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. The entire
Radon mitigation is Iowa by AmeriServ Radon Mitigationstate of Iowa is in the red zone which means that every county in Iowa is in the highest potential area of the United States for higher than average levels of radon. This is due to the fact that Iowa has uranium-rich soil. Radon is formed when the uranium and radium in rocks decays, filling the soil with radon.

You cannot see, smell or taste radon so you won’t know if your have a high radon level unless your home is tested. It causes thousands of deaths a year because when you breathe air that contains radon, it can cause lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, second only to smoking. If you smoke and your home has high radon level, you have an even higher risk of developing lung cancer. There are several ways that radon gets into your home. They are:

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

Once radon enters your home, it becomes trapped and builds up. A radon level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher is cause for concern. Even radon levels less than 4 pCi/L poses a risk. It is important to get your Iowa home tested for radon. The experts at AmeriServ Radon Mitigation  can come and test your home and offer radon mitigation to keep your radon levels low.

Solutions For High Radon Levels in Iowa

AmeriServ Radon Mitigation can test your home using short-term testing of long-term testing.

  • Short-term testing: This testing remains in your home for 2 to 90 days, using either charcoal canisters, alpha track, electret iron chamber, continuous monitors and charcoal liquid scintillation detectors. This type of testing may not determine a year-round average. Many times, short-term testing is done for real estate transactions.
  • Long-term testing: This testing remains in your home for more than 90 days and give a more accurate year-round average of your radon levels. This testing includes alpha track and electret detectors.

If the testing finds that your home has elevated levels of radon, the AmeriServ team can install a radon mitigation system to remove the harmful radon from your home.

The first step in radon mitigation is to drill a hole in your foundation to provide a suction point. Next, we attach a PVC pipe to the hole to act as a vent then the pipe is connected to a fan. The fan allows the air to flow in the right direction, out of the home.

It is important to get your Iowa home tested for radon, and have a professional perform radon mitigation if the levels are high. Protect yourself and your family from health issues related to radon. Let the professionals at AmeriServ Radon Mitigation test your home.

The AmeriServ team is professionally trained by the State of Iowa and is certified by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Don’t hesitate to contact AmeriServ to get your home tested for radon and keep you and your family safe from this harmful gas.

 

The Myths About Radon

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Fact and Fiction about Radon for Iowa Homeowners

radon into homeAlthough most homeowners know that radon is a serious issue, many people are not sure what to believe about the gas. There are several myths surrounding radon that can cause people to overlook radon issues, and pay little attention to the importance of radon testing and mitigation. It vital that you understand the dangers of radon and how to prevent it from causing health issues for you and your family. Ameriserv is dedicated to protecting you and your family from harmful radon. That is why we have put together a list of myths and the corresponding facts about radon:

  • Myth: Scientists are not sure radon is a real issue.
    Fact: Some scientists argue that the estimated number of deaths due to radon is much lower than commonly expressed. However, major health organizations such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Lung Association agree that radon is the cause of thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths each year, especially among smokers.
  • Myth: Radon testing is costly, time consuming, and difficult.
    Fact:     Radon testing is actually very easy, and can take as little time as two days. Contact the radon testing professionals at Ameriserv to find out more.
  • Myth: Homes with radon cannot be fixed.
    Fact: There are actually several simple, relatively inexpensive solutions to take care of radon levels in your home. Ameriser offers quality mitigation services for homeowners in Iowa.
  • Myth: Radon only affects certain types of homes.
    Fact: Radon can affect any type of home, from old to new, from drafty to well insulated. It is true, however, that some kinds of construction materials and local geology can have an effect on the radon levels in the home.
  • Myth: Radon is only a problem in certain areas of the country.
    Fact: Although radon problems vary from place to place, elevated levels have been found in every state.
  • Myth: The test results of a neighbor are an indicator that your home has a radon problem.
    Fact: Radon levels are different in every home, and the only way to know for sure whether your home has a problem is to have it professionally tested.
  • Myth: Water supplies should always be tested for radon.
    Fact: Radon can contaminate the air in your home through your water supply, but it is much more common for elevated radon levels to be caused by radon in the air alone. Have the air in your home tested first, and if the high radon levels still have no apparent cause, test the water, or contact your water supplier, if your water comes from a public source.
  • Myth: It is difficult to sell homes once radon has been discovered in them.
    Fact: Once the radon problem in the home has been fixed, it is not more difficult than normal to sell the home. In fact, the added preventative and protective systems are often a great selling point.
  • Myth: I’ve already lived in my home so long, it’s not worth it to take action now.
    Fact: Whether or not you have lived with the issue for a long time, taking care of the radon problem in your home will still reduce your risk for lung cancer.
  • Myth: Short-term tests cannot be used to determine whether or not to invest in radon mitigation.
    Fact: A short-term test followed by another short-term tests are often used to decide whether or not your home is in need of mitigation. Contact a professional for more information.

If you live in Iowa, and are in need of answers for the radon problem in your home, contact Ameriserv today. We offer testing and mitigation to remove radon from your home. Contact us today for a quality radon solution.

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!