Tag Archives: Radon Mitigation

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.

Radon in the Water – Protect your Iowa Home

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Radon is in the Air, But it can also in the Water

Radon is a serious problem for many homeowners in Iowa. It is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas that is the number two cause of lung cancer in the United States. Five out of seven homes in Iowa contain elevated levels of radon, leading dangerous threats to the health of those who live in or visit the home. If your home has a radon problem, it is important to have it taken care of as soon as possible. Fortunately, the experts at Ameriserv Radon Mitigation are able to provide professional radon testing and mitigation services to keep your home safe.

Solutions for Radon in the Water in your Iowa Home from AmeriservAlthough radon usually enters the home through the soil beneath the foundation, it can also enter your home through the home’s water supply. The risk of radon poisoning from the water supply is usually highest when the radon in the water enters the air as the water is used for showering, cooking, or other common household purposes. When the contaminated water is released from the tap, the radon will evaporate out of the water and contaminate the air. Heating this water and causing steam can increase the amount of radon that is released into the air. Normally, contaminated water supplies come from groundwater sources, such as a private or public well, and not from surface water sources.

If you suspect that the water in your home is contaminated with radon, follow these steps.

  • Radon Testing: Test your home for radon to determine whether or not there are really elevated radon levels in your home. For this type of radon testing, short-term testing is probably the best solution.
  • Home Radon Mitigation: Invest in radon mitigation services from the professionals at Ameriserv Radon Mitigation to get rid of the radon in your home.
  • Remove Radon from Water: Radon can be removed from the water source in your home in two different ways: point of entry, and point of use. The water can either be treated before it enters your home, or at the tap.

If you are looking for radon testing and mitigation services in Iowa, look no further than Ameriserv. We can test your home to determine the severity of the problem, and come up with a mitigation system to best suit your individual needs. Contact us today to find out more about the services we offer and the cities that we service.

Why are Radon Levels so High in Des Moines

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Radon Levels in Des Moines

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
radon levels in Des MoinesIowa  has the highest average levels of radon in the nation. Iowa falls into the EPA radon red zone, which means every county has an average indoor radon screening higher than the 4.0 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L). Also, 70 percent of the homes statewide fall inside the EPA’s danger zone. This includes homes in Des Moines.

Radon is formed naturally by the decaying process of uranium and radium, both of which is found in many rocks. Many thousands of years ago, glaciers moved and carried rocks from what is now Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario to Iowa. The glacier’s movement pulverized the rocks into small chunks, increasing the surface area of the once whole rock. Over time with rain, freeze-thaw, plant roots, and exposure to oxygen these rocks were pulverized, increasing their porosity which allows more opportunity for radon to escape into the soil, air, and water. Radon is a odorless, colorless, and and tasteless gas and enters homes through cracks in foundations and walls.

When radon enters building, it becomes trapped and it accumulates in the lowest level, usually the basement. Breathing in this radioactive gas over a long period of time can cause lung cancer. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. You could be sitting in a home with a low level or a high level and you wouldn’t know the difference.

Most people find out about the dangers of radon during a housing transaction because real estate agents must provide buyers with an “Iowa Radon Home-Buyers and Sellers Fact Sheet.” It is up to the buyer to request that an inspector test for radon.

The primary source of high levels of radon comes from the soil below and surrounding the home. It gets into your home because warm air rises, creating a vacuum in the lower areas and moves through and into the home as air moves from higher pressure in the soil to lower pressure in the home.

AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa can test your home for radon levels using either short-term testing or long-term testing methods. The short-term testing method is used when the results need to be determined quickly, such as when there is a real estate transaction. The long-term method will last 90 days or more. The long-term method will give a better idea of the year round average of the radon levels in your home.

If levels are found to be high, AmeriServ can do radon mitigation which removes the radon from your home to the outside. This is done by drilling a hole in your foundation which creates a suction point. Then a PVC pipe connects through this hole to use as a vent for the radon gas. Then a fan is connected to ensure the air flow is in the right direction. After installation of this system, we will come back and check to make sure the radon level has come down.

Because you life in Iowa where the entire state is in the EPA red zone for radon, it is important to get your home tested for radon and get it taken care of as soon as possible. The longer you breath in air that has high radon levels, the more danger you are in. Don’t let this colorless, odorless, tasteless gas become the source of a health issue. It can be taken care of easily and inexpensively. Call the experts at AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa today and get your home tested.

We are licensed and certified specialists that were trained professionally by the State of Iowa and certified by the Iowa Department of public Health. Our services include a 5 year warranty on radon mitigation systems. We will make sure that your system is designed to meet your needs. Contact us today and get your radon levels tested!

 

 

 

 

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.

Important Facts About Radon Testing

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What Consumers in Iowa Should Know Prior to Radon TestingRadon Mitigation Des Moines Services and Radon Levels Chart

Here are some important facts about radon testing that it is good for every consumer to know prior to having radon testing performed in their Iowa home.

  • If you choose to perform a short term test (which would be a 2-4 day test) it is important for the home to remain closed for 12 hours prior to the start of testing and for the whole time the test is being performed.
  • If you choose to perform the long term test (which would be about 4-7 days of testing) it is also important to have the same closed house conditions.
  • If you are hiring someone to do testing, make sure they are qualified to perform the radon testing you need, like AmeriServ Radon Mitigation. Testing companies should be able to provide you with information to prove they are qualified.
  • The test should include a method or methods to prevent or detect any interference with testing conditions or with the radon testing device itself.
  • Do no interfere with the radon testing devices during the time of testing as it will likely affect the outcome of your test, and a correct result is critical.
  • When your test is being performed, make sure that you run your heat or cooling the way you normal would for the weather conditions during the time of the test.
  • If you have a test that is positive for high levels of radon, you want to have this dealt with with high priority. Iowa is known for very high levels of radon. The EPA recommends that you mitigate for radon in the home when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or more.

Mitigation is Critical for High Levels of Radon in Your Iowa Home

If you test for high levels of radon, AmeriServ Radon Mitigation highly recommends not waiting to have mitigation performed. We can find the right solution for your home, have a radon mitigation system setup quickly, which is critical for the safety of your family. Radon is a cancer causing agent that you cannot see, smell, or taste, so proper testing followed by radon mitigation by a professional with a lot of experience is so important to the health of your family. AmeriServ cares for Iowa families, and wants to help protect you.

Remember that your Iowa business or school could also be at risk for high levels of radon. We can also perform testing for businesses and schools to keep the occupants safe from the dangers of radon gas. So don’t wait. Ask about radon testing, and then setup your test. Know the dangers of radon, and then partner with the radon testing and mitigation specialists at AmeriServ Radon Mitigation today. Call us anytime if you want to learn more.

Radon Mitigation Cost in Iowa

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Radon Mitigation Cost Iowa

If you haven’t tested your home for radon, don’t panic. At AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa, we can test your home’s radon levels. It may be cheaper to test radon levels yourself, but AmeriServ provides accurate testing at affordable rates. We can also perform radon mitigation at your home, if your home tests positive for radon. AmeriServ is your low radon mitigation cost Iowa team.

Radon Mitigation Cost IowaRadon is found all over the United States. It is a odorless, radioactive gas emitted from the natural breakdown of uranium and radium.  No home or building is immune from radon.  Radon enters the house through cracks in solid floors, construction joints, wall cracks, the water supply, and wall cavities. It can be found in any type of building.

Your risk of developing lung cancer depends on the radon levels in your home. The length of exposure time also has a huge factor. Radon gas enters the lungs and emits alpha particles. These particles are absorbed by lung tissue, which causes lung cell damage.

The best way to test your radon levels, it to call AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa. We can test your home at affordable rates. We have short and long-term tests. It may be cheaper to purchase a short-term test at your local hardware store, but AmeriServ can perform accurate testing to assure your family is safe. At AmeriServ, our short term testing includes charcoal canisters, electret chamber, and continuous monitors. Because radon levels vary day to day, the long-term test is the best test. They remain in your home for more than 90 days. We use alpha track and electret detectors. This type of test is more accurate because it measures your levels throughout the season.

If your home is being built, ask about radon-resistant construction for new homes. Find out if the builder specializes in radon resistant construction. Choosing radon-resistant construction, can save you time and money in the long run.

AmeriServ Iowa Radon Mitigation can perform professional radon mitigation, if your home tests positive for high radon levels.  We are your affordable radon mitigation cost Iowa team. Our mitigation team can perform various mitigation techniques depending on your home and the extent of the problem.  High levels can be reduced to acceptable levels. EPA recommends levels below 4 pCi/L.

EPA recommends every home should be tested for radon. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer. At AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa, our professionals can fix your radon problems. We can also perform radon mitigation at your home, if your home tests positive for radon. AmeriServ is your low radon mitigation cost Iowa team. Contact us today!

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!

Choosing an Iowa Radon Company

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Iowa Radon Company

Radon is a concern for many homeowners and businesses in the state of Iowa. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked all of Iowa as high risk for high levels of radon. Radon is a natural radioactive gas that can cause cancer. With radon, you can not see it, smell it, or taste it and that is why it is such a worry. If your home or business has radon and you breathe it over a long period of time, it becomes a health risk. It is a leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and smokers.

Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium and radium in soil, rock and water. Air pressure is lower in your home than the pressure in the soil around your foundation. This difference in pressure acts like a vacuum by drawing the radon in through the foundation cracks and openings. The radon gets trapped in your home and builds up causing the problems. AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa has found it in new construction of homes and businesses, as well as, older construction. The first line of defense is to get your home tested by a reputable Iowa radon company to make sure the levels are less than 4.0PCi/L. Testing is the only way you will know for sure if you, your family or employees are at risk from radon.

When choosing an Iowa radon company, you will need to make sure the company and staff are fully licensed and insured. AmeriServ Radon Mitigation Iowa has the staff that can answer your questions and concerns. Their team is trained by the State of Iowa and certified by the Iowa Department of Public Health. They use the latest technology in radon mitigation to test your home and solve your radon issues. The qualified staff of AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa can install systems in new construction to prevent radon entering your home from the beginning. If you are considering doing home improvements, this might be the time to have your home tested and have mitigation solutions installed in your home. As a real estate agent, you should inform your clients of possible testing by an Iowa radon company that could be done before selling or buying a home. School radon testing can be done by the experienced staff at AmeriServ Iowa Radon Mitigation. If radon can get into your homes it can get into your schools. Children’s lungs are still developing and the danger is much higher for them than an adult. The technicians are qualified to test for radon in the schools in your area and create a solution to lower the levels of radon.

AmeriServ Radon Mitigation of Iowa is the Iowa radon company to choose for your testing and radon mitigation. They are highly trained, professional, and guarantee their work. Give them a call about your concerns and let them solve your radon issues that influence your quality of life for you and your family.