Tag Archives: radon testing in Iowa

Radon Detector vs. Professional Radon Testing – Which is Right for Your Iowa Home?

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Radon Detectors and Testing Services in Iowa

If you are concerned about radon levels in your home, the best thing you can do is invest in some sort of radon test to determine whether or not your home actually contains elevated radon levels. There are a variety of ways that this can be done – home radon testing kits and detectors, short-term professional tests, and long-term professional tests. The hard part is deciding which radon testing method to use in your home. That is why Ameriserv offers the necessary information and wide variety of solutions to help you choose the best option for your Iowa home.

Some of the different options that you can choose from to test the radon levels in your home include:

  • DIY Radon Kits and Detectors: Home radon tests can give you an idea of the radon levels in your home. These tests are usually left in your home somewhere undisturbed for 48 – 96 hours. To use these tests, you must close all of the doors and windows in the area. Most of the tests also require that you send them in to a lab in order to get the results. Here at Ameriserv, we offer a $15 at home radon testing kit. Contact us for more information on this and our other radon testing services.
  • Short-term testing: This kind of test takes around 2-7 days (some can take up to 90 days), and is used to measure average radon levels in your home over a short time period. Short-term testing methods include charcoal canisters, electret ion chambers, continuous monitors, and liquid scintillation detectors.
  • Long-term testing: This testing method, which usually takes over 90 days, is used to track average radon levels in your home year round. Long-term testing can be done of a high radon level was found with another testing method, or to find more accurate results. Testing methods include electret monitors and alpha track detectors.

These are some of the common methods used to test for radon in Iowa homes. If you are looking to sell your home, you should consider investing in at least short-term radon testing, to ensure there are no dangerous levels of radon in your home. If there have been high levels of radon in your home before, you may want to consider a long-term radon test to see how severe this issue is. If you are just trying to ensure the safety of your family and want to be sure there is not a high amount of radon in the air, a DIY radon detector may be the way to go for you.

Average Outside Air Level of Radon pCi/L. in Iowa

Radon Testing and Detector Solutions in Iowa by AmeriservRadon is a dangerous, colorless, and odorless gas that can cause several health problems for you and your family. Though no level of radon is considered completely safe, it is common for outside air levels to be around 0.2 pCi/L. This is a relatively small number when compared with indoor radon levels, which are commonly somewhere around 1-2 pCi/L.

If there is a radon level of over 4 pCi/L in your home, it means that the radon levels in your home are dangerously elevated. Have your home tested immediately to determine whether or not there is a radon issue there.

Ameriserv offers quality radon testing, detectors, and mitigation services for your home. Contact us today to see how we can help you get rid of the radon in your Iowa home.

Can Cold Weather Increase your Radon Risk?

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Winter is coming, and that means lots of cold weather. The season of snow and ice may actually cause your Iowa home, business, or school to have higher radon risks than it may have had in the warmer months.

Don’t know what radon is or why it is dangerous? Well, here is a quick summary of radon and why it is dangerous to your health. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is naturally occurring. It can only be detected by a radon test. It is radioactive and can attach itself to many surfaces, including dust particles. These dust particles can be easily inhaled and may, in some cases, cause lung cancer, along with a variety of other breathing problems. Some signs that you have been exposed to radon include:Radon Testing Lake City IA, Radon Mitigation Lake City Iowa

  • Persistent cough
  • Wheezing
  • Heavy breathing
  • Lung infections

Unfortunately, radon may not take effect in you until years or even decades after you have been exposed, which means that even if you have these symptoms, it does not mean that your current home, business, or school has high levels of radon. You could have been affected years ago without knowing it. This makes radon gas that much harder to detect.

Iowa is known for its high levels of radon risks. A long time ago there were glaciers that covered Iowa which melted leaving behind rocks that contained uranium. When these rocks broke down and decayed over time they released the radon gas. These gases are now affecting your Iowa homes, businesses, and schools. If not taken care of, it could seriously harm you and your family, customers, or students and staff. Ameriserv can help you detect radon with radon tests.

Radon Testing and Mitigation in Iowa by Ameriserv

Interestingly enough, cold winter weather may actually aggravate the radon levels in your Iowa home, business, or school. Because the air outside is colder than the air inside your home, business, or school, radon levels may become higher. The temperature difference is what causes the higher levels of radon. Luckily, Ameriserv can help you. Especially during the winter months, it is smart to get regular radon tests for your home, business, or school. Do not let the higher radon risks take advantage of you. If high levels of radon are found, we here at Ameriserv can provide you with radon mitigation services.

We can help you choose which system of radon mitigation is right for your specific structure and situation. Contact Ameriserv today to learn more about radon testing in Iowa, radon risks, radon mitigation, or our service area. We want to help you feel safe in your home, so make sure to get regular radon tests. You can not ignore radon. Just because it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless does not mean that it is not there. Contact us today!