Radon And Your Home

Two of the most important concerns in the health of your family are whether or not your home has instances of lead throughout it, and whether or not you are breathing radon gas vapours.  Radon is a colourless and odourless radioactive gas that can get trapped beneath your house and cause serious health problems.  It has been the cause of over 20,000 lung disease related deaths every year and it is assumed to be in millions of homes.

Radon slips into your home from underground, seeping into crawl spaces beneath your home, through the sump pump, gaps in the basement flooring and walls, and even your water supply.  It is undetectable unless you have a trained professional come in.  These professionals will run diagnostic testing to see if the radon levels are elevated and dangerous.  Because it is naturally occurring, there will be some levels detected.  When they get too high, then it is cause to worry.  

Every home that is bought and sold should be tested for radon regardless of whether or not this is on the pre-sale inspection list.  This test is almost imperative if the home you want to purchase in an area where radon has been a past problem.  Ask your real estate agent so that you are aware of it and can add a contingency clause to your closing papers.  If you think the home you are living in has a radon problem, look for a state licensed contractor in the phone book or contact the Environment Protection Agency who can refer you to a reputable tester.  

Unfortunately radon is only one of the different problems that could be found that is dangerous to a person’s health.  Lead in paint, asbestos in ceiling and floor tiles or wrapped around furnace pipes, and even the pesticide your neighbour uses can all cause health problems.  Radon can be removed from your property with a low cost ventilation system that can also remove other toxic airborne chemicals and gases.  Lead based paint and asbestos will need to be physically removed and care will have to be taken to do it.  

It is also advisable to use a carbon monoxide detector in your home.  These can be bought at your local hardware store and simply plug into an electrical wall socket.  They will go off if carbon monoxide is detected.  Smoke alarms are another must for all homes.  Keep your furnace filters clean as well as the air conditioning unit.  If you use an additional ventilation system to keep the occurrence of radon from climbing to dangerous levels, replace any filters for that on a timely basis as well.

There are so many pollutants and contaminants in the air that it is hard to protect ourselves from the all.  By having your home checked regularly for radon, and other potentially hazard chemicals and toxins, you are protecting yourself and your family from a variety of health issues that could arise later down the line.  Due diligence pays off and your family will thank you for it.

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