The device is portable and can be placed in any location you want to test. About 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. There is no known level of radon exposure that is considered safe, so it’s important to protect yourself and your household by using a reliable, high-quality radon test kit that will give you an accurate picture of the radon levels in your home. See at Amazon. 3,318 Reviews. Testing for Radon is simple, and the sure way to keep you and your family safe at home. A radon detector, which is a small device, will be left in the home for at least 48 hours, but it can be left for several days or even a month or two. Best Budget: Kansas State University Radon Test Kit. Some radon detectors can be checked out from community facilities such as the Northland Public Library in McCandless. Then take the other radon gas detector and install it as close to the ground as you can in your house. Smart home-compatible detectors will require a level of technical know-how for ongoing use. When moving to a new home, it is wise to have the property tested to determine radon levels. Radon is produced from the natural breakdown of the uranium found in most rocks and soils. Wave was created to allow homeowners to take control of their radon levels. Do I Need To Seal My Basement Floor? The harmful gas can cause minor symptoms like ongoing headaches or could even have a lethal effect, due to its cancer-causing properties. The DEP also offers additional testing for … DWYM Tools Experts plus Radon Gas Detector Reviews, Be On Home, FabatHome, Authority Toplist. Hello Dean, I agree. Have you tested for radon? You can zoom in on your state and down to the county. Do you have a radon detector? 7 Health Hazards Lurking in Your Basement, Solved! The house should be tested at least every two years. The reasoning behind this is because radon levels tend to fluctuate each day, which means that a longer test can offer more accurate results. ... A lot of tests include paid postage for sending the detector back to … You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Alternatively, digital test kits are powered by a battery or electrical outlet and may need to be linked to a wireless device before using, though not all digital models require an app. Why Do You Need a Radon Detector? If an initial short-term test registers 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, the EPA recommends doing a second radon test. Electronic monitors that measure radon in the air are another option. These tracks are then counted at the lab. Rado… The Corentium Home was developed by in-house CERN scientists with the average homeowner in mind. It is unavoidable, hence the need for a radon detector, as its colorless, odorless and invisible, only through monitoring will you be aware of the levels in the air. Many residential property owners and even some commercial property owners do not have a short term radon test kit.. What does a short term radon test kit do for you? Find radon detectors at Lowe's today. A long-term test will give you the most accurate information, but a short-term test is acceptable if you need the results quickly, such as for a real estate transaction, or your first levels registered 8 pCi/L or higher. It is usually best if you get two radon detectors to install in your house. For definitive results, long-term testing is necessary. If your radon detector shows alarmingly high levels of radon, you need to get in touch with the air quality professionals right away to help you figure out the source of radon and get the air quality corrected. The EPA Radon Zone map is color-coded into zones based on predicted radon concentration and shows areas down to the county level in every state. How do I know that my radon system is working? The Safety Siren Pro4 Series Electronic Radon Detector from Family Safety Products is the first company on the market to design a radon gas detector for use by the homeowner. The charcoal device absorbs radon gas over two to 90 days and is then sent to a lab for results. It is battery-operated and can easily be mounted on the wall. 5 Radon (Rn) is formed from the radioactive decay of uranium-238 in rock and soil, mostly granite. All detailed information is readily available through the Airthings app or on their website, and a simple light on the monitor indicates green (good), yellow (warning), or red (danger) levels. If you would rather test your home for radon … Short-term radon tests take between two to 90 days to collect readings from your home, depending on the manufacturer. A radon detector can be used in a private home, institution or place of business. Radon is also the No. •You can test for radon yourself. If time permits (more than 90 days), long-term tests can be used to confirm initial short-term results. However, it occurs much more often than it needs to. A smarter radon detector. These tests are the cheapest and quickest options for measuring radon levels in your home, but they are also the least accurate because they are susceptible to spikes in radon levels and interference during shipping for lab tests. This means that sellers and property owners are under no legal obligations to have a residential building tested for the presence of radon. Open the sealed activated charcoal packet, place it in the lowest livable area of the home, and leave it. It is a real health deathtrap and according to Environmental Protection Agency, radon results to over 21,000 deaths annually, and ranks second after cigarette smoking in causing lung cancer. The Corentium Home Radon Detector by Airthings will provide you with detailed information about radon levels in your home. The U-tube is only designed to indicate that the system is actually on and at what pressure. Their installation can be difficult, as each manufacturer has its own setup specifications. Radon exposure is a known risk factor for lung cancer. Another style of long-term radon test kit is the ongoing test kit or radon detector. This short-term test kit uses activated charcoal to absorb radon and its byproducts over a time period of 48 to 96 hours. If your home tests positive for high levels of radon, you need to contact a qualified radon mitigation contractor. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Active radon test kits are more complex and can range from battery-powered units you attach to the wall to smart home-compatible units that require a fully integrated set-up before use. These test kits are great for set-it-and-forget-it users. The EPA suggests a radon removal system be installed for any radon level reading higher than is considered acceptable. You can also hire a professional to test your home for radon. Photo by WPB Radon What Cracks in the Basement Floor Really Mean, 10 Factors That Make or Break the Value of Your Home, 7 Irresistible Outdoor Living Trends for 2015, 10 Things You Never Knew Your Real Estate Agent Can Do for You. decay from radon and polonium damages lung tissue and causes lung cancer. Consider your own technical installation abilities and your current radon testing needs before deciding on a test kit. The First Alert Radon Gas Test Kit is one of the easiest to use options available. The AccuStar Radon Gas Test Kit is perfect for real estate agents who are in regular need of short-term radon test solutions for their clients. Testing your home for radon is as simple as opening a package, placing a radon detector in a designated area, and after the prescribed number of days (usually 2-7 days), sealing the detector back in the package and mailing it to a lab for evaluation. Radon is a product of decaying radioactive elements like uranium. Putting one in the main traffic area of the house, like a living room, is usually a good idea. If it's still high when they test then you need to install a system to remove it. For short-term testing and first-time tests, the price and results of this radon test kit are difficult to beat. Shop radon detectors and a variety of electrical products online at Lowes.com. Why? Depending on the country, acceptable radon levels vary. When it comes to your safety and health, radon detectors are just as important as smoke detectors or combustible gas monitors. If you have a basement, that would be the ideal location for one. Only a radon test can indicate the levels of radon. The detector is designed to test the air inside a building and provide a readout of radon levels. In Georgia, for example, buildings in the Atlanta metropolitan area have a high potential for toxic levels of radon. In general, 10,000 pCi/L of radon in water contributes roughly 1 pCi/L of airborne radon throughout the house. Radon can enter a structure through the ground and walls of a basement. However, radon levels can fluctuate over a short amount of time, so short-term test kits are not the most accurate testing method. Sale. Charcoal radon test kits are short-term options that work similarly to the alpha-track test kits, though they measure radon over a shorter period of time. If you’re looking for more than just a simple radon test, continuous air monitors like this are amazing for all-around protection. An alternative to your father hiring a company to check homes, would be for him to have a hand-held Radon detector like the Airthings Radon Gas Monitor, which is battery powered and can give readings in as little as 24 hours. Gimme a shout in the comments or over on Twitter! Just one radon gas detector may not be able to pick up gas from another part of the house. Where I live, the probability of there being Radon in my home is high and I have more than one detector keeping track of Radon levels. Because short-term radon test kits are the fastest testing method and the least expensive test kit option, real estate agents often use them to test homes before selling. We recommend the SafetySiren Pro4 Radon Detector as a long-term solution for testing in your home, especially if … Exposure to radon gas it the second-leading cause of lung cancer (after smoking) in the United States. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the soil. Even though toxic radon exposure is most common in the Northern, Midwestern and Southwestern states – radon may reach hazardous levels in any state depending on where your home is located. 1 cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that’s undetectable by humans. The smart home integration requires a more technical set-up than most radon test kits, however. Every home needs a radon detector. Within 72 hours of lab receipt, the results are emailed directly to you. Radon tests work by counting or tracking the amount of radon in the air. Copyright © 2021 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. The Radon Eye Monitor is available from Amazon for about $153. These test devices cost more and take longer, but they are the most accurate radon test kits available. Radon fluctuates daily so continuous monitoring is necessary to understand your long-term exposure and gain full-time peace of mind. He recently bought an older home to remodel, so it may be beneficial for him to hire a company to look through the house and check for excessive amounts of radon. The affordable price for the kit even includes laboratory and shipping costs, so there are no unexpected fees. This consumer oriented digital radon detector allows the homeowner to monitor the radon level in their home with an easy-to-read illumated digital display. This simple charcoal radon test kit includes the laboratory fee for most states (excluding New Jersey) at a very affordable price. Bluetooth connectivity allows the data to be retrieved from the Radon Eye app, where ten-minute intervals of information are updated into a helpful graph. Radon gas is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, making it completely undetectable without a test. Alpha-track test kits have a plastic film that becomes marked by alpha particles that strike it. 1.6 to 2.0 vs 4.0 picocuries per liter of air Lowest in NY State basement air measurements , , + sources are dangerous when they are inside your body. A long-term test result is more likely to tell you your home’s year-round average radon level than a short-term test. Testing your home for radon gas will help you determine the amount of radon you may be breathing. The EPA’s Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon contains helpful information for real estate transactions. There are several time-tested products that meet or exceed this criteria. The continuous real-time and long-term monitoring provides an average reading over time, and an alarm feature will notify you if the radon levels in your home exceed 4 pCi/L. Radon Eliminator Is Here To Help; What Is Radon? You must then send these test kits to a laboratory to have the results calculated and returned to you. Your email address will remain private, we do not spam. Staying Safe When it comes to your safety and health, radon detectors are just as important as smoke detectors or combustible gas monitors. Passive radon test kits, like charcoal and alpha-track test kits, are easy to set up but require hands-on involvement during testing. The simple and safe way to … Radon test kits use several different methods to test the air in your home for elevated radon levels. Overexposure to radon is a dangerous proposition. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), naturally occurring radon causes more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. alone – second only to cigarette smoking among causes of lung cancer. Radon exposure can happen in any home—including yours. Long Island sand does not have this problem. After two to four days, seal it up and send it to the lab. Once it’s set up, the monitor will continuously test the air for radon, carbon dioxide (CO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), humidity levels, temperature, and air pressure. First of all, radon is a radioactive gas that is formed during the decay of radioactive elements like uranium. For best results, always follow manufacturer guidelines. It’s a little scary to think about the fact that 1 out of every 15 homes has radon levels above the recommended amount. Short Term Radon Test Kit. According to the EPA, 1 out of every 15 U.S. homes has radon levels above the recommended guideline of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) and recommends that all homes should test for radon, regardless of geographic location. Because of this, they are considered the least accurate test option. Radon is 1 of the most important components in our indoor air quality and the only way to know if you are exposed to radon is to measure daily. If a person spends more than four to six hours a day in any given area, consider placing a detector nearby. Because areas under your home are normally the first place radon gas will accumulate, you should consider placing one radon detector for every 2000 uninterrupted sq ft, and in frequently occupied rooms. •Testing for radon is easy to do, and takes very little time. Radon gas emits alpha particles, which create tracks on the sheets. If they are in the "unsafe" zone, or close too it, you should hire a professional Radon firm to come out and do a second test and assessment. The Airthings Radon & Air Quality Monitor is a more expensive choice for testing radon, but you get a lot for your money. One option is a liquid-filled manometer ($10 to $30 online) mounted on the PVC pipe. This feature allows the continuous test kit to present readings within ten minutes of set up and reliable results within one hour. Radon test kits are generally used by opening a sealed package, leaving the test kit exposed to the air for a certain amount of time, and then sending the test kit to a laboratory for results. Another style of long-term radon test kit is the ongoing test kit or radon detector. The best way to see if your home is a high risk area for radon, is to consult the EPA Radon Zone Map: EPA Radon Zone Map. Long-term and continuous testing provides a much longer period of time for collecting readings, which allows you to better determine the average radon level in your home. Active radon test kits, like digital radon detectors, can be very easy to use once installed. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a radon removal system if the radon level reading in your home is higher than 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). If your test results are in the safe zone you're pretty much good to go. This is famed for being the first ever digital radon… Higher levels of alpha tracks indicate high levels of alpha particles and radon. Prolonged radon exposure  in these contaminated homes leads to a 50% increase in lung cancer risk. Radon detectors, or digital radon test kits, are the most expensive type of radon testers on the list. The longer period of time a radon test kit is able to test the home, the more accurate the results will be, as longer testing allows you to determine the average level of pCi/L in your home without the influence of random positive or negative spikes. If you do not have a basement, just make sure that you put it on the lowest level of the house. The clear digital display shows on-screen readings of both long- and short-term radon levels to identify temporary fluctuations, but without allowing them to impact overall averages. I heard that only if you have basement then you need a radon detector.It depends also whether you are living in area that prone to cases of radon emission.Could you please through some light on this. Radon detectors typically feature a digital display and will continuously test the air in the home, displaying results regularly, without the need to send the kit to a laboratory. However, digital radon test kits are relatively permanent as they attach to a wall, like a thermostat, and they use a sensor to detect alpha particles in the air. Not all situations require the same solution. If the radon level is low in the air, there is no need to test your water. This style of test is more accurate than short-term test kits and is a medium-range option falling between short-term kits and ongoing radon detectors. The detector after some time (3 months is recommended) has been sufficiently exposed to the fluctuating levels in your home. One style is a single-use device collected at the end of the usage period and sent to a laboratory for testing. Keep the following considerations in mind when selecting the best radon test kit for your specific circumstances. No matter what type of radon test kit you purchase, you want it to be a high-quality product. Since radon is found in all 50 states, it is wise to test your home. 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