Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil. Uranium deposits can be found randomly throughout our environment. Radon gas enters buildings through hollow block walls, cracks in the foundation floor or walls, and opening around drains, pipes and sump pump holes. Therefore, the only way to determine if radon gas is entering your building is through testing.
There are two types of radon tests:
- Short term: These tests typically last from 48 hours to seven days. Closed house conditions must be maintained during the test.
- Long term: These tests typically last from 90 days to a year and provide a long-term average of the building’s radon level. Closed house conditions are not required for this test.
A radon mitigation system is recommended for any building whose test results show levels of 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or higher.
It is estimated that 40 percent of Pennsylvania homes have radon levels greater than the EPA guideline of 4 pCi/L. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today and is estimated to cause approximately 21,000 deaths annually.