Date Published: 02/06/2020 [Source]
Radon gas is odorless, colorless and it can be dangerous if it's not taken care of.
Two out of five homes in Idaho have high radon levels. In fact, the EPA says radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
The invisible gas rises from the soil and enters homes through small cracks in the foundation, walls and joints. But there are ways to find out if the levels in a house are safe or unhealthy.
Cindy Lampe, a homeowner in Boise, explained why she decided to get her house tested for radon.
"I always assumed that anybody who got lung cancer had been a smoker. It shocked me a little bit that it was still pretty high up there for a cause of cancer that's not related to smoking," Lampe said.
Troy Farmer and Todd Rich are radon removal experts. They explained how the process works.
"There's different levels of homes. Some homes have a basement, some homes have a crawl space, and some homes have a slab," Farmer said. "So each of those require a different technique to reduce the levels of radon."
One of the tools in their arsenal is called the core drill. It's used to drill a hole underground to allow some of the gas to escape after they build the pipe to the exterior of the house.
Radon levels in the home should be below four pCi/L. Any more than that is hazardous to your health, according to the EPA.
Testing for radon gas is crucial because the highest levels occur during the winter when doors and windows are closed.
"Your radon levels are higher. There's less places for gas to go to," Rich said. "Also with a crawl space you've typically closed up those vents so there's less venting to air that area out. So it's gonna have an accumulated buildup there."]
Here are some things to know when considering having a home tested for radon gas:
One: Testing for the gas is a 48-hour process.
Two: You'll have the results 24 hours after testing is complete.
Three: Experts will use continuous radon monitors, which will read the gas levels every hour.
Four: You'll be able to see a graph of how the radon moves through your house.