If you've recently bought a home and start to hear about radon in your neighborhood, you might become not only confused, but worried that your own property is somehow at risk. What radon details could be relevant?
Understanding What Radon Is
First, you've got to know what on earth radon is before you allow it to concern you; The reason many get worried is that it's a gas that's both radioactive and invisible. Therefore, it doesn't often get noticed even when at high levels. However, it naturally occurs in both air and soil. It becomes dangerous for your family when the radon enters your house and is trapped there until levels become toxic. When that occurs, sickness and even death are possible.
Knowing Radon Exposure Symptoms
High radon levels cause physical symptoms. Radon exposure or poisoning symptoms include:
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
- Loss of appetite
- Higher occurrences of pneumonia, bronchitis and other respiratory issues
- Frequent cough
- Coughing blood
These symptoms should encourage you to get medical assistance and to test your property, particularly if you've been feeling unwell for a long period.
Getting Testing Done
You can get multiple testing kits from retailers, local fire departments and advocacy groups. Most kits are short-term ones which require that you'll mail samples to local laboratories which will test and indicate your home's exposure to radon. However, there are long-term kits which can present a more accurate picture of the radon situation. You can also get plug-in electric indicators that will keep you informed by testing the air in the area and displaying the total amount of radon in a room regularly. Professional radon companies will also offer testing as one of their services.
Mitigating Radon
Knowing radon is inside your home can make you consider leaving the place or keep you up nights as you wonder what effect the gas is having on your family's health. However, mitigation can bring down radon levels and make your property safer. You might, for instance, have the concrete in your basement sealed to prevent radon from entering. You may caulk the various small cracks on your foundation to keep radon out. Soil in any crawl spaces can be completely covered with thick plastic sheeting that's securely attached with tape to walls. Professionals are often called in to discuss various mitigation services.
With action and care for your family, radon exposure shouldn't result in sickness and death. Discuss services for radon testing with professional experts who understand what must occur and can provide recommendations about how to protect the family and secure the structure. Contact a company like Greene Concrete Cutting Inc to get started.
