What is Radon and why should all houses be Professionally tested for radon gas?

     Some people have heard of Radon Gas and the need for testing and some have not. Radon is a noble gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer, next to smoking. Radon is a tasteless, colorless, odorless gas, which is a radioactive byproduct of radium. It is part of the natural radioactive decay series starting with uranium-238. Radon is present in every house, in every building, and throughout the earth. There is no place on earth that doesn't have radon gas. Fortunately, we can provide a professional radon test to determine your radon gas level.

Fifty-Five Percent (55%) of all radiation you receive is from Radon exposure. It does not matter what type of house you currently own or are about to purchase, it doesn't matter what type of foundation the house has, whether it has a basement, crawlspace, slab, etc; the house has a radon gas level. Professional Testing can reveal if the level is at or above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/l (picocuries/liter) of air. That action level makes exposure to Radon Gas greater than all the other routine environmental radiation exposures combined. Any level above this action level should be reduced with a Radon Mitigation System.

    The only way to know if you are having high exposure to radon gas is to have us perform a professional radon test. How does this relate to a home inspection and the purchase of a home? Radon testing should be performed during all home inspections in Orland Park, Plainfield, Tinley Park, Channahon, Oak Forest, and all cities in Illinois. The test usually operates for 48 hours, which is a special protocol just for real estate transactions, but sometimes, depending on conditions, the test will operate for 96 hours. Your Realtor probably gave you information from the state of Illinois about radon testing which explains the process and the need for a radon test.