Get matched with top radon detection and reduction specialists in Pocahontas, IA

The only way to determine if you have a radon problem in your home is to have professional testing done. You can buy DIY radon test kits, but these are sometimes inaccurate in certain temperatures and humidity levels, and they don’t paint the entire picture in terms of your radon exposure. Scheduling testing once every two to five years is best. You can also look out for the following symptoms, which, according to the American Cancer Society, are symptoms of radon exposure:

• Shortness of breath

• Cough

• Tightness in the chest

• Difficulty swallowing

• Hoarseness

Yes, radon testing is absolutely necessary if you suspect the presence of this hazardous gas, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends testing for all homes in the country. Radon is a pervasive natural gas that can leak through your home’s foundation and seep into the living areas. Unfortunately, the gas is highly carcinogenic and is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon testing is crucial for keeping you and your family safe from harm, so hire a radon mitigation specialist to test your home if you suspect its presence in your home.

No level of radon is technically safe, but because it’s everywhere—even in the air outside—it’s impossible to avoid entirely. Instead, the Environmental Protection Agency encourages taking preventative measures if the levels of radon in your home rise above 2 pCi/L. (For reference, the average radon level in homes across the United States is 1.3 pCi/L.

A radon test has no effect on humans—only the radon in the air does. The test does not redistribute the radon that is already present so yes, it’s safe to be around the testing kit even if it isn’t safe to be in the room itself. The test absorbs and measures the radon, but doesn't absorb enough of it to make the room any safer.