Get matched with top radon detection and reduction specialists in Golden, MS

What is radon? It’s a radioactive gas that naturally occurs in the ground, forming as uranium and thorium decay. It has no color or odor, so you don’t know if it’s seeping into your building’s foundation. Regular exposure to radon gas increases your chances of suffering from lung cancer. Radon testing measures the air inside your house for the presence of radon gas. If detected, the test will measure the severity of radon levels in your home’s air.

Radon enters your home when warm air begins to rise and exits through the roof, creating a vacuum that pulls cooler air from under the foundation. Part of that air is radon, which is an invisible, odorless gas that develops naturally when radioactive particles are deep within the ground. Those particles usually come from decaying matter in soil and rocks.

Keeping radon from getting into your home is much better than having to get rid of it once it's already indoors. While there may not be a way to fully prevent radon from getting into your home, there are things you can do to reduce the gas's ability to enter. 

Sealing foundation cracks and openings can help keep the gas from seeping inside. Improving air flow, such as by opening windows, can also be helpful. If you're building your home from scratch, talk to your contractor about using radon-resistant construction to keep the gas out.

Radon is the number one non-smoking cause of lung cancer in the United States, but it can cause some other concerning side effects in the meantime. If you have a raspy voice, chest pains, trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing, or any of the above, don’t hesitate to perform radon testing and install a mitigation system as soon as possible.