Browsed by
Category: Blogging

What Is The Cost On Radon Measurement And Radon Mitigation

What Is The Cost On Radon Measurement And Radon Mitigation

So there is no one standard price for a radon measurement. Any homeowner can deploy a radon measurement themselves for cheaper than what a professional would charge; however, like any other service you pay for, you might not know the best possible strategy or set of steps to take. A radon measurement professional is certified, knowledgeable, and experienced.

The prices which I have seen companies charge range from $150.00, all the way up to $900.00. It all depends on the company and the device they use to measure the radon.

For example, S.A.Q. charges $150.00 for a short-term measurement using a charcoal canister or a long-term measurement using an alpha tracker. It goes up to $250.00 and then $350.00 the more sophisticated of a device we use – there are many different makes, models, and types of radon measurement devices.

Usually, when a short-term measurement is done, 2 detectors will be placed side by side, spaced a few inches apart. This is to derive a more accurate result. The technician will take the two results, add them together, and then divide them by two to get the average reading.

Our continuous radon monitor can measure temperature, humidity, and air pressure. It can even detect when someone moves it. After the measurement is complete, it will generate a report for your review. For this measurement, we charge $350.00.

Our prices were once higher than 350, but we have adjusted our prices since then. I remember talking to a home inspector one time who told me he charges $900.00 for a radon measurement. I thought that was a bit much, but he seemed okay with it. He said when the measurement period has ended he picks up the detector(s) and delivers them to the lab instead of relying on a courier to get it there. He said customers are happy to pay what he charges.

So no law or regulation is saying you need to hire a professional to measure the radon in your home; however, like any other trade, a homeowner decides to practice himself/herself, just make sure you feel very confident in what you are doing.

Now, if you or someone else has already performed a radon measurement and you now need to mitigate your home of radon because the concentration exceeds the guideline, then you will want to hire a radon mitigation technician to get it done. A certified professional will have the tools and knowledge to properly diagnose the situation and then implement the best, most efficient mitigation system. When this is done meticulously, your radon concentration will drop down 90 to 100 percent. This could cost anywhere between $2500 and $5000 depending on the size and design of the house. Whatever the cost, it’s a small price to pay for cancer-free lungs, especially if you are someone who has a lung condition or predisposition to something lung-related like cancer.

Our choice for best Radon Company is Radon Pros from Kansas City.

Radon Mitigation Is Like A Trip To The Beach

Radon Mitigation Is Like A Trip To The Beach

The car is parked and the passengers have exited the vehicle, laden with beach gear and grateful for the sandals that shield their feet from hot asphalt and sand. With the sun shining brightly from a cloudless sky, it’s a perfect day for the beach. If you linger long enough in the beach parking lot, you’ll hear the same conversations repeat as beachgoers make their way to the water:

“Don’t forget the umbrella.”

“Does everybody have a hat?

“I hope we have enough sunscreen.”

“What happened to my sunglasses?”

“I wish I brought a long-sleeved shirt.”

In case you haven’t already noticed, the common theme in this dialog is the protection that everyone needs from the sun’s powerful rays. The harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun go way beyond nasty sunburns. Most people know that overexposure to UV radiation can cause skin cancer. It’s also common knowledge that at least one type of skin cancer -malignant melanoma-can spread quickly enough to be fatal.

Radon Exposure

Radon gas causes cancer too, but people aren’t as careful or concerned about radon exposure as they are about overexposure to the sun. So what makes people more careful about UV exposure than they are about radon exposure? The answer probably has something to do with the sun’s ability to cause immediate discomfort. We can’t see ultraviolet light, but its harmful effects can be felt quickly if we get sunburned or have to walk barefoot over the solar-heated pavement.

Breathing radon gas causes no immediate discomfort. Radon gas is invisible and odorless. Because we can’t see, feel or smell radon, it’s easy to overlook radon’s harmful potential. But the long-term consequences of radon exposure are undeniable. This indoor air pollutant causes over 21,000 deaths every year in the U.S. Just as with UV exposure, children are especially vulnerable to the cell damage that results from radon exposure.

Guarding Against Radon

Protecting your family from radon can be just as easy as protecting family members from too much sun -perhaps even more so. A do-it-yourself radon test kit designed for homeowners costs less than what you’d pay for most beach umbrellas. DIY radon test kits are available at hardware stores, home centers, and online. These kits are easy to use and yield accurate results if you follow the manufacturer’s directions.

If test results show a hazardous level of radon gas (4 or more picocuries per liter), there’s no need to panic. Health risks come with long-term exposure, and this can be avoided by calling in a radon a licensed radon mitigation specialist. The price of a typical radon abatement system will certainly exceed a summer’s-worth of beach passes. But protection against cancer-causing radiation is even more important in your house than it is on the beach. And once a radon system is installed, it provides effective protection against radon exposure for years with very little maintenance. The only moving part of a radon abatement system is an exhaust fan that costs less to run every month than a tube of your best sunscreen.

How Does Radon Get Into My House

How Does Radon Get Into My House

Radon mitigation is an important home service that many homeowners have been learning more about since information about the harmful effects of radon exposure is becoming more prevalent to obtain. As such, realtors and building contractors are informing their customers of radon testing and mitigation because unless a home has been tested there’s virtually no way anyone would be able to know whether a home had radon or how much.

The Facts

Radon is a toxic radioactive gas that results from the uranium decay of soil. First, the uranium decays into radium only to later release the gas into the air. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates.4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) as the national average for outdoor air, while 1.5 pCi/L is the national average for indoor air.

Radon is considered toxic because it’s a proven Class A carcinogen, lung cancer to be exact. It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer and causes an estimated 20,000 deaths each year.

Other Class A carcinogens include arsenic, asbestos, and benzene. All homeowners are encouraged to learn about the risks and effects of radon exposure to better protect against contracting lung cancer. Knowledge is power and before learning about testing and mitigation, it’s time to learn how the radon enters a home.

Radon In Homes

There are several types of foundations. Of course, there’s a slab-on-grade, basement or crawlspace, and the manufactured homes– and all can have high radon levels.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, one in six homes in the U.S. are being built with radon-resistant systems, which amounts to about 200,000 homes each year. When considering the counties with the high estimated radon levels, one in every three homes is built with a radon resistance system.

Although this doesn’t explain how radon enters a home, it shows how any home is susceptible and that some builders are accommodating to this growing need to prevent radon exposure. However, not every builder does and it’s worth asking– if interested.

How Gas Enters

Gas can enter a home through the foundation because the uranium is within the soil. Once the uranium decays and the radon gas enters into the air beneath or around your foundation, it will enter your home through even the slightest crack or hole.

Radon commonly enters a home because of the stack effect, a natural process involving the rotation and influx of air. Many know that warm air rises, but that’s only part of the process. Once the warmer air rises and escapes through the top of the home, the unconditioned and cooler air from the outside replaces this escaped air. This unconditioned air that enters the home is what can carry the radon.

The air is being pushed around because of the difference in pressure from inside and outside the house. Since the inside pressure is lower than the outside pressure, the radon and other air are pulled in like through a vacuum through any cracks and holes. Radon gets trapped inside and builds up.

Testing And Mitigation

The safest option for any homeowner is to hire a radon mitigation expert to test the home. Whether the levels are above the EPA’s action level of 4.0 pCi/L or if they’re below, an expert can mitigate the home to reduce the levels as much as possible. In addition, be sure to inquire about maintenance checkups and what you can do to keep your home a safe place from radon.