It’s easy to think that you’re safe in your home. In many ways, everyone should have the right to feel that — but unfortunately, there’s a difference between what we want and reality. Many times, that sense of safety that we have in our homes is belied by the presence of unseen dangers. These dangers are not intruders or predators, but perhaps something even more insidious simply because you don’t know it’s there. One of these dangers is radon. Perhaps you’ve heard of the risks of radon in the workplace. However, radon can also be present in residential areas. Sadly, it’s quite possible that radon is even more dangerous in residential areas, simply because you spend more time in your home. You and your loved ones could be sleeping calmly in bed, unable to know that you’re breathing in radon gas. We’ll explore the dangers of radon gas, and why it needs to be taken seriously. But you don’t have to accept the presence of radon gas. A residential radon testing service can help you detect the presence of radon in your home, and from there you can decide what to do to make yourself as safe as possible.

What Is Radon Gas?

Radon gas is a decay product of radium, and a noble gas. Like many similar gases, it is tasteless, odorless, and colorless. In other words, there is no way that you could possibly know that you’re being exposed to radon without radon gas testing. But just because you can’t see radon doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a powerful presence. This gas is radioactive, which is the main technical reason why it poses such a danger to people. Unfortunately, you could be exposed to radon for any number of reasons. Sometimes, it’s difficult to know why radon is present. However, the presence of radon has been observed frequently in mining communities. It’s also been noted that radon possibly compounds the risks already present for regular smokers and those who inhale secondhand smoke. Radon can even be present in drinking water, though the effects of it being ingested are not currently known. Certainly, the more radon you are exposed to, the more risk you have of experiencing bad side effects. This is why many people who think they’re at risk focus on using a residential radon testing service as quickly as possible.

What Are The Dangers Of Radon?

Before calling a radon testing company, perhaps you should understand the dangers of being exposed to radon. Due to its radioactive properties, radon can hurt a person without the symptoms of exposure showing up for years to come. People can suffer the consequences of radon exposure for the rest of their lives. According to the Surgeon General, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today. Often times, lung cancer is not detected until it’s in the late stages, essentially condemning the person to death. If you lower the radon level in your home — or move entirely, if possible — you can greatly reduce your risk of lung cancer. On a more nationwide scale, scientists estimate that reducing radon levels in homes exceeding the EPA’s action level could lower lung cancer deaths by two to 4% — that’s up to 5,000 lives saved. But this cannot be done without first knowing which homes suffer from the presence of radon — and this is done through residential radon testing services.

How Can Residential Radon Testing Services Help Me?

You’re probably wondering how radon testing companies work. There are two different types of tests — long-term and short-term tests. Short-term testing involves detectors that measure radon levels for two to 90 days, depending on the device used. Long-term tests, on the other hand, determine the levels of radon for over 90 days. From there, you can decide how to reduce the levels of radon in your home, or if you want to and can leave the area entirely.