What Lurks Below My Soil?

Radon is the buzz word in my subdivision. Radon trucks pepper the curbs, I never realized that there were so many companies that perform tests and install radon mitigation system.

What is radon? This explanation is taken from the American Cancer Association web page about radon:  Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas. It forms naturally from the decay of radioactive elements, such as uranium, which are found at different levels in soil and rock throughout the world. Radon gas in the soil and rock can move into the air and into ground water and surface water. 

I decided before I call a company to come in and check my levels for radon, I would first use a radon detection kit, and see what they say my levels are. That way I will have something to compare to their readings.

So today I will start my radon test in the basement.  It appears to be remarkably easy, I will open the box place the charcoal sampler radon tray on a table in the basement and let it sit for 48 hours collecting air samples from the basement. 

I fill out the card slip in the radon tray and mail it off for analyzes.  A radon score of 9 or higher will require a mitigation system to remove the radon from inside my basement to the outside.

Here's, hoping my basement is radon free.

Cheerfully,
Paulette