Radon QUICK FACTS
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Radon gas is colorless, odorless and undetectable by human senses; it is also the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States
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The EPA estimates your risk of lung cancer is increased by 16% for every 2.7 pCi/l in your home, and strongly recommends that houses with a level of 4.0 pCi/l or more undergo mitigation.
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Radon levels change over time. Even if your home was tested years ago, the results could be different now.
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Radon is released from the ground a house is on, not the home itself; even new builds can have radon, and homes right next to each other may have different levels.
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Radon gas is created when uranium in the soil a home is built on decays. The gas then seeps through any access point into a home. Common entry points are cracks in the foundation, poorly sealed pipes, drainage or any other loose point. Once in the home, the gas can collect in certain areas especially basements and other low-lying, closed areas and build up over time to dangerous levels.
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Radon has been found in homes in all 50 states. Certain areas are more susceptible than others, but no location is immune.
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Concentrations of radon-causing materials in the soil can be either natural or man-made. Homes built near historic mining operations may be at higher risk. The only way to tell for sure is to have a home tested.
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Proper testing and mitigation, can eliminate radon as a health threat. For more information, visit the EPA web site on radon at http://www.epa.gov/radon.
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Radon mitigation can cost between $800 and $2500. To avoid a conflict of interest, the testing company we contract does not perform mitigation.
Radon Facts & Myths
Myth: “Radon is not a problem in Wichita.”
Fact: Radon is found in all counties of Kansas. We find elevated levels (over 4.0 pCi/L) in over 33% of properties tested in the Wichita area.
Myth: “My house is a new or newer home, so I won’t have a radon problem.”
Fact: While the house itself may be new, the issue is the ground the home is built on. Radon enters through cracks and openings in the foundation. The drain tiles that are installed under the slab make an easy entry point through the sump pit.
Myth: “I do not have a basement, so I probably do not have a radon problem.”
Fact: Radon can seep in from anywhere around or under a home, whether your home has a basement, a crawl space or is built on a slab-on-grade. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend radon testing for all types of homes.
Myth: “Two of my neighbors have tested their homes for radon and they do not have high levels, so I probably don’t either.”
Fact: Radon levels can vary considerably from house to house, even on the same street. It is nearly impossible to predict the exact nature of geologic soil deposits and the extent to which soil gasses will seep into and be retained by a specific house. Testing is the ONLY way to know if radon exists in elevated levels in your home.
Myth: Radon is not that big of a deal.
Fact: Radon is a carcinogenic gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer, next to smoking. Learn more about Radon gas at: