Radon is probably the most dangerous thing you will never see, smell, or taste. Radon is an extremely dangerous gas and if you have this chemical element anywhere near where you live, work, or play, having it mitigated as soon as possible is an absolute must.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General’s Office, the estimation is that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths every year can be traced back to radon exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States behind cigarette smoking.

Maybe someone you know and love never smoked a day in their life but had lung cancer. It was likely a mystery that seemed to have no real answer. But, now we are finding out so much more about this deadly gas and how to get rid of radon when it is found. Studies have shown that approximately one out of every fifteen homes have radon levels that are at or above the action level set by the EPA.

The first step in doing something about the potential radon you might be dealing with is to have your home tested for the gas. Radon testing has become much more reliable as the years have gone by, with radon test results yielding a great deal of information. Testing for radon should be done as thoroughly as possible, even a double testing to make sure the first one was done properly is common practice.

Local radon testing can be done by a radon abatement company near year. You can also purchase radon test kits online or at home improvement stores, but remember, this could turn out to be a major health issue. You wouldn’t want to perform major surgery on yourself; you would want the best doctors looking out for you.

The same is true for local radon testing and abatement. Since it could all be time sensitive, wouldn’t you feel much better if you left local radon testing to the experts?

Because radon is odorless and tasteless, you don’t notice it rising up from the soil beneath your home. It finds its way through the tiny cracks and minute holes in a home’s foundation and is no respecter of persons. All types of homes are susceptible to it.

What happens is that your house acts like a vacuum. It pulls the radon up from the soil. This is why there are typically higher concentrations of the gas on the lower levels. Local radon testing is done to make sure that any levels above the EPA standards don’t continue to flow without you doing something to eradicate it.

Radon is a very serious issue in the United States today. Understanding the potential problems and pitfalls this toxic gas can cause is a step in the right direction when it comes to trying to abate it. Having your home tested for radon is the place to start. From there, you find out if you need to call in an experienced team to make your home safe for you and your family.