What Is Radon?
Radon is an odorless, radioactive gas that rises naturally from the earth. It enters the home easily through open crawlspaces, cracks and openings in the home's foundation, or pathways provided by the installation of utilities. Over time, elevated radon levels can have serious health consequences for those living in the home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, causing 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. Measurement of radon levels can provide peace of mind, or verify that radon mitigation is needed. The average radon concentration within a home varies from hour to hour, and tends to be much higher both in the winter when the furnace is in frequent use and during prolonged periods of wind and rain.
How are Radon Levels Determined?
Caliper Home Inspections offers a short-term 48 hour measurement of the radon concentration in the home. This is calculated using a Sun Nuclear 1028 continuous radon monitor and administered by a National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) certified measurement provider. If the average radon level is too high (over 4.0 pci/L), radon mitigation is recommended. In order to ensure accurate results, it is extremely important that closed-house conditions are maintained for 12 hours before radon measurement begins, as well as during the test.
Click Here to see an interactive map of Oregon radon risk by zip code.