Radon is a gas that occurs organically when uranium found in soil and rocks begins to disintegrate. Since the air pressure inside of homes is usually lower than that of the pressure in soil, houses can sometimes perform as vacuums and draw radon indoors.  The substance is radioactive and is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, first among nonsmokers. It is estimated that one out of every 15 American homes has elevated radon levels. 

Both the U.S. Surgeon General and the Environmental Protection Agency advocate that homes  with a reading of four or more picocuries of gas per liter of air must be inspected for radon. If there are any cracks in a home's basement, those areas should be sealed off to protect from radon seeping inside. Fortunately, if a home does exhibit high levels of radon, they can be corrected fairly simply with a professional radon mitigation. 

Though most home inspections don't automatically offer radon testing, most do provide the service as an additional item. The process of ascertaining radon levels is fairly straightforward. Testing is administered either by collecting air samples with a specific type of canister or through a computerized monitor, which is the quickest of the two, producing results in about two days. Some DIY options for radon testing exist in canisters that can be purchased over-the-counter with the best options usually being rather inexpensive. But the findings are never as precise in detail as what a professional home inspection would offer.

Keeping your home in safe and upstanding condition, either for resale or quality of life, can be an ongoing chore at times. But if you live in Maryland and are looking to schedule a home inspection, for radon or any other reason, be sure to contact Alban Inspections today!