Testing
Options & Information:
You can't see, smell or taste
radon, but it may be a problem in your home. The EPA and the Surgeon
General recommend testing of all homes (below the third floor) for radon.
Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.
The amount of radon in the
air is measured in "picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L)."
Sometimes test results are expressed in "Working Levels (WL)" rather
than picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
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a test kit on-line
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Real Estate Transactions:
For radon results that will
be used in a real estate transaction, two tests must be performed. The air test
must consist of two side-by-side test kits and the water test must have two
samples. This redundancy will confirm the results. Testing for
homeowners (no real estate transaction) does not require two tests, but if a
test fails, a repeat test should be performed to confirm the results.
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How
To Use a Radon (in Air) Test Kit:
Follow the instructions
that come with your test kit. If you are doing a short-term test (2-3
day test), close all exterior windows and doors, 12 hours before you
begin the test and keep them closed as much as possible during the full length
of the test. (You should not conduct short-term tests during unusually
severe storms or periods of unusually high winds.) The test kit
should be placed in the lowest lived-in level of the home (for example, the
basement if it is frequently used, otherwise the first floor). It should
be put in a room that is used regularly (like a living room, playroom, den or
bedroom) but not your kitchen or bathroom. Place the kit at least 20
inches above the floor in a location where it won't be disturbed - away from
drafts, high heat, high humidity, and exterior walls. Leave the kit in
place for at least 48 hours. Once you've finished the test, reseal the package
and send it to the lab specified on the package right away for study.
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a test kit now !
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How
To Use a Radon (in Water) Test Kit:
Follow the instructions
that come with your test kit. Use the bathtub or a hose faucet.
Turn on the cold water and let it run for 10 minutes or until the water gets
very cold. It is important to flush out all the water that has been
stored in the pipes, storage tank and well. Fill a bucket with water
taking care to minimize any turbulence (put the faucet against the side of the
bucket). Open the test vile and submerge the vile and the cap into the
bucket. Make sure all the air is out of the vile and cap. While
under water, screw the cap back on the vile. Remove the vile from the
bucket and confirm that there are no air bubbles in the vile. Reseal the
package and send it to the lab specified on the package right away for study.
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Acceptable
Limits for Radon in Water (set by each
State):
Check
with your State Radon Office
for the
acceptable Radon in Water limits.
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a test kit now !
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What Your Test
results Mean:
Radon
air:
If your air test result is
4.0 pCi/L or higher, fix your home. For
more information read the EPA's Consumer's Guide To Radon
Reduction.
Radon
Water:
Well owners with elevated
indoor radon air levels should test their well water for radon. Radon in your
water supply can increase your indoor radon air level, although, in most
cases, radon entering the home through water will be a small source of risk
compared with radon entering from the soil. The EPA estimates that
indoor radon air levels will increase by about 1 pCi/L for every 10,000 pCi/L
of radon in water. You can find publications and documents developed
by the EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water relating to radon in
drinking water and the radon in drinking water rule at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/radon.html.
You can estimate how much
the radon in your water is elevating your indoor radon air level by
subtracting 1 pCi/L from your indoor air radon level for every 10,000 pCi/L of
radon that was found in your water. (For example: if you have 30,000 pCi/L of
radon in your water, then 3 pCi/L of your indoor radon air measurement may
have come from radon in water.) If most of the radon is not coming
from your water, fix your house first (before fixing your well) and then
retest your indoor air to make sure that the source of elevated radon was not
your private well. If a large contribution of the radon in your house is
from your water, you may want to consider installing a special water treatment
system to remove radon.
The EPA
recommends installing a water treatment system only when there is a proven
radon problem in your water supply.
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a test kit now !
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