Radon is a cancer-causing, inert, radioactive gas. You can't see or smell radon but the higher the concentration in your home, the greater your risk of developing lung cancer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 1 in 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have elevated levels of radon, resulting in an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. 

The EPA recommends that every home in the US be tested for radon, approximately every 2 years. If your home level is 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, you should address this problem immediately and hire a professional to reduce these concentrations to acceptable levels. Even if your home level is below 4 pCi/L, it is advisable to have a radon reduction system installed in your home. For further information, please read the EPA publication, A Citizen's Guide To Radon.

There are some myths about radon that lead us to believe that only certain types of homes have problems with radon, such as homes in a certain area of the country or homes that are part of a radon 'cluster'. However, high levels of radon can show up in any home. The truth is, because radon is a natural breakdown of uranium, it is all around us in the outside air. It is dangerous when it becomes trapped inside a house and levels build up because it can not dissipate the way it can outside. This is the bad news. 

Now, here is the good news. If your home has elevated levels of radon, it can be reduced to a much lower and safer level. A mitigation contractor can install a system in your home, on average, for about $1200.00. Each home is different, of course, and the actual cost could be lower or higher.

Your first move should be to get a short term test, usually two days in duration, to determine the levels of radon in your home. We offer a two day radon test using a Radalink monitor, which is one of the best monitors available. Radalink monitors have built-in tamper proof measures, so it is very difficult to compromise the monitor so as to force it to report lower levels of radon than actually exist.

Eagle Eye Inspections conducts a two day test for $145.00. After test completion, usually within two hours, a printed report stating the results will be provided to you. Based on these results, you will receive a recommendation as to whether or not mitigation should be performed. Because I am NEHA certified, (have taken the radon training class and passed the certification test), I can speak knowledgably about the results and provide a sound recommendation that you can trust.

Please note that the home to be tested must be closed up for 12 hours prior to the test and 48 hours during the test, for a total of 60 hours. You can still live in the home, but the windows must remain shut and doors closed, except to go in or out. The heating or air conditioning systems can continue to operate during the test.