Radon testing
The test includes the placement of two E-perm devices, retrieval, and analysis. The report is available at the end of the screening test.
Lewis Home Inspection Inc. is one a select few home inspection companies in the state certified as a testing facility. This allows us
the capability to turn around test results quicker with better quality control.                                  

Credentials: Lewis Home Inspection is certified as a licensed radon measurement firm, the highest level of certification.
All testing is done by licensed radon technicians. 

Questions & Answers 

What is radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that comes from deposits of uranium in soil, rock, and water.  It is harmlessly
dispersed in outdoor air, but when trapped in buildings, can be harmful, especially at elevated levels.  Radon is a radioactive decay
product of radium, which is itself a decay product of uranium.  Uranium and radium are both common elements in soil.

How is radon measured?
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), a measurement of radioactivity.  The U.S. EPA and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention recommend that homes with radon levels 4.0 pCi/L, or greater, be fixed.

What are the health effects of radon?
Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.  Radon can be inhaled into the lungs, where it undergoes
radioactive decay.  As it decays, radon releases tiny bursts of energy called alpha particles, which can harm sensitive lung tissue by
damaging the DNA.  This damaged DNA can lead to lung cancer.

Is there proof that radon is a serious health problem?
The science on radon has been formidable over the years, but never before has been such overwhelming scientific consensus that exposure
to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans.  In February of 1998, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) presented the
findings of their Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report: "The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon."  This new report
by NAS is the most definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor radon.  The report confirms that radon is the second leading cause of
lung cancer in the U.S. and that it is a serious public health problem.  The study fully supports the U.S. EPA estimates stating that radon
causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year.

Can my house be fixed if it has elevated radon levels?
A variety of methods can be used to reduce radon in homes.  Sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation is a basic part of most
approaches to radon reduction, however, sealing by itself may not be sufficient to reduce radon levels consistently.  In other instances,
depressurization systems employing pipe vents (natural-draft and/or fans) may be applied.  Other options may be available base on
your home's construction and level of reduction required.