What Is Radon Gas? This Is Why You Should Test Your Home.

Radon detection. Maybe you've heard of how important it is to test your home for radon gas — but perhaps, like Julia, this is your first time looking into it.

When considering some of the facts about the threat radon gas poses to your health, the first question that comes to mind is why aren't more people talking about this?

Radon gas has managed to seep into our homes, offices, schools, libraries, daycare centers, and other indoor spaces to the detriment of indoor air safety.

However, by educating yourself about radon gas and how to prevent, control, and mitigate it, you can safely avert the danger.

To learn more about the very immediate health risks posed by radon gas exposure, visit this page by the EPA which details years of professional medical studies.

Radon Gas Explained

If you still remember the periodic table, then radon might sound familiar. That's because it is a chemical element with the 86th atomic number.

Radon gas naturally occurs in the environment as a product of uranium decay. If the very mention of the word uranium worries you — it should. Uranium is a radioactive element and is a key ingredient in the manufacture of nuclear bombs.

As you might imagine, any gas produced by the decay of something like uranium isn't going to be healthy for you. Descending from uranium explains some of why radon gas can be lethal, but it also contributes to other concerning characteristics.

Radon gas is:

  • Odorless
  • Colorless
  • Tasteless
  • Radioactive

These characteristics make radon gas impossible to detect without a special radon monitoring test kit. Testing for radon gas is critical since, owing to its radioactive nature, the mere presence of radon gas in your indoor environment is known to cause severe health issues after prolonged exposure.

How Radon Gas Enters Your Home

Across North America, people are unassumingly living with radon gas in their homes.

In the US, 1 in 15 homes contains dangerous radon gas levels, and in Canada, 7% of homes are thought to be in the danger zone. How does radon gas enter the home?

The uranium decay process that results in radon gas starts deep underground. Over time, radon gas travels up until it finally reaches the surface, which is often where homes are.

Home foundations and basements generally have different air pressure levels than the surrounding soil, which makes them act like vacuums for gases traveling through the soil.

Radon gas is drawn to homes on account of these forces, and can easily enter through cracks in basement flooring, foundations, pipes, and even water sources.

Once inside your home, radon gas will accumulate without proper ventilation in place. Radon concentration levels are compounded during the cold fall, winter, and spring months when homes are sealed for warmth.

Alarmingly, the winter months are also when people spend the most time indoors. School semesters are in full-swing, offices are busy with employees who vacationed during the summer, and cold weather keeps people inside the comfort of home.

Finally, radon gas levels fluctuate throughout the day as well, with radon test results typically showing higher levels in the morning and lower levels at night.

How to Test Your Home for Radon Gas

Testing your home for radon gas is not as complicated — or expensive — as you might think.

Here at Ecosense, our team of engineers has developed affordable, accurate, and incredibly fast radon monitors that provide radon test results within 10 minutes after plug and play setup.

To test your home for radon gas, follow these 3 quick steps:

  1. Visit Ecosense.io to purchase the RadonEye — an industry-leading smart radon detector.
  2. Power on your RadonEye and finish the simple 3-minute setup process.
  3. Wait 10 minutes to receive your first radon test result on the device and your smartphone.

If your radon gas levels are below acceptable levels now, it does not mean they always will be.

That is why long-term continuous monitoring is crucial — radon gas levels fluctuate by the hour, day, month, and year.

The RadonEye is designed to make long-term continuous testing a cinch for anyone and does not require special skills to operate, much like a smoke detector. Using the RadonEye smartphone app, you'll be able to see radon gas trends in real-time over both short and long timeframes.

Do you have questions about how to start testing your home for radon gas? Don't hesitate to reach out!

Contact the Ecosense team here, or watch our informative YouTube videos to help address your questions.