adon Testing and Mitigation are highly specialized trades, which makes selecting the right Radon Contractor a crucial task. However, radon is a common and serious issue and hence, you need to take serious precautions while selecting thebest radon testingcontractor.

In this situation, you can not skip the radon test. Thus, you need some guidance to choose the best contractor for your home. Well, do not panic. Here are some necessary points, which you should keep in your mind.

l  What Is Radon?

l  How Does It Get In Your Home?

l  License

l  High Technology Machines

l  Should Provide A Radon Test Report

What is Radon?

Before you get your home inspected for radon, you should have some basic information about it. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that’s produced by decaying uranium. It’s present in nearly all soils, and a very low level of radon is found in the air we breathe every day.

The problem occurs when radon gas enters your home. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can cause many health issues including lung cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that lung cancer caused by radon exposure kills a huge number of Americans every year.

How Does It Get In Your Home?

The radon gas moves from the soil into a home. Although it can seep directly through pores in concrete, the worst entry points are gaps in walls and floors. Radon may also enter the house from well water, but this is a minor source compared to that coming in through the foundation. 

Any house, of any age, in any state, can have raised radon levels. It really depends on the way your specific house interacts with the surrounding soil. Your neighbor’s radon level may differ much from yours. 

Radon Tester Certification

When you contact a radon company for testing, it is important to first find out if they are certified by the National Radon Proficiency program (NRPP) and are State Certified radon testers. If a contractor is not willing to offer their company license and their own personal license number upon request, you should not hire them for your home radon inspection. The last thing you want to do is hire a contractor who never went through the necessary training courses to become a licensed radon testing professional. 

High Technology Radon Test Devices

There are two common types of radon testing used. Activated charcoal kits that give an overall average of radon concentrations, and continuous radon monitors (CRM) that also record hourly radon levels. Charcoal radon test kits need to be sent to a lab to be read. Radon monitors can usually be read onsite or in a few hours. The CRM may also be able to tell you if there has been tampering with the radon test. Licensed radon testing contractors are required to have their radon monitors calibrated every year, follow quality control requirements, and pass exams with on going continuing education.  Minnesota will be requiring that all radon testers be certified radon testing contractors in 2019.

The Contractor Should Provide You A Radon Test Report

Certified radon testing professionals will not only provide you with your radon test results, but also provide you steps on what to do next. Radon testing for home buyers in Minnesota have a short amount of time to understand their test results. If their radon levels are 4 pCi/L or higher, they should request that the seller install a radon mitigation system.

It is important to tell your real estate agent that you want to have radon testing done when they put in the purchase offer to the seller. Just as you make your home purchase agreement contingent on a home inspection, you also need to let them know you want to test for radon. The purchase offer should also state that it is contingent on the radon inspection.

The average cost of radon mitigation system in Minnesota is between $1000 and $1500. You should discuss with the seller who will pay the cost if the radon concentrations are high. If your radon tester cannot tell you how to understand your radon test results they may have a lack of experience or education.

Over to You

Radon is such a harmful gas that causes lung cancer and death. Before you buy a new property you should test the radon of your living place. It is really necessary for you and your family.

If you are planning to have an inspection for your home radon level, MN radon testing Minneapolis completed by Minnesota Building Inspections is one of the best firms, providing radon testing services.