Radon test kits an easy-to-use, life-saving gift

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, January is National Radon Protection Month. A radon test kit is a perfect, economical and easy-to-use gift for every homeowner whether or not the home has been tested in the past.

Radon gas appears in the air you breathe no matter where you live on the planet. It is radioactive and comes from the decay of uranium in the soils. Radon can lead to lung cancer, is responsible for more than 20,000 deaths each year and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. with the smoking of tobacco products being No. 1.

Giving a simple test kit, available online or at major home stores, can be a lifesaver. First Alert’s Radon Test Kit is available for less than $20. Once the homeowner is aware of the rate of radon in the home, it is fairly simple to remove the gas by removing the air from under the home’s foundation and expelling it to the outside air using PVC pipes and a radon fan.

Many newer homes are being constructed with the PVC pipe already in place with the hope the radon gas will escape the home naturally by the stack effect without the use of a fan, but that does not always solve the problem. In a few instances, a radon fan has to be added because the radon levels in the soils are too great to be removed naturally.

The question has often been asked, “Do you think my home has radon?” and the answer is definitely, “Yes.” Do your loved ones a favor in protecting their health and give them a gift that could save their lives and the lives of their families.

Be aware there is a charge for the laboratory to process the kits and produce a report once the kits have been exposed to the home’s environment. Fees are usually under $40.