As all responsible homeowners know, serious residential repair problems are best left to professionals. One such critical problem is fixing elevated levels of radon. As the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, radon has no place in the air your family breathes. Yet, it’s present everywhere, occurring naturally from the decay of radioactive elements in the soil, rock, and water. If high levels of radon have been detected in your residence, it’s time to call in the experts for a radon reduction system built to your home’s specifications.

When properly installed and maintained, a residential radon mitigation system can reduce toxicity levels by as much as 99 percent. But appropriate radon reduction methods vary from house to house depending on each home’s construction. This is why it’s so important to contact your state radon office to find a qualified radon mitigation contractor with the high-performance equipment and technical know-how to customize your abatement plan. Without the right materials and skills, your radon levels could actually increase along with other potential hazards and costs.

For homes with basements or slab-on-grade foundations, the most popular radon abatement technique is sub-slab depressurization. This process involves drilling a small hole in the floor of your basement and excavating a narrow cavity below. A pump or suction pipe is inserted through the floor slab to vacuum the radon (and any other organic contaminants) out of the ground. These gases are then vented to the outside of your home and harmlessly dispersed into the air.

To reduce radon levels in homes with crawlspaces, sub-membrane depressurization is the preferred process. Like sub-slab suction, but without an actual slab, this technique requires installing an impermeable barrier (membrane) over the entire floor of the crawlspace. The radon is then pumped out in a manner similar to homes with slabs and vented to the outside, where it dissipates and becomes innocuous.

With both of these radon gas mitigation methods, it is vital to ensure an airtight seal using caulk, seam tape, foundation repairs, and any other steps necessary to block all of the radon at its point of entry. If energy efficiency is a concern, you’ll be happy to hear that eliminating the dangerous gases in your home uses only as much electricity as a 40 watt lightbulb. But radon reduction systems do require occasional maintenance and inspection to make sure they’re working correctly, much like a furnace or chimney.

Hundreds of thousands of homeowners throughout the country have cleared the air in their homes using radon reduction systems. If your family is being exposed to measurably high levels of this cancer-causing gas, it’s time you did the same.

Tens of thousands of people die each year of lung cancer. After smoking, radon is the number two cause. So how can a simple home radon test reduce your family’s risk from this radioactive gas? It’s time you knew.

You know about the dangers of carbon monoxide. You’ve probably seen the heartbreaking stories on the news about entire families that went to sleep at night and never woke up because of carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty furnace. You may even have a detector or two in your house. But how much do you know about radon, another silent killer? How much of this highly toxic gas is in your house and how is it affecting the health of your family?

Like carbon monoxide, radon is a colorless, odorless gas responsible for far too many deaths each year, deaths that could easily be prevented. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, studies have been done showing definitive evidence of a link between radon in homes and lung cancer. In fact, as the number-one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, radon is responsible for more than 20,000 deaths every year. That’s more than the number of deaths attributed to drunk driving, and almost 3,000 of those deaths happen to people who have never smoked.

Unlike carbon monoxide, however, you cannot monitor the level of radon in your home by sticking a detector on the wall and changing the batteries each year. The only way to know how much radon is in your home is to have a radon test. The truth is, nearly 1 of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have elevated radon levels. So regardless of what state or what type of home you live in, radon gas testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk. New or old construction, drafty or well-sealed, with or without a basement, it makes no difference. This known carcinogen is in the air you breathe; it’s just a question of how much is present.

Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water. The radioactive gas is present in outdoor air and makes its way into homes through cracks in foundations and walls, construction joints, gaps in floors and around service pipes, and cavities inside walls. The EPA believes the principal source of radon in homes comes from the soil in contact with basement floors and walls. As radon moves up through the ground to the air above, it becomes trapped inside your home, where it can build up and pollute the air you breathe. Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built are all factors that can affect the level of radon.

The good news is radon testing is easy. The EPA, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the U.N.’s World Health Organization all recommend testing your home for radon. You can test your home on your own using an inexpensive do-it-yourself radon test kit or hire a qualified radon contractor to run the test for you. While DIY tests may be susceptible to human error, a licensed radon professional can use high-pressure sampling pumps and filtered cassettes to test the ambient air in your home and then send those samples to a certified lab for further analysis. The whole process takes just a few days.

The amount of radon in the air is measured in “picocuries per liter” or “pCi/L.” On average, the radon concentration in the indoor air of America’s homes is about 1.3 pCi/L, with wide variations occurring from state to state and house to house. Any radon gas test in the area of 4 pCi/L is considered highly toxic and should be seen as a red flag for taking quick action to remedy the situation. Yet, given the uncertainty about the exact magnitude of radon risks, the EPA recommends that homeowners consider fixing their homes when the radon level is 2 pCi/L and above. Simple solutions to radon problems are available at about the same cost as other common home repairs. Contact your state radon office to find qualified radon contractors in your area.

You’d never expose your family to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Yet you and your loved ones could be at risk from radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Learn the facts surrounding this other silent killer, and take steps today to check the radon levels in your home.

Radon. It’s just five letters, but this little word can terrify home buyers and sellers alike. The presence of radon in a property is no laughing matter; however, neither is it the end of the world. Yes, radon is an odorless, invisible, carcinogenic gas. Yet, it doesn’t have to make a home uninhabitable or drastically reduce its value. When it comes to radon and real estate there are a lot of myths and half-truths out there, so don’t believe everything you hear. This is what you need to know, whether you’re looking to buy or sell, about radon tests, radon mitigation, and the real estate market.

For Sellers

Start by having a radon test done before you put your house on the market. That way you won’t end up surprised by results when a sale is pending. If the radon testing process turns up concentrations of more than 4 pCi/L (the EPA’s recommended threshold for unsafe levels), you need to put in a radon system. This not only helps keep you and your family safe in the time you continue to live in the property, but it also removes a potential hurdle to a sale. If the test turns up a lower level of radon, you may still want to investigate putting in a radon mitigation fan as the EPA reports that there is no known safe level of radon exposure. Keep in mind that properties with the lowest levels of radon–thus the safest in terms of this gas–are the homes with abatement equipment installed.

In fact, your best bet is to approach your radon mitigation system as an asset, rather than a liability. Especially if your property is located in an area of the country that is known to have high radon levels (EPA red zones), you may even want to advertise that your home has a radon abatement system. If you take the angle that your property has this additional feature that others may not, buyers, too, will see the radon mitigation fan as a pro rather than a con.

For Buyers

It’s the perfect house: spacious kitchen, updated bathrooms, plenty of bedrooms… But when they see that radon mitigation system, many prospective buyers bolt. However, there’s nothing to be afraid of. As mentioned above, homes with radon abatement systems are actually SAFER than homes without. So don’t just run when you see that a property has a radon system already installed. Just like you wouldn’t buy any old house just because it didn’t have a radon system, all things being equal, you also shouldn’t nix a property just because it does!

If you’re interested in a home, and it doesn’t currently have radon
mitigation system, you’ll definitely want to have a radon test
performed. In fact, many savvy buyers make a clean radon test a stipulation of the contract, creating a starting point for negotiating with the owners if abatement is necessary.

In short, whether you’re buying or selling a property, it’s important to have a radon test done. Radon mitigation systems can ensure that your home–and your family–is safe and sound, making them an asset rather than something to fear.

A type of toxic drywall containing hazardous levels of strontium and other dangerous elements, Chinese drywall has recently gained attention for its negative effects on households across the United States. Imported from China, this type of drywall causes damage to your building’s structure as well as to you and your fellow inhabitants. Incidents have been reported in 42 different states across the country, and the fact that problems are not isolated to one region makes it all the more difficult to pinpoint precisely which homes may be affected. That’s why it’s imperative that you learn to identify the different signs of Chinese drywall and take proper action if you find it in your home.

A relatively recent development in the housing industry, Chinese sheet rock and drywall products have only been used in the construction of American homes between 2001 and 2009. Fortunately, if your house was built before or after this time period, you may not be in danger of experiencing serious Chinese drywall problems. However, if your home was constructed between 2001 and 2009, or was built in close proximity to that time period, then you’ll need to carefully look around your home for the telltale signs of toxic drywall.

The most common indicators include:

• Slightly gray drywall color
• Reverse side of drywall is labeled “Made in China” or contains Chinese writing
• Pitted or corroded metal fixtures
• Sulfuric or “rotten egg” smell that persists when windows and doors are shut
• Blackened or corroded copper (e.g. wires and coils)
• Repeatedly corroded coils in A/C units
• Allergies, nosebleeds, and respiratory problems that occur exclusively indoors

If you do happen to detect any of the above Chinese drywall symptoms, being proactive is crucial if you want to ensure continued health and safety for your home. Testing for Chinese drywall will allow you to confirm the presence of harmful strontium levels in your building’s walls and take proper action.

However, testing for Chinese drywall is not a simple task. In order to accurately measure the levels of strontium and other harmful chemical elements in your home’s walls, a local specialist might be your best bet. He or she will be able to take samples of your drywall, corroded copper, and indoor air quality and have them analyzed in a certified laboratory. Once the existence of toxic drywall is proven, you’ll then be able to contact the appropriate contractors to start replacing the dangerous building materials.

Remember, if you’ve experienced frequent nosebleeds indoors, smelled an unpleasant sulfur odor permeating your indoor air, or noticed any of the above Chinese drywall problems, simply initiating a standard test is all you need to do to get started on preserving the condition of your home.

Maybe you’ve heard of radon gas but aren’t too worried about its impact on your life. Maybe you’ve never considered how radon can affect your health, and the health of everyone in your home. But radon isn’t a joke, and it certainly isn’t a laughing matter. Radon creates major health risks for everyone exposed to heightened levels of this gas, so it’s time to take it seriously. Ready to learn why you should be concerned about radon in your home, and what to do about it? Then you’ve come to the right place.

What Is Radon?

Radon is a radioactive, odorless, tasteless, colorless gas that is invisible to the naked eye. However, even though you can’t see, taste, or smell radon gas, you can still be ingesting it. Radon comes from the natural process of decay that uranium in the soil and water goes through. Because it occurs in the ground around your home, radon can easily seep into your home, particularly subterranean areas like basements. Radon can be found both indoors and out, but once it enters your home, it tends to become trapped. This leads to a dangerous concentration of the gas that can have life-threatening affects for humans.

Who Cares About Radon Anyway?

The answer to this question should be everyone! Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in the United States, and unfortunately, lung cancer is one of the least survivable cancers out there. From the day they’re diagnosed with lung cancer, a maximum of 15% of patients are still alive five years later. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year are caused by radon exposure.

What Can I Do About Radon?

For starters, get your home tested! While there are areas of the country that have higher levels of radon than others, all homes are susceptible to this naturally occurring carcinogen. The only way to know for sure if your home is safe is to have a professional perform a radon test. This process collects a sample of air, usually from your basement or crawlspace, and then analyzes that sample to determine the concentration of radon gas present. Radon is measured in units call picocuries per liter (pCi/L) which indicate radioactivity per volume of air. The EPA has designated 4 pCi/L as the action level for resolving a radon problem, but lower levels are known to cause health problems, especially in smokers. Radon testing can help you determine what, if any, radon level your home has.

My Home’s Radon Level Is Above 4 pCi/L. What Now?

The good news is that high radon levels in your home are correctable. You’ll need to have what is known as a radon abatement, or mitigation, system installed. These systems trap and collect the radon gas before it enters your home, exhausting it to the exterior where it can safely dissipate. Depending on the construction of your home, the radon mitigation system’s particular installation may vary, but the basic theory remains the same. For maximum protection, we recommend using a professional to design and install your radon abatement equipment. If properly installed, once your radon mitigation system is in place, your home should always be safe from this dangerous gas.

My Home’s Radon Level Is Below 4 pCi/L, So I’m Safe, Right?

Not necessarily. We know that radon levels above 4 pCi/L are dangerous, but there is no known safe level of radon exposure. That means, especially if your home tests close to the EPA’s danger threshold of 4 pCi/L, you may want to look into installing a radon mitigation system anyway. When the long-term health and safety of your family is at risk, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

The indoor air quality of your home can be affected by the presence of numerous factors including radon and mold. Make your home a safe, healthy place by testing air quality regularly and employing mitigation services if there are hazardous substances present.

The home is supposed to be a safe location where we can relax and unwind. However, in many homes, radon gas and toxic mold can pose hidden threats to our health and safety. In small amounts, these elements can induce or exacerbate sickness and in extreme cases, they can cause major health problems and even death. Because they aren’t generally visible to the naked eye, you need to have a professional perform an air quality test to determine if, and in what concentrations, these toxins may be present. Then, they can take steps to deal with the problem so that you can rest easy, knowing that your home truly is a safe haven.

Whether you suspect that you might have a radon or mold problem, or you just want to be on the safe side and find out for sure, air testing is your first step. Air testing is a little bit of a misnomer, because these experts don’t just test the air itself. These professionals will examine all structural and environmental aspects of your home to see if there are any dangers present. They will check everything from your HVAC system to the state of your home’s grading and drainage. By checking out every part of your building they will be able to locate the presence of any toxins and will also find potential problem areas that should be addressed so as to not encounter issues in the future. This comprehensive approach ensures that no corner is left unexamined and that the presence of any and all radon or mold is discovered.

Not finding any problems would, of course, be the ideal outcome from this type of testing, but that is very often not the case. If your indoor air quality is determined to be compromised, your testing expert will also be able to prescribe the appropriate course of action to treat it. From radon mitigation to mold remediation, they’ve got you covered. Because they know exactly where all the problem areas are, these professionals can target treatment exactly where it’s needed. In most cases, treatment isn’t a one-time thing. Instead, your air quality expert will actually install a system or make changes to how well sealed your space is in order to address an air toxin issue. This means that the toxin is not only eliminated now, but that the problem also won’t reoccur.

Dealing with the presence of radon or mold in your home doesn’t need to be an arduous task. Indoor air quality professionals are available to find, diagnose, and treat any issues you have, using the most current radon mitigation systems and mold removal techniques available. When they’re done, you won’t need to worry about anything other than enjoying your home.

When disaster strikes, don’t go it alone. Call in the professionals for help with mold removal, radon remediation, water damage restoration.

Whether it’s damage caused by a sudden flood or the discovery of an existing problem like mold growth or high radon concentrations, it’s easy for homeowners to become overwhelmed by their property’s need for restoration services. But the good news is that you don’t have to go it alone. From professional water damage restoration companies to mold companies, there are experts available to help you eliminate your property’s problems and get your home safe and clean once again!

Water Damage Restoration

From burst pipes to leaky water heaters to natural disasters, no matter the cause of the flood, water damage can be a serious problem for your home. But you don’t have to let water turn your home into an uninhabitable mess. There are professional water damage restoration services available to stabilize, dry, and salvage as much as possible. Helping prevent mold growth and minimize losses, flood restoration eliminates both standing and absorbed water, dehumidifies the space to remove lingering moisture, and can even deodorize and disinfect. So instead of resigning yourself to total loss when your property has experienced a flood, call in the experts and get your home returned to its pre-flood condition ASAP.

Mold Removal

Mold can grow anywhere there is moisture and a food source, and since mold lives on everyday materials like wood or paper, it can be found almost anywhere that has a water problem. Whether your home just had a flood or leaky pipe or your basement just suffers from high humidity, when you have mold growth, you need to get it cleaned up fast. Mold can cause allergic reactions, respiratory problems, even certain types of cancer, so mold is no laughing matter. However, it isn’t the end of your home either. Mold specialists can provide cleanup services to effectively remove all mold and even prevent its regrowth. Containment is important during the mold removal process to keep it from spreading throughout your home, so don’t attempt mold remediation yourself. Call in an expert mold company for the complete, safe elimination of mold in your home.

Radon Remediation

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally in nature. Outdoors, radon isn’t a problem, but indoors it can accumulate and cause serious health problems. In fact, radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer (and lung cancer-related death) in nonsmokers. If you discover that your home has a radon problem, it isn’t an issue to take lightly. But neither is it a reason to panic. Just call in your local radon remediation specialists to install an effective radon abatement system. Radon mitigation systems collect the gas where it seeps into your home (usually through the basement slab or crawlspace floor) and vent it outside your home where it harmlessly dissipates. So don’t be overwhelmed by a diagnosis of high radon levels in your home: get the experts in on the job and get your home restored to a safe living condition fast!

When your home is suffering from a major problem like radon or mold, it can seem completely daunting. But don’t despair: get professional restoration specialists on your side, and you’ll be able to return your home to a clean, safe state in no time at all.