Just the name sounds ominous–Radon. The thought of a colorless, odorless gas threatening our homes and families is even more scary. However, radon is all around us and occurs as a natural part of ground decomposition. It’s in large enough quantities that radon can be a health concern. The element has been linked to a variety of illness. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls radon the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States (behind smoking.) It’s not something you want to ignore.
What is Radon?
Radon is a natural by-product of decaying rock, especially shale, slate, uranium and metamorphic rocks like granite. This element has mildly radioactive properties that when allowed to accumulate in your home can cause health concerns.
Radon generally enters the home via cracks in the foundation, sub-floor or exterior walls. Once inside the home, the radon gets re-circulated with the air blown from your furnace and air conditioning system.
Keeping your home safe from radon with Kaufman’s Home Maintenance
Fortunately, there are ways to test for radon and to prevent it from getting inside your home. The easiest is to make sure that you check your foundation and exterior walls near the base of your home for any cracks. If you find them, you want to fill them with quick-drying concrete. You can also test the air in your home for radon with an easy kit available at most home improvement stores.
Kaufman’s Home Maintenance can help you to prevent radon from getting into your home as well as test for radon. We offer a full range of home repair and handyman services, both on a demand basis and as a subscription service. We tailor our packages to meet your individual home maintenance needs. Just a few of the services we offer include inserting new filters in your furnace and air conditioning systems, washing outside windows, clearing your gutters and water drainage system of debris AND preventing and testing for radon. To learn more about Kaufman’s Home Maintenance Service, call 503-798-4357 or visit KaufmanHelp.com to schedule an appointment.