Professional Radon Services in Cedar Rapids & Nearby
Protect Your Family from the Harmful Impacts of Radon
Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that comes from the earth and can cause serious health issues over long periods of exposure. Radon gas contains radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs and cause damaging impacts, such as lung cancer. It is the #2 leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and causes thousands of deaths every year. It’s important to have radon testing and mitigation done in your Davenport home to prevent radon from entering and to detect what may be present.
If your radon test results show 4.0 pCi/L or higher, your home will need a radon mitigation system to protect your family from the harmful impacts of radon. Our experts at MidAmerica Basement Systems are happy to provide residents in Cedar Rapids, Peoria, Davenport, and nearby with radon testing and mitigation.
FAQs About Home Radon
What is radon and how is it detected?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has become the second-leading cause of lung cancer — second only to cigarette smoke.
Most soils contain uranium that, over time, decays to produce radium and polonium. Eventually, polonium is released with the radon, which creates a high toxicity level in the air and water that it infuses. Perhaps some homeowners are thinking they could recognize high levels of radon in their home. Unfortunately, radon is completely undetectable by any human senses.
We cannot smell, taste, see, touch, or hear radon. Thus, it easily goes unnoticed. The radioactive gas goes unnoticed in many homes and buildings, increasing the health risks for the occupants. Radon exposure is most strongly linked with lung cancer, and those symptoms are difficult to catch early.
How does radon enter my home?
Because it's a gas, radon can get through even the most minor cracks in your foundation. Commonly, radon enters by the stack effect, which essentially sucks it directly into your home through the floor.
Since the pressure differs inside and outside of your home, it creates a vacuum. When warm air rises, it makes its way out of the house, replaced by air from outside.
The outside air quickly builds up, especially in cool weather and when windows are closed. This process leads to dangerous radon build-up. You can't detect how much radon is present without professional equipment, which is why every homeowner needs to have frequent checkups done.
How is radon toxicity determined?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has defined 4.0 pCi/L as the required level for action for any indoor setting. Any test readings of 4.0 pCi/L and above must be mitigated, and the radon levels must be immediately reduced.
The EPA estimates .4 pCi/L as the national average for outdoor air, while 1.5 pCi/L is the national average for indoor air. Though these averages seem relatively low, even 1.5 pCi/L could be problematic. Radon that's trapped in smaller spaces becomes more concentrated.
The safest way to ensure that you aren't exposed to any radon level is to rely on a radon mitigation system. At MidAmerica Basement Systems, our trusted solution constantly works to keep your home safe.
How Radon Mitigation Systems Work
Radon is a natural gas that comes from the earth, so our mitigation systems are designed to capture radon before it enters your home and safely disperses it outside. It includes a PVC pipe that is installed in the ground, and then usually extends past your roof. The system also includes a fan to pull air from the soil, which may contain radon, and funnels it through a pipe that directs it outdoors where it can safely dissolve into the outdoor air.
To ensure your radon system is working properly, it includes a gauge that will show you if the system is working correctly. Our Davenport radon testing and mitigation specialists will show you how you can regularly check this gauge to make sure your system is working properly. If you notice that the gauge is off, simply give us a call to come back out and inspect the system.
If you think your home is at risk of radon exposure, contact MidAmerica Basement Systems for your free inspection! We serve customers throughout Illinois and Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Peoria, Bettendorf, Pekin, Marion, Freeport, Waterloo, Muscatine, Galesburg, and the surrounding areas.
Radon Testing Steps:
Step 1: Contact us by calling or filling out our online contact form.
The EPA recommends performing 2 kits simultaneously and averaging the results. This is the most cost-effective and accurate way to test your home yourself.
Step 2: Conduct the radon test.
Your radon kits will come with some simple instructions that you can follow. Setting up a radon test is easy, and should take no longer than a few minutes of your time. Be sure to pay special attention to the instructions that mention closing windows and doors, and locating the test kit in the lowest area of your home (very often the basement). The testing period for the kits is 48 to 90 hours.
Step 3: Mail your radon kits to the lab.
Once the data has been collected by your radon test kit, carefully reseal the package and send it to the laboratory specified on the package immediately for analysis. Make sure to fill out all the information on the information card. Within a few weeks, the results of your test should arrive (either by mail or email).
Peace of mind. Know your home is protected with expert radon testing.
Why is this the best option to test?
- Convenient: You can place the test kits yourself on your own timeline without scheduling an appointment.
- Accurate: By performing 2 test kits simultaneously you will have an EPA approved radon level score in weeks that you can act on, if necessary.
If your results show 4.0 pCi/L or higher, contact MidAmerica Basement Systems in Davenport for a free radon mitigation system estimate.
Many homeowners will seek mitigation services even if the results are lower than 4.0-- as there is no healthy level of radon exposure, and many countries have a much lower recommended action level than the US (for example, the World Health Organization sets the radon action level at 2.7 pCi/L). Radon levels can be controlled by installing a radon mitigation system in your Davenport home. Radon testing and mitigation systems are affordable and installed in only one day by our highly trained and skilled technicians!
Get started with a free quote!
Visit our online store to purchase a radon testing kit or contact us today to schedule a free radon mitigation quote. MidAmerica Basement Systems of Illinois and Iowa serves Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Normal, Peoria, Bettendorf, Pekin, Marion, Freeport, Waterloo, Muscatine, Galesburg, and the surrounding areas.
MidAmerica Basement Systems also provides HUD multi-family radon testing and mitigation. HUD's multi-family radon policy requires that all radon testing and mitigation be performed by a certified radon professional.