Radon detectors are used to measure the amount of radon in a home. The device is sold for use in the home setting, but can also be used in commercial buildings. The air is tested by the device for levels of radon, which are displayed on the screen or measured by a lab after the test is sent away. The radon detector is an inexpensive way to improve the air quality of the home.

The radioactive gas, Radon, is released when uranium decays. Uranium is found naturally in water supplies and rock formations. Just like carbon monoxide, the radon gas is odorless and tasteless, so it cannot be detected without the use of a radon detector.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is harmful to human health. When the gas is breathed into the lungs, it is thought to have a carcinogenic effect. This means the gas can cause cancer. Most cases of cancer related to radon exposure involve the lungs. More than 1000 people die each year due to exposure to radon gas.

Radon gas is not considered safe at any level, but the gas is naturally occurring so the radon detector is needed to ensure the levels are within accepted levels. The air breathed every day contains about 0.4 picocuries per liter. The radon detector is used inside of buildings because the gas may have no way to escape which can cause a buildup to unsafe levels over time.

Radon can be detected using a short term or long-term test. The short-term test is placed in a building for less than 90 days. This test is then sent off to a laboratory for evaluation. Most short terms tests do not employ the use of readouts screens to report radon levels. These kits are created for lab use only.

The long-term radon detector is left in the home or building for longer than 90 days. It is advised to begin radon detection with a short-term test and then install a long-term test if there are no signs of harmful radon levels in the building. Many long-term radon tests use a screen to report the radon levels in the building. These tests may also have an installed alarm that will sound if the radon levels reach higher than approved levels.

Radon can be removed from the home with kits installed to clean the air. These kits should be installed by a professional team to ensure the kit is working properly in the home to reduce the radon gas levels. Cracks in the foundation of the home can also be corrected to keep radon gas from the ground from seeping into the basement and eventually to the upper levels of the home.