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.

The radon system is installed in a home or building after a positive radon test has been recorded. Any levels of radon over the approved 0.4 picocuries per liter is considered harmful to human health. If a home or building measures higher, a kit will be installed to clean the air and return it to the building with a lower level of radon.

Radon systems come in two forms, the passive radon system, and the active radon system. The active radon system is most often used after the passive system has been unable to reduce the levels of the gas in the building. Some radon systems can be installed in the home or building during construction to reduce the cost of radon removal.

Passive radon systems use the natural radon collection process to remove the gas from the home. Most often, radon enters the home through cracks in the foundation. These cracks allow the harmful gas to seep into the basement or crawl space and collect. These gases then permeate to the upper levels of the home. The passive system employs a metal pipe that runs from the collection point through the roof. The gas naturally moves through the pipe and out into the air.

The active radon system uses a fan to improve the movement of the gas. The fan creates negative pressure in the collection space, which gives the radon gas only one place to escape, through the pipe. The active system is more effective than the passive system and may be used as a first choice in homes and buildings with very high levels of radon.

If a home is currently under construction in an area where radon gas has been detected, many construction companies will installed the pipe from the lower level of the home through the roof to eliminate the chance of radon gas collection. This will reduce the cost of installation dramatically.

In older homes, the pipe may need to be installed with the cost of installation varying based upon the type of home construction and the time spent installing the pipe. Whenever possible, the home should regularly test for radon because the gas naturally fluctuates during different times of year and with environmental changes.

While radon systems can remove nearly all of the radon in the air, a radon detector should remain in the space at all times. Most often, the long-term radon detector will be used due to the presence of radon already being established. The long term detectors can be used for more than 90 days at a time and often use a readout screen to report the current radon levels in the air. A radon detector should be installed on all levels of the home or building.

There are two main types of radon tests used to measure the amount of radon in a commercial building or home. These are the passive and active radon tests. These tests collect the air in a given area and either report the amount of radon detected or hold that information for a lab to determine.

The passive radon tests are used in a space between 2 and 90 days. These tests require no electricity to run and can be used on every level of the building. The EPA suggests at least one test be placed on the lowest level of the building. The kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and hallway should not be used as the air source. Most passive tests will take between 48 and 96 hours to complete.

Passive radon tests employ the use of charcoal canisters, charcoal liquid or alpha-track detectors to measure the radon levels. The levels are collected and when the unit is finished tracking the air quality, it is sent off to a lab where the radon levels are reported. The lab report is then sent to the appropriate party.

The active radon tests works in a slightly different manner. This unit requires electricity to run. Continuous monitoring of the air in a commercial building or home allows the radon level spikes and dips to be recorded more successfully. These units can be used by the owner of the building, but are most often used by professionals testing for radon gas in the home.

When using radon tests, the homeowner or building owner should follow a few simple tips to ensure the readouts are accurate.

* All windows and doors should be kept shut while the air quality is being tested.

* Radon tests need to be located a minimum of 20 inches from the floor.

* Short term radon tests do not accurately measure radon levels during high humidity, stormy or windy conditions.

* Before the radon tests are installed, the windows and doors should be left closed for at least 12 hours.

* If radon gas is thought to be in the space, people should not use the space until the tests are complete.

Radon tests are a quick and effective way to measure the radon gas in a given space. Radon is an odorless gas that is thought to cause cancer. A non-smoker who is regularly breathing even the lowest levels of radon may have a higher chance of contracting lung cancer than someone who is not around radon gas.

If higher than normal levels of radon are detected with the radon tests, there are effective removal systems that can be installed within the home or commercial building. These removal systems employ the use of pipes running from the source of the radon to the roof to move the gas out of the space before it can concentrate to higher than healthy levels.