You might have heard of radon.  It is a radioactive, naturally occurring invisible gas that is present in every home in U.S.  You cannot taste it neither can you smell it.  It is said to be the number one source of lung cancer for non-smokers.  It is said to cause more than 20,000 deaths per year.  You could get statistics on the existence of this gas because many homes in the U.S. have unsafe levels of radon.

It is recommended that you test your home and working environment for this gas.  Testing for the gas is good as detection of present levels in your home allows for you to make an educated decision to fix the problem or not.  There are various Radon Testing Devices available and can be ordered from the safety of your home.

You can actively test for radon in your home using electronic radon detector.  It is believed that electronic radon detectors are more accurate than passive radon detectors e.g. charcoal testers.  There are various electronic radon detectors in the market.

Most electronic radon detectors give you hourly readings but a few give you an average of a seven day period on demand.  The particular electronic radon detector you use and its effectiveness depends on your area of usage and following instructions carefully.

Pro-Series 3 monitor is an electronic detector that you can use over and over again in different locations.  This monitor gives fast, accurate and continuous radon levels readings wherever it is placed.  It activates 48 hours after plug in.  It does not have hourly sensitivity to measure radon levels but it provides you, over a seven day period; the average radon levels.

You can use this kit for both short term radon testing and long term as well.  It plugs into a wall plug and just like that you can read/see the levels of radon gas in your home anytime you wish.  It is easy to use and can be carried around.  This kit shows the gas levels in Pico curies.  No need to be electronics’ savvy to use it.  You do not need to assemble it after purchase.  You can delete the data and the unit used at a different location to measure for you radon levels in this new location in case you move.

There are also electronic radon detectors for professional usage e.g. the Radstar RS300 Continuous Radon gas monitor & detector.  You could simply hire a Radon Testing professional to help you gauge the levels of the gas in your home.  This monitor is excellent for the professional and home inspector’s use as it gives a written report to you the home owner.  This device cannot be tampered with. It also has sensors for motion to ensure spot on results.  It connects to a home computer or laptop via USB cable.

Electronic radon detectors have an advantage because they help you save on costs of test kits (various), lab fees and postage charges.  This is good for you as sometimes extra expenses are incurred when you need to send kits to the lab and they are delayed.  The kits are rendered invalid.

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.

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.

Radioactive gasses typically enter a home through cracks in the basement and walls. Because of this, you will want to test these types of areas in your home with a digital radon detector first before progressing throughout a structure. If you find that the results from your first testing areas are negative or very minimal, further testing may not be required.

Radioactive gasses are created due to the decay of uranium in the soil. This makes it very easy for these types of gasses to enter basements and lower levels of homes and offices or even the surrounding environment such as spring waters. For some people around the world, digital radon testing is essential for their health.

Depending on the circumstances, you can purchase a short-term digital radon detector for your home to test only for a few days if so needed. During the testing period, the radon detector will have to be in an enclosed space for the duration of the specified time in order to retrieve accurate results. After testing has been complete, you can make use of specialized ventilation systems in order to help clear your area of any radioactive gasses while waiting for the results.

You should not try to use a radon detector during windy periods or during storms as the high winds or changes in air pressure can have a direct effect on the results that you see from your radon detector. Be sure to check the enclosed instructions on your radon detector for any special instructions such as leaving doors and windows closed for a minimum of 12 hours before testing.

Digital radon detector testing is more common in many real estate business practices today. Even in areas where radioactive gasses are not normally present, it can be a good selling point to prospective buyers that a seller has taken the time to perform extensive testing on the unit for the health and safety of any future owners. Digital radon detector testing does not have to be expensive or time consuming and can be completed relatively hassle-free.

For those who need continuous monitoring, there are many digital radon detectors that can be purchased for this reason. Simple displays and no hassles to install or set up, many digital radon detectors can be left on a table top or counter to monitor the radon levels in your home each day with ease.

Be sure to examine all of your options when choosing a digital radon detector for your home or office. Whether it is for initial testing or continuous monitoring, a digital radon detector can give you the peace of mind you are looking for when it comes to your health or the well being of your family or workplace.