|
What is Radon?Radon is a radioactive gas released from the normal decay of uranium in rocks and soil. It is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that seeps up through the ground and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon gas usually exists at very low levels outdoors. However, if a building is sitting on top of some of these uranium deposits the radon they produce will find the path of least-resistance and accumulate inside the structure. This process is exacerbated when the ground outside becomes saturated or frozen. A common misconception is that if you don't have a basement, then you don't have radon. NOT TRUE. Since radon comes from the ground, a building on a crawlspace or slab is actually closer to the source. Radon testing and mitigation in Southeast Michigan can illuminate and help remove these potential health risks.
Call for a Quote |
Our Radon Testing & Mitigation in Southeast Michigan |
Radon Testing
To provide results you can trust we measure the level of Radon in your home using industry leading Sun Nuclear CRM (Continuous Radon Monitor) systems to accurately test your radon levels, hour-by-hour, for a period of 48 hours or more. Our CRM systems are EPA verified, NEHA-NRPP evaluated and approved by the NRSB (National Radon Safety Board) for use in testing. (Remember: In Michigan this assurance of accuracy is not required by companies that provide testing. Some even use retail testing devices that are either never calibrated, or cannot be calibrated. Which we are forbidden from using due to our certification.) The use of a CRM has important benefits over the DIY Radon test kits found at your local Health department or hardware store.
Radon Mitigation System Design and Installation To remove Radon from your home we only use top-of-the-line AMERICAN MADE, EPA certified SSD (sub-slab depressurization) components that comply with all nationally recognized safety standards. As part of our compliance with NRPP protocol we do not test our own work. All mitigation systems come with a 3rd party radon clearance self-test to verify results. One thing to remember as you get quotes for mitigation. Although WE are nationally certified for radon testing and mitigation, Michigan does not currently require that people are certified or licensed to perform this work. In our decades of experience we have seen some, lets say "creative" designs, and have had to fix countless "professionally" installed systems -so be careful who you hire. Always check Google ratings and the Better Business Bureau before entrusting your family's safety. Existing Mitigation System Inspection Or Existing System Inspection+Retest Although we are nationally certified through NRPP-AARST for radon testing and mitigation (who the EPA turned it over to), in Michigan, you don't have to be certified! I know, scary, right? There are currently no licensing requirements for radon testing or mitigation system design, in Michigan. So, anyone that wants to call themselves a radon professional, can. Not to mention the pseudo-certifications offered though some inspection organizations out there. We fix these handyman-built system all-the-time. We are regularly shocked by systems built by non-certified people. We've found them operating on a timer (a huge no-no), poorly sealed (not effective), exhausting under an opening window (pumping concentrated radon back into the living space), systems run by a tiny computer fan, etc. Are you unsure if your system was installed correctly? Is it making weird noises it didn't make before? Are you wondering if your current system was designed according to national standards to keep you safe? Was the company that installed the system not certified through NRPP? We offer both visual NRPP derived system inspections, as well a package that includes the inspection plus a (calibrated) CRM radon test to verify what the current levels are. Call now! |
Important Facts
|
What are the health effects from exposure to radon?
There are no immediate symptoms from exposures to radon. Based on an updated Assessment of Risk for Radon in Homes (see EPA risk assessment), radon in indoor air is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. Smokers are at higher risk of developing Radon-induced lung cancer. Lung cancer is the only health effect which has been definitively linked with radon exposure. Lung cancer usually occurs 5-25 years after exposure. There is no evidence that other respiratory diseases, such as asthma, are caused by radon exposure and there is no evidence that children are at any greater risk of radon induced lung cancer than adults. How can people know if they have an elevated level of radon in their homes? Testing is the only way to know if a person's home has elevated radon levels. Indoor radon levels are affected by the soil composition under and around the house, and the ease with which radon enters the house. Homes that are next door to each other can have different indoor radon levels, making a neighbor's test result a poor predictor of radon risk. In addition, precipitation, barometric pressure, and other influences can cause radon levels to vary from month to month or day to day, which is why both short- and long-term tests are available. Short-term detectors measure radon levels for 2 days to 90 days, depending on the device. Long-term tests determine the average concentration for more than 90 days. Because radon levels can vary from day to day and month to month, a long-term test is a better indicator of average radon level. Both tests are relatively easy to use and inexpensive. Why must radon be vented into the air above my home's roof? Radon gas is approximately 7.5 times heavier than air. It is however a noble gas with no chemical affinity so is easily influenced by air movements and pressure. In a house with forced air heating and cooling, radon gas can easily be distributed throughout the entire dwelling. When radon gas is discharged via a radon mitigation system above the roof, the radon concentration falls off dramatically with distance from the point of discharge. In fact, the radon gas concentration approaches background levels at 3-4 feet from the discharge point. For more information on Radon, download the National Cancer Institute's FAQ (pdf).
|
Contact an Inspector Today |
Want to have a certified radon inspector in Southeast Michigan check out your home? Call 517-206-2811 today to speak with an AAI representative.
|
Qualifications
|
Rest assured AAI will measure and remove Radon from your home according to the highest standards. Our inspectors are NEHA-NRPP certified* for measurement (RT), mitigation (RMT), as well as a current Speaker Bureau Member with the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists.
*The NEHA National Radon Proficiency Program is the leading certification program for radon professionals in North America. (Certification is not required in the state of Michigan.) |
|
Our mitigation systems are installed by a certified technician to ensure your removal system conforms with the highest national safety standards.
|
All of our systems use a type of PVC that's easier to paint than traditional PVC. This customer paint-matched his system to blend in with the home.
|
Click to call
