Radon gas is an invisible threat that could be lurking in homes across Denver. Prolonged exposure to high levels of radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Thankfully, with proactive testing and proper mitigation, the dangers of radon can be significantly reduced. This guide will provide Radon Testing Denver homeowners everything they need to know about radon testing from start to finish.
What is Radon and Why Should Denver Residents Be Concerned?
Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium breaks down in soil, rock, and water. As a gas, it seeps into the air where cracks and openings allow it to enter buildings through small spaces in concrete floors, floor drains, sump pits, construction joints, and tiny cracks or pores in hollow-block walls. Once inside, radon becomes trapped and the concentration builds up indoors.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Breathing in the odorless, invisible gas allows radioactive particles to be trapped in lung tissue. Over time, genetic damage caused by radiation can turn healthy cells into cancer cells.
The EPA has identified Colorado, and the Denver metro area in particular, as having potentially high indoor radon levels. This is due to higher uranium content in local soil and rock formations along the Front Range rather than other regions. Long-term exposure to Radon Testing Denver homeowners comes with substantial health risks that require awareness and proactive testing.
How to Test for Radon in Denver Homes
Testing is the only way to discover if a Denver home has an unsafe level of radon gas. The EPA and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) offer recommendations and resources to assist residents in the testing process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Choose the Right Radon Test Kit
There are two main types of radon tests available:
- Short-term test: Takes 2-90 days to get results
- Long-term test: Takes 91+ days to get results
Short-term kits provide quicker feedback but long-term testing is more thorough and gives a result that indicates year-round average radon levels in the home. These extended “closed-house” conditions test how winter weatherization impacts results.
The state’s radon program provides affordable test kits to Colorado residents or they can be purchased through private certified radon measurement professionals or labs. Look for devices approved by national standards to ensure accuracy. Carefully read and follow all instructions that come with the kit you choose.
Identify Measurement Spaces
The EPA recommends all occupied ground contact areas that can be accessed–like a living room, play room, den, and bedroom—on the lowest home level be tested for radon. For multi-level homes, test at least one space per floor. Since hot spots may vary throughout, each floor’s radon level needs to be measured.
Prioritize frequently-used spaces over less occupied areas like guest rooms or storage spaces. Places that should be tested in all homes include:
- Basements
- Crawl spaces
- Spaces with dirt floors
- Master bedroom
For the most comprehensive analysis of a home’s radon levels, additional measurement devices can be placed in:
- All bedrooms
- All floors with occupied rooms
- Spaces renovated into livable areas like attics and lofts
Ensure all external doors, windows and ventilation systems run normally during the entirety of a radon test to gauge “closed-house” conditions. Changes in heating or openings can impact short-term testing results.
Position and Deploy the Radon Detector
Test devices should be put in identified rooms’ general breathing zones where they won’t be disturbed—around waist height for standing adult occupancy. Good surfaces in stationary air locations away from drafts, vents or direct sunlight include:
- A bookshelf
- Centrally along a wall
- The top of a bedroom dresser
- A child’s toy box
The measurement tools inside dependable radon test kits use passive devices and require no maintenance or power supply. Devices simply need to be activated and left undisturbed according to their instructions. Once finished, the test kit gets sealed and sent to a certified radon measurement lab for analysis. Results are reported in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). For the most precise results, closed-house conditions should be maintained during the entire test.
Reading Radon Test Results
Understanding what radon measurements mean and where further testing is needed allows Denver homeowners to make informed decisions about mitigating risks.
Radon Measurement Units (pCi/L)
A pCi/L represents the radon decay rate of radioactive material per liter of air. Test kit results report the average level of radon found in the tested space.
- <4 pCi/L = Acceptable radon level
- >4 pCi/L = Unsafe radon level; further testing/mitigation needed
The EPA identifies 4 pCi/L as the recommended action threshold while the World Health Organization sets a stricter limit of 2.7 pCi/L. Since cancer risk increases with higher radon levels and exposure time, even small amounts carry some risk.
Homeowners should carefully consider all test findings in conjunction with their family’s health history and occupancy factors to determine next steps.
Review All Test Measurements
- Compare results from the same floor to identify radon hot spots
- Review findings from each level to gauge where radon is infiltrating
- Note spaces frequently occupied by sensitive groups like children and the elderly
This contextual understanding empowers homeowners to make informed decisions when hiring radon mitigation contractors. Thorough testing across all occupied areas of a home allows for the most customized and effective radon reduction plans.
Determine the Need for Further Testing
If initial short-term results come back at 4 pCi/L or above, longer 91+ day closed-house repeat testing is recommended by the EPA before considering mitigation. This follow up testing during warmer weather with windows closed determines a more precise average. Raising awareness and testing frequently enables homeowners to better protect their family.
What to Do if a Denver Home Has High Radon Levels
When test measurements show radon levels above either the EPA or World Health Organization action thresholds, it’s time to start planning risk reduction solutions. Radon mitigation systems actively vent radon from beneath a home before it can enter the living space. Here’s what homeowners can expect from the radon reduction process:
Hire a CO Licensed and Certified Radon Mitigation Contractor
In Colorado, contractors must obtain training, demonstrate competency, carry insurance, and pass consumer protection requirements to install radon mitigation systems on residential properties. Always verify licensing, experience and check references with multiple Denver area radon reduction companies before hiring.
Be prepared to show radon test results during initial consultations. Contractors rely on this information about a home’s layout, foundation type, footprint and test findings to customize the right system. Advanced diagnosis testing to identify radon entry routes and dispersion locations also helps improve mitigation effectiveness.
Reliable radon remediation contractors clearly explain the mitigation process so homeowners understand what to expect. Get details on how the system works, trenching needs, fan locations/noise levels, and post-mitigation caulking or sealing warranties in writing before work begins.
Install an Active Soil Depressurization System
These highly effective exhaust systems consist of underground PVC piping routed through a small hole in the basement or foundation floor slab. The piping runs below the home slab and works much like a chimney in reverse, drawing radon up from below the home and venting it safely above the roofline where it dissipates harmlessly.
A powerful in-line fan connected to an outdoor vent pipe activates the system by creating a vacuum within the piping to suction radon before concentrations build in the home. Systems run 24/7 to keep radon levels consistently low. Newer radon fans only consume around the same electricity as a single light bulb when active.
Proper installation is key to maximize system efficiency. Skilled Denver mitigation contractors strategically place piping to remove radon from directly under major occupant activity areas first before capturing concentrations under less used areas. Advanced sealing and caulking ensure hazardous gas is pulled into—not pushed away from—the piping system.
Confirm System Effectiveness with Post-Mitigation Testing
Short-term testing within 30 days after a mitigation system is functioning allows contractors to fine tune fans or sealing for maximum effectiveness. To verify radon levels have been reduced to less than 4 pCi/L over time, longer 91+ day “closed house” retesting should occur. Since conditions vary seasonally, testing at least bi-annually provides added assurance.
Be certain to obtain written performance warranties from reputable radon reduction contractors in case post-mitigation testing shows system adjustments are needed. Routine tester replacement, fan upgrades or further sealing shouldn’t incur additional homeowner costs when proper guarantees are in place. Staying proactive through retesting ensures systems permanently correct issues rather than just temporarily masking them.
Maintaining Radon Safety in Denver Homes
Completing proper radon testing and mitigation doesn’t mark the end of system upkeep. Like other household systems, radon mitigation setups require minimal periodic maintenance. Understanding what to expect empowers homeowners to keep reduction systems performing properly for years to come.
Keep Detailed Records
Maintain thorough documentation on all completed system testing results, as-built piping diagrams, warranties, mitigation contracts, and service or upgrade work. Having detailed records readily available aids both routine maintenance and any future real estate transactions.
During a sale, buyers often require evidence of radon testing and qualified mitigation before finalizing offers. Keeping strict documentation demonstrates a serious, long-term commitment to radon risk reduction when selling. Disclosing all information upfront also avoids hassles during inspections.
Confirm Fan Functionality
A simple periodic listen next to installed radon mitigation fans ensures proper operation during a manual system check. Any new or inconsistent sounds signal it’s time to contact radon technicians to diagnose. Replacing failing system fans before they quit altogether maintains continuous home protection.
Many newer radon fan models alert homeowners when declining performance triggers service needs. Connected apps even allow remote fan monitoring and diagnostics so radon remains safely controlled. Consider higher-tech fan options when replacing older models for added future convenience.
Retest Every 2 Years
To confirm Denver systems continually perform as intended, the EPA recommends retesting mitigated spaces using reliable radon kits every two years. Since conditions and seasons vary, bi-annual checks ensure radon levels didn’t creep back up over time undetected. Accounting for major weather or household changes also helps keep risks low long-term.
Retest any spaces in a home used for living, working, learning or playing to keep all frequently occupied areas safe. Maintain strict retesting routines even after selling to protect systems’ performance for future residents. Consistent follow up demonstrates an ongoing duty of care.
Empowering Denver Homeowners Against Radon
Radon exposure contributes to over 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually in the U.S. With higher concentrations prevalent along Colorado’s Front Range, acknowledging the very real health risks to Denver families is critical. Remaining aware that radon dangers exist then taking ownership of thorough home testing enables reducing identified risks. Pairing vigilant homeowners with Colorado’s stringent radon contractor certification regulations cultivates the safest home environments possible despite radon’s naturally occurring presence in local soils.
Staying continually proactive against the hidden threat of radon takes diligence yet pays dividends in sustained wellbeing and peace of mind. This guide shines a light on managing sophisticated safety measures seamlessly. Helping secure the health and safety of current and future Denver area residents motivates maintaining community radon awareness. Join public health efforts in reducing hazardous exposure through education and routine testing to make radon risks knowable, preventable and surmountable across hometown neighborhoods.