If you were one of the lucky few who didn't fall asleep in High School chemistry class then you might be familiar with the noble gas, Radon. Or how it's known on the periodic table of elements: RN (with an atomic number 86).
To put it simply, radon is a radioactive gas. It is colorless, odorless and is the natural by-product when radioactive elements, such as uranium - decay. Generally radon is trapped in the different layers of soil and rock but if any of that soil happens to be moved, radon can be released into ground water or the air.
And while radon is often present outdoors at normally very low levels, it's when it gets trapped and concentrates in buildings and homes where it can start to cause problems.
Next to smoking, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. with the United States Environmental Protection Agency attributing about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year to prolonged exposure to the gas.
Radon is found all throughout the country with areas designated as Zone-3 for lowest potential, Zone-2 for Moderate and Zone-1 for highest potential.
The entirety of Colorado is Zone-1.
Now that doesn't mean that Colorado is currently covered by a giant, sinister cloud of cancer-causing radon, it simply means that there is a greater chance that this naturally-occurring gas can accumulate in your home and cause serious health problems. But how exactly does it get into your home?
Radon can seep into your home through the obvious places like cracks in foundations and spaces between walls but it can also enter through places like drain openings and other holes in plumbing. What is interesting about radon is that it doesn't matter if you have a newer home or an older home. The fact that your home usually is warmer and has lower air pressure than the soil around it means that any radon in the soil will naturally be drawn in, using any means – no matter how small – to gain entry.
Since radon is prevalent throughout not just Denver, but all of Colorado, it's very important to get an idea if your home has a higher than normal concentration of the noble gas. The best possible place to test is the lowest point of your home since often that is the entry point for the gas and concentration levels are likely to be at their highest there.
While radon is no laughing matter, it also isn't something you need to panic about. If you're concerned about the levels of radon in your home and don't feel comfortable checking it yourself, TeamDaveLogan.com is proud to work with a great group of contractors that don't just test for radon, but can help mitigate any higher concentrations of the gas. You can trust that the TeamDaveLogan.com Denver radon contractors will help return your house to a radon and worry-free home!
