Radon Mitigation Company Milwaukee

Location is everything regarding Radon Exposure

Milwaukee Radon Mitigation Home Between 5-10% of Wisconsin homes have been found with radon levels above the current EPA guideline of 4 picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L). Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless, radioactive gas produced from the natural decay of uranium. Radon enters your house through cracks in the foundation and gaps in the construction material of your home. Radon can be controlled, but first it must be detected.
Some parts of Milwaukee have more cause for concern than others. According to the map data gathered by Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Oak Creek has the highest levels of radon of the homes surveyed, with an average reading of 6.75 pCi/L. Hales Corners follows behind in a close second with 6.57 pCi/L. Regardless of where you live in Milwaukee county and the surrounding areas, you should have your home tested for radon exposure. This noxious gas pervades based on the geology of the land, following fault lines rather than boundary lines.

Tests are Necessary to Detect Radon

You will not be able to see or smell radon. The odorless gas is neither an irritant nor an allergen. The risk of lung cancer comes after many years of breathing it. The risk of lung cancer from radon exposure is significantly increased in people who smoke. Lung cancer has a latent period for it to develop, so there is little chance that someone would be diagnosed with any stage of cancer before the age of 35. Prevention begins with assessment and detection. Find out if you are exposed now, so that you may safely live without wondering what pervades your household environment. The EPA and the US Surgeon General recommends that all homes be tested for radon and that corrective action be taken, if found.

Radon in Drinking Water

General EPA regulations and guidelines allow for 4000 pCi/L as the standard for community supplies. 90% of the risk involved with high radon levels in household water supplies is from inhaling the radon released during showers, laundry, washing dishes, etc.
The EPA standards are for community wells. If you use a private well and your indoor air has levels of 4 pCi/L or more, you may want to test your water for radon. In a grid survey, more than 500 private wells were tested across Wisconsin. Below the horizontal line from LaCrosse to Green Bay, no wells were found to have unacceptable levels, but a simple test can put your mind at ease.

Consider a Radon Mitigation System

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. As more scientific research data surfaces, it is difficult for public policy to keep up. Current state and federal policies on safe radon levels are based on an outdated risk assessment. Radon is a serious concern and it is constantly being re-evaluated by government agencies, but the global perspective holds that there is no “safe” radon level. The World Health Organization recently lowered their recommendation to 2.7 pCi/L. Recent evidence suggests protracted radon exposure may increase the risk of leukemia, skin, stomach and liver cancer. Radon kills 21,000 people every year, more than secondhand smoke, according to a recent study.

Hire a Radon Mitigation Specialist who takes Your Health Seriously

An improperly installed radon mitigation system can actually increase your exposure to the harmful gas. A poorly installed fan can create positive pressure in the home and lead to the leaking of highly concentrated exhaust. Your health is too important to risk with an uncertified contractor. Luckily, radon is a serious problem with a simple solution.

Milwaukee Homeowner Tips

Nearly 1 in 15 U.S. homes have an elevated radon level. Of the new houses built each year, roughly 60,000 are likely to have radon concentrations greater than 4 pCi/L. 4 pCi/L is the equivalent of approximately 200 X-rays per year. If you are planning to build a home, this can be a great opportunity to prevent radon from entering your home. Building your home properly from the foundation up can have a profound effect on how much radon can enter your home. Using solid construction and building techniques in this manner can also be quite cost-effective, as it increases the efficiency of energy use in your home.

As a home buyer, you should include a radon contingency in any purchase offer. Radon levels should be as low as possible, well below the current accepted level of 4 pCi/L. If levels are above the standard, a radon contingency will allow you to ask the seller to pay for the reduction system, or you may back out of the contract.