New Jersey Radon Testing
LookSmart Home Inspections, LLC, performs New Jersey radon testing and New Jersey home inspections in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties.
LookSmart Home Inspections, LLC performs NJ Radon testing for $135
This page was developed to provide information about radon gas and radon gas testing to New Jersey home owners and home buyers.New Jersey radon testing only $135 call now to schedule.
Eight million homes, or roughly one out of every fifteen homes in the United States, have radon levels that exceed the EPA’s established limit of 4 pCi/L. The EPA has also established a limit of 2 pCi/L as a level at which a homeowner should consider remediation of radon gas levels.
If you are considering purchasing a home in New Jersey, you should have the home tested to determine the levels of radon gas that exist. The EPA recommends that you know what the indoor radon level is in any home that you are considering purchasing.
“Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It is important to note that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with simple tests and re mediated using through-the-wall venting techniques."
(Surgeon General's health advisory 2005)Outdoor radon levels range from .02 to 0.75 pCi/L. Radon levels are usually higher indoors because homes draw radon from the ground and the gas collects in the lower levels of the structure. The highest concentration of radon levels tends to be in the lowest level or the basement of the home.
Can I test my own home for radon?
Yes, you can. There are radon test kits available for homeowners. LookSmart Home Inspections, LLC, can also perform a short-term NJ radon test for $135. The cost is very minimal to find out what the levels of radon gas are in your home.What if I am selling my home, may I perform the radon test?
No. In New Jersey, a seller is not permitted to test for radon gas levels in the home. A radon test must be performed by a licensed NJ radon technician.
LookSmart Home Inspections, LLC, can provide such testing for the same $135 nominal fee.Radon test results are measured in pico Curries per liter of air (pCi/L). According to the EPA, no level of radon is considered totally safe—that is, there are health risks at even low levels. However, when test results show that the radon level in a home exceeds 4 pCi/L, a level set by the EPA, remedial action must be performed to reduce radon levels to more acceptable levels.
The results of the radon tests may be interpreted as follows:
What if the test shows high levels of radon?
Mitigating radon is a relatively straightforward process. The most common method of mitigation is to install a fan that draws the radon from under the foundation of the home and discharges it over the roof line. It is recommended that such a mitigation system be installed by a reputable radon mitigation company.LookSmart Home Inspections, LLC, is licensed to perform New Jersey radon testing and can provide you with a low-cost scientific NJ radon test. Call 973-407-9621 now to schedule your test.
RADON IN DRINKING WATER
Radon may be found in drinking water. There may be a higher risk of cancer if people are exposed to radon in their drinking water over time. Radon released from drinking water is a much smaller source of radon than indoor air. Only about 1-2 percent of radon in the air comes from drinking water. Radon can stay in the water, drinking water containing radon also presents risks of cancers, primarily stomach cancer. However, this cancer risk is smaller than the risk of developing lung cancer from radon released to air from tap water.
The National Academy of Sciences estimates that radon in drinking water causes about 168 cancer deaths per year: 89 percent from lung cancer caused by breathing radon released to the indoor air from water and 11 percent from stomach cancer caused by consuming water containing radon.
Not all drinking water contains radon. If your drinking water comes from a surface water source, such as a lake or reservoir, it is likely that most of the radon in the water will be released into the air before reaching your home. Radon in the water supply is only a concern if your drinking water comes from underground sources such as a well. However, not all water from underground sources contains radon.
Because radon in indoor air is the larger health concern, the EPA recommends that you first test the air in your home for radon before testing for radon in your drinking water.
The EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend testing all homes for radon in indoor air (and apartments located below the third floor). The EPA recommends that you take action to reduce your home's indoor radon levels if your radon test result is 4 pCi/L or higher.
If you have tested the air in your home and found a radon problem, you might also want to find out whether your water is a concern:
If you get water from a public water system:
Find out whether your water system gets its supply from a surface or a ground-water source.If your water comes from a surface water source, most radon that may be in the water will be released to the air before it makes its way to your tap. If your water comes from a ground-water source, call your water system and get the data from their testing to confirm radon levels.
If you have a private well:
The EPA recommends testing your drinking water for radon. Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791), which can provide phone numbers for your state laboratory certification office.If testing your private well shows that you have high levels of radon in your drinking water, there are several things you can do to improve the water. The most effective treatment you can apply is to remove radon from the water right before it enters your home. Two of these types of treatments are:
RADON EMITTED FROM GRANITE COUNTERTOPSThe release of radon gas from granite countertops has received greater attention recently. The granite countertops in your home might be contributing to the radon levels in your home, but it is unlikely that the countertops are a significant source of radon emissions.
See the executive summary of the study “Accessing Exposure to Radon and Radiation from Granite Countertops,” conducted by Environmental Health and Engineering, Inc.
Granite is a naturally occurring rock. It is possible for any sample of granite to have varying amounts of uranium, which is a source of radon gas. At this time, there has not been sufficient data to conclude that granite significantly contributes to the levels of radon gas found in the home.
The best method to determine if your home or prospective home has elevated levels of radon is to test the air.
If you are concerned about radon gas emissions from your granite countertops, I can place a test canister in the lowest living level and a second test canister in the room with the granite countertops. By adding a second test we can test for the countertops' contribution to the radon gas levels in the home.
It is very likely that the highest radon levels will be found in rooms with contact with the grade level.
LookSmart Home Inspections, LLC, can conduct a short-term reliable NJ radon test in your home or prospective home.
New Jersey radon testing fee is only $135
Additional radon test canisters if requested are $50
Call now to schedule a
radon test
973-407-9621
Visit www.LookSmartHomeInspections.com, for more information on radon gas testing and NJ home inspections.
