Why Do People Buy Home Radon Test Kits?As concerns increase about dangerous levels of radon, home radon test kits have become more and more in demand. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking. It can be present in any building, even newer ones, which means that you and your family could be inhaling it with every breath. Several types of home radon test kits are available; depending on the type of test you want to do. Experts recommend that radon testing be performed over a longer rather than a shorter period because fluctuating radon levels can give an inaccurate reading. To accurately test for radon, the test should be performed over a minimum of three months, preferably in the winter time when doors and windows are closed and radon levels are at their highest. One of two types of test is generally used for long term testing: alpha track detection or electret ion chamber. Devices for short term testing include activated charcoal adsorption, charcoal liquid scintillation, continuous radon monitoring, or the electret ion chamber. Charcoal detectors are generally used over a period of 48 hours to give a quick snapshot of how much radon is present in a building. Radon is absorbed into the charcoal, which is then analyzed to determine the levels. An electret ion chamber can be used to measure radon levels over a short or long period of time, from one week of exposure to several months. This device has an electrostatically charged disk that is housed inside a plastic canister. When the device is exposed to radon, changes in the charge indicate the level of radon. An alpha track detector consists of a special type of plastic film that is housed inside a small container. Holes in the container allow air to pass through, and the film records microscopic tracks made by radon’s alpha particles as they come in contact with the device. Radon levels are determined by calculating the number of tracks on the film and the number of days that the detector was in place. Home radon test kits such as the alpha track detector are usually used over a span of one or more months, sometime as long as an entire year, to record the total amount of radon present in the house over that period of time. The disadvantage to these types of tests is that they have to be sent to a lab for analysis after they have been in place for the desired length of time. These are known as passive radon test kits. Active radon test kits provide continuous monitoring of radon levels, and can provide a reading in as little as 48 hours. Some continuous monitoring kits are designed for professionals only, and some are for home use. Small digital units have an easy to read display and a safety alarm that sounds if radon levels rise beyond a safe level. Home radon test kits are inexpensive enough that anyone can afford them, and they are lifesaving devices that no homeowner should be without. Who wouldn’t want to know if they were breathing deadly gas? To read more about related topics, please follow these links:
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