You Avoid Secondhand Smoke — So Why Wouldn’t You Test Your Home for Radon?

Most of us understand the dangers of cigarette smoke.

If someone is smoking nearby, especially around our children or inside our home, we have a choice. We can move away. We can ask them not to smoke around us. We can choose not to allow smoking inside our homes.

We take those precautions because we know that secondhand smoke can increase the risk of lung cancer.

But what about another dangerous substance that could already be inside your home?

Radon Gas: A Risk You Can’t See, Smell or Taste

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil. It can enter a home through foundation cracks, floor drains, sump areas, utility penetrations and other openings.

The problem is that you cannot see it.

You cannot smell it.

You cannot taste it.

And without testing, you have no way of knowing how much radon is in your home.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second-leading cause of lung cancer overall, behind cigarette smoking. The EPA estimates that radon is responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. (epa.gov)

So here is the question we want homeowners to think about:

If You Can Test Your Home, Why Wouldn’t You?

We know secondhand smoke is dangerous, so we try to avoid being exposed to it.

Radon should be treated with that same mindset.

You may not be able to prevent radon from naturally existing in the soil beneath your home, but you can find out whether it is accumulating inside the place where you and your family spend hours every day.

And if elevated radon is found, it can be addressed.

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources states that the only way to know whether a building has elevated radon levels is to test it. The state is currently making 500 free radon test kits available to South Dakota residents. (Agriculture & Natural Resources)

That means the first step toward protecting your family may cost you absolutely nothing.

“My House Is New. Do I Really Need to Test?”

Yes.

Radon isn't limited to old homes, homes with basements or homes that look like they might have foundation problems.

Radon levels depend on several factors, including the geology beneath the home, pathways where soil gas can enter, pressure differences and ventilation. Even homes located near one another can have very different radon readings. (Agriculture & Natural Resources)

That is why a neighbor's test result cannot tell you what is happening inside your home.

Every home should be tested.

Finding Radon Doesn't Mean You Have to Live With It

Some homeowners may hesitate to test because they are afraid of what they might find.

But knowing about elevated radon gives you the opportunity to do something about it.

Radon mitigation systems are designed to reduce the amount of radon entering and accumulating inside a home. A common method, called active soil depressurization, uses piping and a continuously operating fan to pull radon-containing soil gases from beneath the home and safely discharge them outside. (Agriculture & Natural Resources)

In other words:

Testing doesn't create a radon problem. It reveals whether a problem already exists so you can fix it.

Think About the People Who Spend the Most Time in Your Home

Your children.

Your spouse.

Your grandchildren.

Your family.

Your pets.

And you.

We spend a tremendous amount of our lives inside our homes. If there were cigarette smoke constantly entering your basement and slowly making its way throughout your house, you wouldn't simply ignore it because you couldn't see the long-term effects yet.

Radon deserves the same attention.

You can't see it.

You can't smell it.

But you can test for it.

And if it's there, you can reduce it.

Protect Your Home. Protect Your Family. Get Tested.

At Shield Radon Mitigation, we believe homeowners should know what is in the air they're breathing.

If you've never tested your home for radon—or if it has been several years since your last test—now is a great time to do it.

With free testing opportunities available to South Dakota residents, there is an even simpler question to ask:

Why wouldn't you test?

A simple test could give you peace of mind.

And if elevated radon is discovered, Shield Radon Mitigation can help you take the next step toward creating a safer home.

Shield Radon MitigationKnow your level. Reduce your risk. Protect what matters most.