Radon is a serious issue afflicting every American home.
While not all are past the safe levels, as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, youand#39;ll never know until your home undergoes testing for radon. With one out of every 15 homes at or above the EPA action level, it becomes even more crucial to determine if your home is safe.
The effects of radon are not noticeable. However, as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are attributed to this gas each year, as estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Surgeon Generaland#39;s Office.
You may either perform radon testing yourself or have a radon testing contractor do it for you. Radon mitigation companies are a better choice for radon testing or lowering its concentration in your home. They have the expertise and training to make radon mitigation and abatement a success.
However, you shouldnand#39;t randomly pick any company that offers radon mitigation services. You could end up wasting money, and worse, not get radon levels in your home at safe levels.
Here are some questions to keep in mind when choosing radon mitigation and abatement service:
1. Is the Price Unreasonable?
The processes involved in performing radon mitigation are not accessible. However, some shady contractors can take some shortcuts. Most of the time, this type of company would offer you a very low price for their service.
If the price seems too unreasonable for the difficult task theyand#39;ll do, then itand#39;s too good to be true.
An excellent company will send you a radon testing contractor to perform initial diagnostics.
2. Do They Provide On-Site Estimation
On-site estimation is a crucial hallmark of a good radon contractor. A radon testing contractor will check for radon gas levels in your home. After getting the results, theyand#39;ll assess the houseand#39;s structure to determine the best radon mitigation approach.
A radon company that doesnand#39;t go through on-site estimation will not get a clear picture of your homeand#39;s requirements. Youand#39;ll usually end up with a generalized installation that may not be as effective as specific ones.
3. Do They Have License and Certification?
License and certification are a must if you want to have an excellent radon mitigation company work for you. If you think about it, you can do radon testing yourself with available DIY devices. What difference would it make if your radon testing contractor has no license and certification?
A certified technician means they went through standardized training. Try to look for contractors trained and tested by the EPA and certified by both the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) and the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB).
Besides these requirements, you also need to make sure that radon mitigation technicians, including their radon testing contractor, should be fully insured.
4. Is the Contract Clear?
Read the contract carefully and make sure that itand#39;s clear. Don’t assume and just read in passing any ambiguity. The company must be able to explain to you if something is not clear.
Some of the things to look for in a contract are:
- Guarantee on reducing radon levels below the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L.
- No upcharges on additional suction points or fan upgrades
The price on the contract should be constant, and any changes should undergo your approval first.
5. Does the Radon Contractor Adhere to Standards?
Radon contractors should always adhere to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), including those from state and local codes. But how do you make sure they follow these? One way of checking is to ensure that they place the vent outlet two feet above the roofline and 10 feet away from the windows.
6. Will They Perform Proper Diagnostics?
A good radon mitigation company performs preliminary diagnostics by having a radon testing contractor test radon levels in your home. Radon testing has to be done before and after installation. Most shady contractors will skip the post-installation step. However, this is a crucial part since itand#39;ll ensure if the mitigation system they set up is really working or not.
Follow These Guidelines to Choose the Right Radon Mitigation Company
These seven things you should know will help you choose a good contractor, whether itand#39;s for radon mitigation or radon testing. Denver CO and other cities have numerous local contractors that can provide excellent service in mitigating radon.