Sherman Home Inspections, LLC. uses RTCA Canister and Radalink, Inc. Telemonitor Methods
In July 2008, Radalink asked for 30-60 second video submissions with the theme “Radon: Test, Fix, Save a Life” which encourages Americans to test and fix their homes for radon. They received more than 30 entries. The winning entry was “Eddie’s Story” submitted by Benjamin Schultz and Michael Gentilini. You can view this true story video on YouTube. You can also learn more from lung cancer survivors at www.CanSar.org. The EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommends that all homeowners test for Radon. At Sherman Home Inspections, LLC., radon testing done in conjunction with a home inspection is discounted. This service can also be purchased on a stand-alone basis (without a full home inspection). Please call for more information, a price quote, and to schedule an appointment today. Let our nationally certified inspectors test your property for your health, your family, and your peace of mind.
What is Radon?
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, comes from the decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. Radon gas is colorless, odorless, and without taste. It is the first leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause in smokers. According to statistics, over 20,000 people a year die of radon-induced lung cancer. The presence of radon in a home cannot be detected by human senses. The only way to know if your home contains radon is to test. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommends that homes with high Radon concentrations of 4 pCi/L and above be mitigated. There are many straight-forward reduction techniques that will work in almost any home. Since 1984, Sherman Home Inspections, LLC. has offered two methods of Radon testing: active and passive, through the use of a Radalink telemonitor (active) and RTCA canisters (passive). The EPA strongly urges the use of tamper resistant techniques when conducting a radon test in the context of a real estate transaction. As a home buyer or seller, our use of the Radalink Telemonitor with its tamper resistant features adds protection of your test results’ accuracy and reliability. All Radalink electronic telemonitor’s are equipped with a tilt sensor that will log any time the monitor is moved and a power sensor that will record if the power source changes from AC to battery and back to AC. Active hourly readings of the radon concentration, temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure record any unusual fluctuations resulting from Protocol violations (leaving doors and windows open, running air conditioners with outside air intakes on, operating whole house fans, etc). In other words, it is extremely difficult to compromise a Radalink test without being caught.
Radon Testing using the Radalink Electronic Telemonitor
The use of the telemonitor is an active method of testing for radon. The monitor is set for a minimum of 46 hours using EPA protocol, then retrieved and the data is upload directly to the laboratory. Within minutes after transmission (during normal business hours), Radalink processes the data, reviews it for evidence of tampering, prepares a complete personalized report, and delivers it via email to our office and you. This testing process usually takes an average of 2-3 days from starting the test to receiving test results. If, upon analysis, it appears in the lab’s professional opinion that closed-house conditions were not maintained, the report contains an addendum with a full explanation. If you find you still have any questions and concerns, simply call us and we will assist you in answering your questions relating to the radon test report and/or mitigation recommendations.
Radon testing using RTCA (Radon Testing Corporation of America) Canisters
The use of canisters is a passive method of testing for radon. The RTCA laboratory uses the same procedures and technology developed at the Department of Energy’s Environmental Measurement Laboratory. All radon detectors are bar-coded to ensure proper identification, and all analytical calculations are performed by their computer program, eliminating the possibility of human error at the laboratory. All laboratory analysis is in complete accordance with the Federal EPA or equivalent protocols. This method uses the USPS. After the canisters are mailed, it takes 3-5 days to receive the results.