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Q: What is radon?

A: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. Radon comes from a breakdown process called radioactive decay. This process starts with uranium breaking down to radium and further breaks down to radon gas. This process takes about 1600 years. Once the process begins, it essentially continues to yield radon and its decay products of radioactive bismuth, polonium, and lead.

What AVERAGE radon concentration should be remediated?
 
The average radon concentration that should be remediated by a certified radon contractor is at a level of 4.0 pCi/l (picocuries of radon per liter of air) or more. Continuous radon monitors which measure radon on an hourly basis show diurnal fluctuations of radon levels throughout the day. These levels can vary above and below 4.0 pCi/l which are NORMAL variations in radon. The overall average or EPA average radon concentration is the number that should be used to determine if there needs to be radon remediation. 

What is the method of reducing radon in my home?
 
The method of radon remediation will depend on the construction characteristics of your home. You should contact our certified radon remediation contractor for a free quote. It will only take a few minutes to answer a few questions about your home. Then we can mail, fax or email you a quote for your home to fix your radon.

How much does the radon remediation for my home cost?
 
This will depend on several factors including radon levels, potential radon entry points, i.e., sump crocks, exposed dirt, floor drains in the basement and several other construction characteristics of the home. Please contact Phil Noack at 1.269.207.5943 to determine the method of radon remediation and the cost.

Q: What is all the "hype" about radon?

A: Radon may reach higher concentrations in buildings than outside due to the dynamic forces of construction characteristics and quantities of radon beneath the home. Breathing in radon, like smoking, causes lung cancer.  It is this continual exposure to elevated levels of radon gas that causes lung cancer in about 20,000 people per year. That's about 50 people per day! The EPA, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, and American Medical Association, among others, recommends that you test your home for radon gas. Furthermore, if you have radon levels that exceed 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) that you take steps to reduce radon to lower levels.

Q: How do I test my house for radon gas?
 
A: You may call Advanced Radiation Monitoring Service, Inc. radon testing hot-line at 1.269.207.5943 to obtain a test kit  or order one through our website to obtain a radon test kit.

Q: Once I find elevated levels of radon gas, how do I get it fixed?

A: You may call A.R.M.S., Inc. or order a free quotation using our website.
We will need specific information about your radon test results, construction characteristics of your home and your contact information.

Q: Is there Radon in our water supply?

A: The only way to tell is to test for radon in water. Radon tests for water may be obtained by contacting ARMS, Inc. by calling us or ordering testing supplies through this website. Radon typically has greater concentrations in private well water supplies, however, some municipal supplies also contain elevated levels of radon in them.

Q: How is radon in water treated?

A: Radon in water may be treated in two common methods. The first method is granular activated carbon filtration. This method is usually used in lower concentrations of radon and water and has some issues in dealing with the deposition of radioactive material and accumulation in the charcoal bed of these units. The second method of treatment is aeration of the water supply and venting of its radon gas byproduct. The byproduct of radon gas is eliminated by discharging the gas in the same manner as active soil depressurization of radon gas. Aeration may be used for either lower or elevated levels of radon in water. Both filtration and aeration is done by our radon remediation staff at ARMS, Inc.

Q: How may I find out more about radon?

A: The EPA and some local health agencies usually has free brochures about radon and you may reach some of these through the links we have on our website.
Why should someone have his or her house checked for radon? Radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer only second to cigarette smoking. The Surgeon General C Everett Koop indicated that every home should be tested for radon back around 1988. It is a simple, cheap and easy test to perform that each homeowner can perform themselves. To get a radon test kit from the National Radon Hotline call 1.800.SOS.RADON

How often should you have it checked? Radon should be tested for with a minimum of two short-term tests either done simultaneously or consecutively. Alternatively, a long term test may be conducted over 91 to 365 days long to determine the average radon levels. After the testing is completed properly. Long term testing is suggested if there is not a hurry, like in a real estate transaction, where testing is short-term and usually between 2 to 7 days. If any alterations are done to the home then the radon test should be done again, i.e., additions to the foundations of the home, window replacements, installation of sewer and plumbing pipes that disturb the original concrete slab in the basement are some of the reasons to re-test.

How do you check for radon? Radon may be tested for as described above. The types of radon detectors may include but are not limited to: gamma spectroscopy charcoal canisters, continuous radon monitors, electret ion chambers, alpha track detectors, working level meters , Lucas cells, liquid scintillation charcoal detectors and radon progeny testing devices.

What happens if it is found to be above acceptable levels? If radon is found above 4.0 picocuries per liter by a minimum of two short term tests- averaged, a continuous radon monitor test over a minimum of 48 hours for both or a long term test as described above then a radon remediation system quotation should be obtained from a certified radon contractor. A list of contractors is available from NEHA.ORG or NRSB.ORG for which I am certified by both as well as being a Michigan Licensed Builder.

How long, typically, does it take to remediate? It usually takes about 2-3 hours to install a typical radon remediation system.

What is the average cost of testing? The cost of testing is $10 to 125 depending on the type of test performed whether the test is a self-test or done by a certified radon measurement specialist, like myself. Remediation? Range of remediation costs from $10 to $1,000. Some jobs can be cheap and the homeowner can fix it themselves for the costs of some cement to having a certified radon contractor come in and install a subslab depressurization system, drain tile depressurization system, crawl space remediation or a combination of these techniques of radon remediation. Our systems are guaranteed to have the lowest price at an average of around $500-$600 each.

How long have you been in business? I have been in business since 1986 -24 years

How did you get into radon testing/remediation? I started out developing a certified radon testing laboratory a designed a diffusion barrier charcoal canister with Dr. Bernard Cohen from the University of Pittsburgh. Our radon laboratory has been in operation since 1988 and was first certified in the State of Michigan by the Environmental Protection Agency. I am a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, so the use of radioactive materials and the determination of the activity of radioactive materials was inherent in my training. I used to inject radioactive materials into human patients and study the flow of the radioactivity throughout the human body. I was interested in the measurement of radiation using charcoal canisters and developed my laboratory in the basement of my home in the 80’s in Portage, MI. I then became a Certified Radon Diagnostician to investigate radon in homes through using subslab pressure differentials and diagnostic testing methods for radon. This eventually lead to me becoming a Certified Radon Contractor and Licensed Builder. I do all of these functions now and take radioactive radon gas out of peoples homes instead of injecting it into their bodies.

How large is your service area? I cover the entire United States, however, most of my work is done in Michigan and Indiana.   Is it primarily residential? Yes primarily residential but I have also installed some systems in multi-unit apartment buildings, commercial buildings.

Are you still certified with the National Radon Safety Board? Yes. Any other radon certifications?National Environmental Health Association. Do you believe it should be a state certification? Yes, I believe there should be a State certification. Why or why not? Certification would help the general public know that there are certified individuals who meet the requirements of the State Building Code and it would develop a money source for further educations of the general public regarding radon. The State of Michigan now requires radon remediation systems to be installed in Appendix F of the Building Code for counties in Zone I of the EPA’S Radon Map which includes most of the counties South and East of Cass County and around I-94 over toward Southeast Michigan.


 

Advanced Radiation Monitoring Service, Inc. (A.R.M.S.,Inc.), Mattawan, Michigan* Call 1.269.207.5943 *Quality Service Since 1986.

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