Why test for radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that can damage the cells that line the lung. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer—over 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the US each year are from radon. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer (after tobacco) in smokers.

How much radon is present in Kentucky homes?

The average national indoor radon level is 1.3 pCi/L. The average indoor radon level in Fayette County is 8 pCi/L.* This level is the equivalent of 400 chest x-rays per year, or 16 cigarettes per day. See your county’s average indoor radon level here.

Where does radon come from?

Radon comes from the soil. The natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils breaks down to radium. As radium disintegrates it turns into radon, a radioactive gas, which moves up into the air you breathe. The amount of radon present depends on the subsurface soils, which vary from one house to the next, and the amount of radon that escapes from the soil to enter the house depends on the weather, barometric pressure, soil porosity, soil moisture, and the air dynamics within the house.

Where is your greatest exposure to radon?

Radon is present everywhere, but greatest exposure is indoors, where radon can concentrate. Your home can have radon whether it be old or new, well-sealed or drafty, with or without a basement, with or without a crawl space. Radon enters your home via mechanical penetration, cracks or gaps in concrete and masonry block, then the air pressure between your home’s interior and the exterior soil draws radon gas into the home.

What does a Radon Contractor / Mitigation Service Provider do?

Properly designing and installing a radon mitigation system is a professional-level activity. This will ensure the final system is correctly located and sized to achieve optimal radon reduction and not cause any other potential issues with the structure. Each system by Bluegrass Radon Systems is designed to be aesthetically appealing, can be customized to match existing finishes on your home’s exterior, and comes with a five-year warranty.

What's my first step for making sure my home is safe?

Contact Bluegrass Radon Systems and we will send an insured and certified measurement provider to your house, who will leave a testing device, typically for 48-60 hours. We have a state-of-the-art tester that measures temperature, barometric pressure and humidity, giving the most accurate reading possible. As soon as the test is completed, we send a full report to the client in PDF format. The EPA recommends testing every two years.

What is the most cost-effective way of making sure my home is safe?

A fully customized system designed by Bluegrass Radon Systems is typically one percent or less of the value of your home. We will always visit your property or real-estate purchase before preparing a proposal. Beware of companies who give you a flat rate over the phone—there is no way to ensure that the system will work effectively without an initial inspection of the structure, and multiple "add-ons" at additional cost may be required for the system to function correctly.

* As determined by radon test results from Air Chek, Inc.