Ron Stadham of Front Range Radon educates homeowners about radon

BrokerIPTV: Today we are talking with Ron Stadham, the owner and operator of Front Range Radon and Ron, thanks for being with us. Glad you are here.

Ron Stadham: Thank you Dan for having me.

BrokerIPTV: You know lot of people when I first got in the business, I didn't know what radon is, where it comes from. Can you get us up to speed?

Ron Stadham: Sure. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the soil. It starts as trace uranium 238 and as the decay process begins, it goes from uranium 238 to radium 226 to radon 222.

BrokerIPTV: Okay.

Ron Stadham: And we construct a home over this soil that contains trace uranium, the home can create negative pressure, drawing the radon up into it.

BrokerIPTV: So, does that happen anywhere in Colorado or is it unique to Colorado or do we see this in other states?

Ron Stadham: Trace uranium 238, the whole decay process occurs throughout the world. It is found almost everywhere.

BrokerIPTV: Okay.

Ron Stadham: It is just in some areas, it is greater than others. In Colorado, especially up down the Front Range, we have higher levels of radon in the soil than you may find in other parts of the country.

BrokerIPTV: What happens to people who are inhaling radon for lengths of time?

Ron Stadham: Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the nation next to cigarette smoking which is number one. So, it is very important that all of us test our homes for radon to find out what level we are at and if we are above 4 picocuries, then we do something about it.

BrokerIPTV: Most inspection companies when you do a regular home inspection ask if you would like to add on the radon test.

Ron Stadham: Everybody should test their home for radon. Know what the radon level is at least and then you can make... educate yourself and decide whether you want to do something about it. If you are above 4 picocuries which is the EPA's threshold, you should consider having a radon mitigation system installed.

BrokerIPTV: Some people go to local hardware store and get the test your home by yourself kit. Do those things even work?

Ron Stadham: Those kits are accurate if you follow all the directions, keep the house closed up tight, and the house should be closed up 12 hours before you do the testing, kept closed during the test. They are accurate now. After you have done a home test kit like that and you come back with an elevated level above 4 picocuries, you should probably consider having a qualified professional home inspector with more sophisticated equipment to come back in and retest again to make sure. Then, if you are still above 4 picocuries, then you need to start investigation a mitigation system.

BrokerIPTV: And when you say mitigation system, a typical remedy is vapor barrier ventilation fan. Is that correct?

Ron Stadham: Well, depending upon the home and how the home is constructed. If the home has no cross space, it is a lot easier. We do what we call a sub-slab depressurization system. There is no such thing as a home you can't fix the radon in. Every home is mitigatable. Some of the homes may get a little more involved than others, but there is always a remedy to fix radon in any home.

BrokerIPTV: Ron, thanks. Appreciate it. Good information.

Ron Stadham: Thank you.

Posted on October 12, 2008 12:24:10 by Blog Author