Why You Should Get a Radon Sensor This Black Friday

Black Friday is full of things you want. A radon sensor is one of the few you actually need. Here’s why.

Because radon is an invisible health risk

A radon detector for home use is worth having because radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking (EPA), can’t be seen, smelled, or tasted.

According to the WHO, the risk of lung cancer rises by about 16% for every 100 Bq/m³ (2.7 pCi/L) increase in long-term average radon concentration.

There’s no way to know whether it’s building up in your home unless you measure it. A continuous radon monitor turns “I hope it’s fine” into real numbers, day by day and season by season.

For peace of mind when buying, building, or renovating

Moving in, building, or renovating? That’s exactly when a radon sensor earns its keep. (CDC)

If you’re buying, the EPA recommends hiring a qualified tester for the purchase itself. Once you’ve moved in, a continuous radon monitor lets you keep track of your levels.

If you’re building, test once you’ve moved in, even if the house has radon-resistant features. Radon-resistant doesn’t always mean radon-free.

Renovating? Changing walls and airflow can change your radon levels. Test afterwards, and if you’re converting a basement, test before and after. A continuous radon monitor makes that before-and-after comparison easy.

Because winter is the right time to pay attention to radon

Are radon levels higher in the winter? Typically yes. This is because when it’s freezing outside, you seal up the house, and radon can build up (Health Canada).

Your house also works a bit like a chimney. Warm air rises and escapes at the top, and the air that replaces it gets pulled in at the bottom, soil gas included. That’s the stack effect.

That’s why a longer measurement tells you more than a quick test. Running a continuous radon monitor for at least three months, ideally in the heating season, gives a more reliable picture of your long-term exposure.

To know whether your radon protection is working

Installed a radon system? Don’t just assume it works. A continuous radon monitor is a reliable way to check.

When a radon mitigation system is installed, the CDC recommends retesting a few months later to see whether levels dropped. After that, a continuous radon monitor lets you keep watching, because radon levels can change over time with:

• the weather and the seasons,
• the house settling and new cracks forming in the foundation,
• renovations or changes in ventilation.

If the numbers start creeping up, you’ll spot it early, not at the next test.

Because a reliable monitor is a worthwhile gift

Christmas is coming, and so is the “what do I get them?” panic. Black Friday, with Aranet’s best deals live, is your chance to get ahead of it.

A continuous radon monitor can be a caring, practical, and health-conscious gift for your loved ones, especially when:

• they’re moving into a new home or celebrating a housewarming,
• they already own a home and want to make it safer,
• they’re the type who loves a good graph and gadget.

Aranet Radon sensor tells them something useful about their home from day one, needs no subscription, and gives readings they can trust.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are radon monitors accurate?

Yes, a good continuous radon monitor is accurate enough for reliable home use. Every device has a margin of error, though, and short-term readings vary more than longer averages, so watch the trend over days and weeks. Aranet puts its accuracy in writing: ±8% for 24h / 7d / 30d averages.

Find out how Aranet Radon Plus compares with the Airthings Corentium Home.

What are the signs of radon exposure?

There aren’t any you can feel. Radon exposure has no immediate symptoms and its main long-term effect, a higher risk of lung cancer, can take years to show up. The only way to know whether you’re exposed is to measure radon levels in your home.

How much higher are radon levels in winter and in what month is radon the highest?

Radon levels are usually higher in the colder months, though how much varies from home to home. In a 13-year study of radon tests across the US, January was the peak, with about 57% more radon on average than July. February and October were also high. That’s why winter is a good time to test.

When to get a continuous monitor?

Get a continuous radon monitor when one test won’t tell you enough: after moving in, building or renovating, fixing a radon problem, or before winter. Levels shift with the weather and seasons, so a continuous monitor shows the trend, not a single snapshot.

What houses are most at risk of radon?

Any home can have a radon problem, and you can’t reliably predict which ones. Radon risk maps for your country can show whether your area tends to run high, but even two houses next to each other can have very different levels. The only way to know for sure is to test.