Radon is an extremely toxic colorless and odorless gas derived from the radioactive decay of radium. It is commonly found in earth and rock beneath homes, well water and building materials. While there are no immediate effects from exposure to radon, radon in indoor air is found to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.

The only way to know what your home's actual radon levels are is by testing. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you to the presence of radon. It typically takes years of exposure before any problems surface and then it is too late. Lung cancer cases usually occur from five to 25 years after exposure to radon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, American Medical Association and National Safety Council all recommend testing your home for radon. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following steps to determining whether a home is at risk for radon: