Prescott Valley is a town of 46,785 people (2020), sitting at about 5,100 feet and roughly 8 miles east of Prescott. Prescott Radon connects callers here with licensed and insured local radon testing and mitigation professionals. It is about 9.9 miles and an 18-minute drive from Prescott, and the service area includes the town.
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms when uranium in soil, rock and water breaks down. You cannot see, smell or taste it, so a test is the only way to know what is in your home. Call (928) 582-8914 if you want to talk through testing or mitigation.
Why Prescott Valley homes should be tested
Any home can have a radon problem, whether it is new or old, with or without a basement. Radon can enter through cracks in floors and walls, gaps around pipes and wires, sump pits and crawl spaces. EPA recommends testing all homes below the third floor.
The Granite Dells granite north of Prescott has an unusually high uranium content, and the Arizona Geological Survey notes that radon from it is a concern for weather-tight homes. Prescott Valley is a separate town, so that does not tell you what is under your house. Radon levels can differ from one home to the next, which is why a test of your own home matters.
Testing in the Valley
Short-term tests stay in place for 2 to 90 days. Long-term tests stay longer than 90 days and better reflect the year-round average. For a short-term test, keep windows and outside doors closed except for normal coming and going, and place the test in the lowest lived-in level.
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or higher and suggests considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L. If you live near State Route 69, State Route 89A or Fain Park, the same advice applies as anywhere else in town.
How mitigation works
One standard method is active soil depressurization. A vent pipe and fan draw radon from beneath the foundation and release it above the roofline. For crawl spaces, a professional usually covers the ground with a plastic membrane and vents from beneath it.
EPA does not recommend sealing cracks as the only fix, though sealing can be part of a system. The cost depends on your foundation type, size and layout, so professionals give a quote after looking at the home. After a system is installed, EPA recommends retesting, and then again every two years or so.
Wells and home sales
Homes on private wells can have radon in the water, which can be released into the air when water is used. Well water is tested separately from air, and for most homes the air is the larger concern. If you are buying or selling, an older result may not reflect current conditions, especially after renovations.
EPA recommends a nationally certified professional, such as one certified through NRPP or NRSB. Arizona has no state radon certification program. To be connected with a licensed and insured professional in Prescott Valley, call (928) 582-8914.