Avoid Radon's Deadly Consequences, Here's How

A potentially deadly, naturally-forming, radioactive gas can seep into your house and you might not even know its there.

But starting this month and continuing through March, several area communities have free radon test kits where folks can find out if radon is in their homes and whether mitigation measures must be undertaken.

Towns with free test kits are Avon, Canton, Farmington, Simsbury, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, East Granby, Granby, Colebrook, New Hartford.

Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless naturally occurring gas that enters homes through cracks and holes in a home’s foundation.

It's radioactive origins come from decomposing uranium deep underground.

Exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths overall in the United States.

Testing is the only way to find out if a home has radon and its why January is National Radon Action Month.

Beginning this month through March 2023, while supplies last, area residents can visit any of the following locations to pick-up a free radon test kit:

• Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon.

• Avon Senior Center, 635 W. Avon Road, Avon.

• Barkhamsted Building Department, 67 Ripley Hill Road, Pleasant Valley (Barkhamsted).

• Canton Senior Center, 40 Dyer Ave., Canton.

• Colebrook Senior Center, 2 School House Road, Colebrook.

• East Granby Building Department, 9 Center St., East Granby.

• East Granby Public Library, 24 Center St., East Granby.

• Farmington Public Library — Main Library, 6 Monteith Drive, Farmington.

• Farmington Senior Center, 321 New Britain Ave., Unionville (Farmington).

• Farmington Valley Health District, 95 River Road, Canton.

• Granby Public Library, 15 N. Granby Road, Granby.

• Granby Senior Center, 15 N. Granby Rd #C, Granby.

• Licia & Mason Beekley Community Library, 10 Central Ave., New Hartford.

• Simsbury Senior Center, 754 Hopmeadow St. #1, Eno Memorial Hall, Simsbury.

The tests come with clear instructions and then folks can mail them to a lab, which will then contact users with the results.

For more information on radon, click on this link.