Safety Siren Pro 3 Radon Detectors, EPA Evaluated

Radon is not a big issue in the area I live but since my wife and I recently moved into a bedroom in our basement I decided not to take any chances. I was looking at all of the Radon test kits when I ran across the HS71512 Electronic Radon detector, from Safety Siren. The idea of purchasing a tester that will give continuous readings over time just made sense. After researching this device I found that it had received many good reviews so I ordered one up. <br /> <br />There is not much to installing this device. The most important thing is determining the best place to mount it. The manual says "The detector should be placed in the lowest living area of the home, in a location where it will not be disturbed." It also notes that the location of the detector should be at least 3 feet from windows, doors, or any other potential openings in the exterior walls. It should be mounted at least 1 foot from exterior walls and at least 20 inches from the floor. The detector should not be installed near heating and air conditioning vents, doors, fans, windows or any other draft producing items. You also cannot place the detector on metal, granite or slate, as these materials can produce false readings. I hung mine from a floor joist in the utility room of our basement and plugged it in. The unit only comes with a 10 ft. power cable (unit does not have the ability to run on batteries) so you need to keep this in mind when choosing a mounting location. When plugged in the detector runs a short self-test, followed by four short chirps to acknowledge that the unit is functioning properly. <br /> <br />After 48 hours passed, the LED display showed a reading of 1.6 pCi/L (Pico Curies per Liter), which is way below the caution level of 4 pCi/L. Short-term readings display a 7 day radon average, while long-term readings give an average since the unit was last powered up or reset. We have had our Safety Siren Pro 3 Radon Detector installed and running for the past 3 months now and it has been working as expected. The highest levels seem to show up when humidity is the highest. Our highest reading was 2.4 pCi/L while the lowest reading was 1.2 pCi/L. Even at the highest reading I am confident that my family and I are safe in our home, as the EPA states that prolonged exposure to radon gas levels of 4pCi/L or above can cause lung cancer and other illnesses. <br /> <br />The primary features and specifications of the HS71512 Safety Siren Pro 3 Radon Detector are as follows: <br /> <br />* Clear, easy to read LED radon level display <br />* Displays radon levels from 0.1 to 999.9 pCi/L <br />* Samples air continuously and updated reading display once every hour. <br />* Short-term reading displays average radon gas levels over past 7 days. <br />* Long-term reading display average radon gas levels since last powered on or reset, up to a maximum of 5 years. Unit resets long-term average reading after 5 years. <br />* Audible alarm sounds if the long term level reaches 4 pCi/L or higher, or if the short-term level remains at or above 4 pCi/L for 30 consecutive days. <br />* Detector runs self-test every 24 hours and displays error if test fails. <br />* US EPA evaluated and meets performance criteria for the continuous radon protocol. <br />* Accuracy = +/- 20% pCi/L <br />* Operating Environment = 32 ° to 158 ° F (0 ° to 70 ° C) <br />* Power Source: Input = 120v AC at 9 watts / Output = 18v DC/200mA <br />* Sensor Type = Ionization Chamber <br />* Dimensions: 4.7" x 3.1" x 2.1" <br />* Weight: 8 oz. <br />* 1 year limited warranty <br /> <br />Although Radon is not a big threat in my area, I am very happy that I purchased this detector. It gives us the peace of mind that we needed, so we would not always wonder if my wife and I or our children were in danger. The device is extremely easy to install and use. Once plugged in you can leave it in place, to monitor your home over weeks, months or even years. The manual does recommend moving the unit to different areas of your basement, to assure that your entire basement is free from high Radon gas levels. Many people have noticed high ratings near a sump hole in their basement (which we do not have), so I certainly recommend that people test levels in this area of their home. If anyone notices elevated Radon gas levels in their home, they should look for any cracks in their foundation and basement walls and seal them immediately. If the levels are extremely high, or if the Radon gas levels remain above 4 pCi/L even after sealing cracks and holes in your basement, you should contact a Radon Technician as soon as possible. They will likely need to install a Radon evacuation system in your home. <br /> <br />I am giving the Safety Siren Pro 3 Radon Detector 5 stars, for ease of installation, flawless functionality, and for value. This detector may seem a bit pricey to many people but you can't put a price tag on your family's health and safety. It could save your life and the lives of everyone in your household.