ProCheck Engineering Inc. and ProCheck Radon Systems. LLC

05/30/2026

State of Ohio has strict, exacting standards to be met by radon mitigators. ProCheck Radon far exceeds the minimum standards for the plastic used in crawl spaces. The 12 mil, fiber-reinforced plastic we use easily withstand punctures and tears and yes, clients can still store items on it when we are done without fear of damaging the plastic.

Many radon mitigation jobs take a LOT of work and it is not for the faint of heart. Hands and knees work in tight crawl spaces followed by climbing 2 story ladders ! But truly, we love it !

05/10/2026

Another view of our beautiful Snowball Viburnum, this one from above out the bathroom window.

05/05/2026

i blame A.I.

This printer printed a 2 foot by three foot black page of its own volition and then said it was out of black ink

05/05/2026

Snowball Viburbum showing off for the hostas !

03/17/2026

The view from Lookout Mountain where Confederate cannons had helped keep the Union army bottled up in Chattanooga as seen in the distance. On Nov. 23-25, 1863, the new commander of the Union army, Gen Ulysses Grant, said enough was enough and broke out of the seige and defeated the Confederates pushing them out of Tennessee.

03/17/2026

03/15/2026

Living in an area where natural gas is abundant and cheap, I didn't realize Electric furnaces where in so much use around the country, making up 30% of all furnaces.

Gas furnaces are the dominant heating source in roughly 47–50% of U.S. households, particularly in colder regions, offering lower operating costs and higher heat output. Electric furnaces and heat pumps are present in about 30% of homes, growing in popularity due to lower upfront costs, better safety, and suitability for milder climates.

01/10/2026

I want to be totally transparent: Radon is real, not a myth or a "money making scam". It is a serious, scientifically documented health hazard, but because it is invisible and sounds a bit sci-fi ("radioactive gas from the ground"), it often triggers that "is this real?" alarm.

​Here is the verified reality of radon, based on current data from the EPA, CDC, and World Health Organization.

​1. What is it?
​Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
​How it gets in: It rises from the ground and seeps into homes through cracks in the foundation, gaps around service pipes, construction joints, or cavities inside walls.
​Where it gathers: Because it comes from the soil, it usually accumulates in the lowest levels of a home (basements, crawl spaces), but it can be found in any home, regardless of age or whether it has a basement.

​2. Is it actually dangerous?
​Yes. It is not a minor irritant; it is a Class A Carcinogen.
​Lung Cancer Risk: Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the #2 cause overall (behind smoking).
​The Mechanism: When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles get trapped in your lungs. Over time, these radioactive bursts damage lung tissue and can lead to cancer.
​The Stats: The EPA estimates radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the U.S. alone.

​3. The "Action Level" (When to worry)
​You cannot know if you have radon without testing because you cannot smell or see it.
​Units: In the US, it is measured in "picocuries per liter" (pCi/L).
​Safe Zone: The average indoor level is about 1.3 pCi/L. The outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.
​Danger Zone: The EPA recommends taking action to fix your home if the level is 4.0 pCi/L or higher.

​4. Common Myths vs. Reality
​
​Myth: "I don't have a basement, so I'm safe." -> False. It can enter slab-on-grade homes too.
​Myth: "My neighbor tested low, so I'm fine." -> False. Radon levels can vary wildly from house to house based on the soil directly underneath.
​Myth: "It's only a problem in old houses." -> False. New homes can trap radon even more effectively because they are sealed so tightly for energy efficiency.
​What you can do next:
​If you have never tested your home, that is the single most valuable next step.
You can call us or you can get a low-cost radon test kit at places like Home Depot or available via the Ohio Department of Health.

01/09/2026

Cut-Away view of small 2-burner furnace and larger 4-burner furnace. The burner flames heat up the cavity INSIDE the heater exchanger (metal tubes or chambers). This heated space conducts heat through the metal walls of the heat exchanger (exchanges heat !) to heat up the air we breath ! When this heat exchanger metal breaks or cracks, carbon monoxide generated from the burning of fossil fuels like natural gas, can leak into the air we breath. This is why it's important to get your heat exchanger inspected (especially on older furnaces) and to have CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS installed in your house !

01/08/2026

This is what it is ALL about. Not an Earth-shaking thing, just a small victory for a young family with a baby AND a pregnant mom. Radon levels at 23.6 pCi/l (picocuries in a liter of air, i.e. amount of radiation in a liter of air). House built 1925, partial Basement/partial Inaccessible Crawl that leaks radon, newly installed basement waterproofing panels that leak radon (open passage to the soil). We installed a 4" PVC pipe radon system with a high CFM fan (Festa Legend) and a 3" branch pipe going into the Inaccessible Crawl Space. New radon levels now down to 0.8 pCi/l.