Radon is rampant in the United States. It is not questionable since radon is a naturally occurring gas. Although you can find it anywhere, it is still challenging to identify if your home has high radon levels because the gas is inert, colorless, and odorless. The only way to determine if your home is safe from cancer-causing gas is to test your home for radon. If the results of radon tests show that your home has high radon levels, it’s time to apply proven and cost-effective radon reduction techniques.
Why You Should Reduce Radon Now
You can find radon in the atmosphere, but only in trace amounts. This is because it disperses quickly, making it not a health issue. What makes it a primary concern is when a person is exposed to high radon levels. Breathing radon for a long time at high levels can increase your risk of lung cancer. Although exposing yourself to radioactive gas will not kill you right away, it is still a threat to human health.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. This is why no one should overlook the possibility of exposing oneself to radon because most exposures occur inside homes, schools, and workplaces. Meaning no one is safe from the adverse effects of radon unless you make your home radon-resistant.
You can take specific measures to reduce and control the amount of radon in your home. You can use DIY radon test kits to determine the radon levels, then apply the radon reduction techniques needed. If you want to guarantee the effectiveness of radon reduction, you can hire a licensed radon contractor. Based on the EPA guidance, radon mitigation is necessary if the radon levels are at or above 148 Bq/m3 (4 pCi/L).
Recommended Radon Reduction Techniques
Whether you are just waiting for your home to be built or already living in your dream house, radon mitigation is a must if your home has high radon levels. The following are the recommended radon reduction construction techniques from radon experts:
Heat Recovery Ventilator
Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) is one of the most recommended radon reduction techniques that you can do. It is also known as an air-to-air heat exchanger, which can be installed to increase ventilation by introducing outdoor air while using the heated or cooled air being exhausted to warm or cool the incoming air.
House or Room Pressurization
Another cost-effective method of reducing radon levels is using a fan to blow air into the basement or living area. Doing so creates enough pressure at the lowest level indoors, which can prevent radon from entering the home. But before you do this, take note that the effectiveness of this technique is limited by several factors, including home construction, climate, and other appliances in the home.
Sealing
Radon can pass through the cracks and other openings in the foundation of your home. Sealing these areas is one of the approaches to radon reduction. When you seal the cracks, you can limit the flow of radon into your home. This is one of the most recommended radon reduction techniques by experts because it is more effective and cost-efficient. Not only that, but it also reduces the loss of conditioned air.
Radon is a cancer-causing gas; that’s why as a homeowner, you should consider radon mitigation to ensure that you and your family are safe from the gas’s adverse effects. Although there are DIY radon tests and mitigations you can do, it is still advisable to ask for professional help to apply radon reduction techniques. Licensed radon contractors know what to do to make your home radon-resistant.
