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How Rain Increases Radon Levels

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Have you ever wondered if the air you breathe is clean and safe enough? Many people think that polluted air refers to the black smoke that you can see in the busy streets, highways, and factories. Little do they know there is a harmful gas which can be found possibly anywhere, especially at home – and that is radon. It is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas given off by soil or rock, and is commonly found in homes in the United States. Radon is a massive supporter of ecological radioactivity.  It is truly undeniable that even if you stay in the house, you can’t be 100% safe. Not only that but there are factors that can cause radon to fluctuate. In this article, learn whether rain increases or decreases radon levels in your home.

Does Rain Cause Radon Fluctuation?

Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer in the US while radon is second on the line. It is considered as one of the most harmful gasses that can be inhaled, which brings to the rising number of people diagnosed with lung cancer. As the number of cases escalates, there is a certainty that radon levels also increase. One of the most common factors of the continuous rise of radon level is the weather. Wind and storms make the most significant factors of high radon levels when testing for radon gas. Rainier days will, in general, bring about recognizably higher radon levels. This is because stormy days are frequently combined with lower barometric pressing factors. 

In most cases, high winds increase radon levels at home. Rain can cause radon gasses to rise from the saturated soil. Throughout the cold weather months, there will be a ton of downpour, snow, and ice. The entirety of this additional dampness can immerse and even freeze the soil. If this occurs, radon can’t typically stream into the air. As a result, radon would then be able to be diverted into your home in higher fixations than expected.

The Importance of Radon  Mitigation

Radon is an exceptionally dense gas, which implies once it enters a home, it can gather in massive amounts over the long run. To prevent the widespread use of radon at home, there is this so-called radon mitigation. This process is used to diminish radon gas in the breathing zones and water supplies of any infrastructures or establishments. It is done through putting proper ventilation to filtrate the indoor air of the building or your home. Because of the high radon level found in every state of the United States, it is better to have your house, building, or any establishments to be tested or be mitigated. 

To ensure good radon mitigation, it is wise to choose a qualified radon contractor. Pick a radon contractor that will fix a radon issue similarly as you would pick somebody to do other home fixes. It is insightful to get more than one estimate so that there will be a reference in what to do or what not to do. It would also be an excellent decision to get a good connection from those already done with the radon mitigation. Also, do not forget to check if the contractor holds a professional proficiency or certificate of credentials that can prove the legitimacy of their work. 

Weather can make radon levels high or low. To stop or prevent the fluctuation, it is the right time to get your house tested for radon and get mitigated by professional and well-trusted radon contractors. Cancer is always one step away from everyone. It is better to prevent than to cure, as they say.

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Why Do Radon Levels Fluctuate?

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Radon testing is one of the first things you need to do if you want to reduce the radon levels at your home. This process is crucial because it is the only way you can tell whether your home has high radon levels or not. You can plan on the best radon reduction techniques that will help you create a radon-resistant home through the results. However, radon testing should not only be done once because radon levels fluctuate. Meaning, radon increases or decreases depending on several factors. Why do radon levels fluctuate, and what should you do about it? Find the answers here.

The Rise and Fall of Radon Levels

Radon naturally occurs everywhere, and it is constantly changing. It can be hourly, daily, or seasonal, depending on the factors that affect its fluctuation. Radon is a cancer-causing gas, and it seeks a lower pressure area. This is why it moves from the soil to the air. It flows faster, especially if there is a big difference between the high and low air pressure. Aside from air pressure, the weather is one of the common factors that affect the radon levels at your home. The changes in weather events such as severe storms and high winds can increase or decrease radon. Take a look at the following how weather factors can cause radon fluctuation:

High winds

High winds can either create high pressure or low pressure in your home. But most of the time, high winds increase radon levels.

Rain or storm

Rain or storms can bring in lower pressure air around your home. As mentioned, radon likes lower pressure, causing it to “flow” from the soil to the air even faster than normal. If there is heavy rainfall, the ground will become more saturated with water. As a result, radon will find a path through the soil outside the home.

Snow, ice, and cold temperature

If there is cold weather, you tend to open the heater to make your home warmer. The problem is that heaters pull more radon through the building, causing radon levels to rise. With cold weather, hot air rises, and if this escapes your home, there would be new air that needs to enter your home, which usually comes from the soil.

Radon Testing: Short Term or Long Term?

It is normal for radon to fluctuate because several factors cause it. If so, what should you do? One of the best things to do is to test your home for radon to apply the radon reduction techniques that will lower the levels of the cancer-causing gas. You can follow some DIY radon reduction techniques or ask a professional radon contractor to do the work. When considering radon tests, you need to decide whether to opt for short-term or long-term radon testing.

Short-term radon testing is recommended if you want to have a quick check if there are high radon levels in your home right now. With these tests, you can take action to decrease the radon levels. However, long-term radon testing is still needed to monitor radon levels in your home and ensure you are safe from the adverse effects of radon.

Radon is everywhere, and you can’t tell whether you are safe from it or not. That’s why radon testing is a must for you to create a radon-resistant home, keeping your family and loved ones safe from cancer-causing gas. Short-term radon tests can help you, but it is a long-term radon test that can help you monitor radon levels in your home.

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What to Do If Radon Levels are High

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Radon levels determine the amount of radon present in your home. The safest radon level is zero, but it is pretty challenging to keep it at zero level unless your home was built with radon reduction construction techniques since it is naturally occurring. Besides, radon levels may vary from time to time, so it is recommended to test your home for radon. And if the radon levels are high, you need to reduce them as soon as possible. In this article, learn some radon reduction strategies that can provide both short-term and long-term benefits.

Radon Testing

One of the first things you need to do before doing any radon reduction technique is radon testing. Doing so allows you to tell if your home has high radon levels. There are several ways to test your home for radon, including short-term and long-term testing. Suppose you are in a hurry; you can measure radon for two to three days. For a short-term test, it is recommended to keep your doors and windows closed as much as possible. This way, you can avoid the fans from bringing air from outside. You may use the following devices for short term radon testing:

  • alpha-track detectors
  • charcoal canisters
  • charcoal liquid scintillation detectors
  • continuous monitors
  • electret ion chambers

Since radon levels might change from day to day or month to month, it would be best to opt for long-term radon testing. This is because, according to radon experts, you’ll get the most accurate results from this kind of test. Long-term radon testing measures radon levels for more than 90 days, including alpha-track and electret ion chamber detectors.

Radon Reduction Techniques

Once you have completed a radon test, it’s time to assess whether your home has high radon levels or not. And suppose the level is high, here are some radon reduction techniques that you can do.


1. Create a gas-permeable layer that is beneath the slab or flooring. Doing so allows the radioactive gas to move under your house. However, this technique only works if you have a basement or slab foundation.

2. Install a plastic sheeting that goes on top of the gas-permeable layer under the slab. With this technique, you can prevent radon from entering your home.

3. Install a soil suction radon reduction system. It is also called a vent pipe and fan system. With this radon reduction technique, you can keep the gas from accumulating inside your home.

4. Seal and caulk the foundation cracks and openings. Doing so helps reduce the amount of radon entering your home.

If you test your home for radon and the radon levels are high, it is recommended to try the above techniques and see if they will work for your home. If you find it challenging to fix the radon issues, you may hire a radon contractor. The EPA recommends that you have to hire a qualified radon mitigation contractor to improve your home because it may need a radon mitigation system installed. You may contact your state radon office for a list of licensed radon mitigation professionals in your area.

Radon Levels: What Do They Mean?

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There could be many times when you have heard how dangerous radon is. But some of you may not know what radon level is considered hazardous. Although it is indeed better to make every home radon-free, some establishments with high radon levels may not be able to become radon-resistant instantly. But it is essential to target radon levels that are tolerable and safer. But what do radon levels mean? How are they measured, and which radon level is considered safe? Find out all the answers here.

What are Radon Levels?

Radon levels refer to the amount of radon present in your home, school, or office. You can determine them with a radon test. There are several ways on how to test an area for radon. Knowing radon levels is important because it is one of the vital steps to plan on how to reduce them. As mentioned, zero radon level is the safest, but suppose your home has high radon levels, the first thing to do is to lower it.

Which Radon Level is Tolerable?

Since radon is a naturally occurring gas, you’ll never know whether your area will be forever radon-free. That’s why radon testing is recommended every six months. The average global outdoor radon level may vary between 5-15 Bq/m3. This is also equal to 0.135-0.405 pCi/L. It only means that for every 99.9 Bq/m3, or every 2.7 pCI/L, you are increasing lung cancer risk to 16%. According to the World Health Organization, the generally accepted action level is 100 Bq/m3, or 2.7 pCi/L. If your home has high radon levels, it is advised to take remedial action to reduce the radon levels. WHO also suggests an upper limit that should not be exceeded at 300 Bq/m3 or eight pCi/L.

How Do You Decrease Radon Levels?

Suppose you have tested your home for radon and you found out that there are high radon levels; here are the things you can do:

  • Consider sealing the cracks and other openings in the foundation. This is one of the basic approaches you can do for radon reduction. Doing so limits the flow of radon into your home. By sealing the cracks and openings, other radon reduction techniques become more effective.
  • Get a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV). This is also called an air-to-air heat exchanger, which you can install to increase ventilation. Doing so reduces the radon levels in your home.
  • Perform house or room pressurization. This radon reduction technique uses a fan to blow air into the basement. It can also be done in the living area from either upstairs or outdoors. With this technique, you are creating enough pressure at the lowest level indoors.

Measuring radon levels is one of the critical steps to prevent anyone from having cancer caused by radioactive gas. Since radon is the second leading cause of cancer, making a radon-resistant home is a must. There are different ways to lower the radon levels at home, school, or office. You may call the nearest certified radon contractor in your area if you need to apply some radon reduction techniques in your establishments. It would be better to target zero radon levels but if your home has high radon levels, what matters most is to reduce them step by step.

Radon at Home: What You Need To Know

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According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, radon causes thousands of lung cancer every year. This is possible because this cancer-causing gas is very evident in the country. You can find it at home, school, workplace, and even in the places you don’t expect this gas to be. Although many people are aware of radon’s adverse effects, some of them overlook the precautionary measures they need to take. In this article, you’ll know more about how radon enters your home, how you can test if this gas is present, and what radon levels are tolerable.

How Radon Enters Your Home

Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium, which you can find in all soils. This gas moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home, passing through cracks and holes in the foundation. If your home traps radon inside, this cancer-causing gas can build up. Therefore, any home is susceptible to radon, including new and old houses. Even if your home is well-sealed and drafty, you cannot guarantee that it is safe from harmful gas. That’s why you should get a radon test is critical because it is the only method you can use to determine whether it is present or not.

Radon Testing: Know If Radon Is Present In Your Home

Short-term Testing

There are several ways to perform radon testing, and the quickest way to do it is to conduct short-term tests. When conducting short-term testing, it should remain in your home for two days to 90 days, depending on the device you will use. You may use the following for short-term testing:

  • Alpha track
  • Charcoal canisters
  • Charcoal liquid scintillation
  • Continuous monitors
  • Electret ion chamber

Radon levels may vary from day to day and season to season; that’s why a short-term test is not advisable if you want to determine year-round average radon level. But it could be ideal if you need the results quickly.

Long-term Testing

Long-term tests should remain in your home for more than 90 days. You may use the alpha track and electret detectors to conduct year-long testing. This test will give you a reading that is more likely to tell your home’s year-round average radon level.

Acceptable Radon Levels

The acceptable radon levels at home, school, office, or anywhere is 0. It is essential to make sure that your environment is radon-free to reduce the risks of getting cancer and other respiratory diseases. But if your place has high radon levels, you can start little by little until you can completely eradicate this radioactive gas. If you want to eliminate radon, it is crucial, to begin with radon testing. You may call a radon contractor or do the radon testing yourself. 

If you find hiring a radon contractor expensive, you may use DIY radon test kits to determine your place’s radon levels. According to the EPA, you need to fix your home if your radon level is four picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. And even if the radon level is less than four pCi/L, it may still pose a risk. Therefore, you need to make sure that the radon levels will be reduced and make it as zero as possible.

Radon is very dangerous, and even if you are not familiar with what it can do, it is still crucial to eliminate this at home. Since it could be present anywhere, radon testing is essential to determine the radon levels in your place. 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher is dangerous enough to cause cancer since you could be breathing the gas if you do not take necessary actions. But you don’t need to wait for this radon level. As long as you find that the gas present, make sure to eradicate it as soon as possible.