Tag Archives: radon mitigation

How Radon Gets Into the House

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Radon can be found in soil, and since it is naturally occurring, no one can prevent its existence. Besides, it can be found anywhere, including your home. This radioactive gas is prevalent in the United States, affecting thousands to millions of households. Although not everyone is aware of its adverse effects, more and more people consider radon mitigation to make a radon-resistant home. If you have never heard of radon before, we’re here to give you a glimpse of its harmful effects. You’ll also learn how this radioactive gas enters your home and what you can do about it.

Radon Mitigation: Why You Should Consider It Now

Lung cancer is no joke because many people have died because of it. According to the World Health Organization, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Although you are not a smoker, there are still chances that you can acquire it if you are exposed to high radon levels for a long time. The truth is, radon is the second leading cause of cancer next. And if you are a smoker, you are increasing your risks of lung cancer especially if your home has high radon levels.

Since radon is inevitable, it would be best to consider radon mitigation. You may apply quick fixes while waiting for a radon contractor or hire a radon expert immediately once you found out that your home has high radon levels. When it comes to radon mitigation, there are temporary and permanent solutions, and the best one depends on your necessity. If you are creating a radon-resistant home and want to live there as long as possible, the best radon mitigation techniques should be applied.

How Radon Enters Your Home

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium. It is usually found in nearly all soils. This gas moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home. Radon can enter your house through the cracks and other holes in your home’s foundation. This is why any home can experience a radon problem, including new and old houses, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.

Simple Radon Reduction Techniques

If you want to reduce radon  in your home, here are some radon reduction techniques to consider:

  • Caulking – you can use caulking products to seal entry points in the floors and walls of the home. 
  • Sealing – draft the excluders and rubber seals to seal around doors and other access points in a building. Don’t forget to seal the large cracks and openings in your home.
  • Ventilation – open the windows and vents to ensure that air is flowing throughout the house. If your home has a suspended ground floor and space underneath, make sure to clear the obstruction to improve the ventilation.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas, and it can be found almost everywhere. Therefore, you cannot guarantee that your home is safe from this cancer-causing gas. If you want to reduce the risks of acquiring lung cancer from long-time radon exposure, radon testing and applying radon mitigation should be prioritized.

Symptoms of Radon Poisoning

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Radon is a radioactive gas found in soil that is prevalent in the United States. Since radon is naturally occurring, every household can experience radon problems. Everyone must be aware of this radioactive gas because its adverse effects include increasing one’s risks of lung cancer. The World Health Organization confirmed that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer next to smoking. WHO also stated that smokers have higher risks of lung cancer if they are also exposed to high radon levels. If you want to keep yourself safe from this cancer-causing gas, it is vital to learn the radon mitigation techniques you can apply to prevent radon poisoning and other problems.

What is Radon Poisoning?

Aside from cancer, radon can also cause radon poisoning. But what is it, and what does it do to your body?

Radon is the end product of radium decay. When large amounts of this gas enter your body, radon poisoning could occur, causing harmful physical changes. Some people experience radon problems without actually knowing it. This is because radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas; therefore, it is challenging to detect the gas using human senses. Although radon poisoning does not cause severe health problems compared to other radioactive substances, long-term radon exposure can lead to the development of lung cancer. 

Radon Poisoning Symptoms

Unless you conduct radon testing, you cannot detect radon at home. So how can you tell if there is radon poisoning? What are its symptoms?

The problem with radon poisoning is it is symptomless. So it’s hard to tell whether you are exposed to radon because it gives no meaningful indication of exposure. Besides being undetectable by human senses, it also does not produce any effects on the body. You’ll only know you’ve got radon problems once it has caused cellular changes to your body and, worse, lead to lung cancer. Therefore, everyone must take all the necessary precautions against radon exposure, especially if you are living in Zone 1 area. In this place, there are higher radon levels compared to other sites. 

Lung Cancer Symptoms

Lung cancer is not only caused by smoking because long-term exposure to high radon levels can also cause it. That’s why you also have to be familiar with lung cancer symptoms because if you are not a smoker or have never been exposed to smoking and you start to feel the lung cancer symptoms, you need to consult a doctor immediately. Some of the signs you need to remember include coughing up blood, feeling chest pain, and experiencing breathing difficulties.

Radon is very harmful to human health because it can cause radon poisoning and lung cancer. Therefore, it is a must for every home to conduct radon testing to find out the radon levels in the house. This way, homeowners can apply the best mitigation technique to create a radon-resistant home. Since radon mainly accumulates in places where the ventilation is inadequate, it would be best to use radon reduction techniques to improve the ventilation inside your home. You may consider some DIY radon mitigation or entrust the job to a licensed radon contractor.

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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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Are Radon Levels Higher In Vacant Homes?

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Radon is a naturally occurring gas, that’s why you can expect it anywhere, even at your home. Although it is dangerous, there is a specific radon level that is considered harmful to people. When you expose yourself to high radon levels for a long time, the cells in your lungs will be damaged, increasing your risk to lung cancer. If you want to avoid this, it is crucial to create a radon-resistant home. If you are buying a house or relocating to a new one, you must ensure that the house is radon-free by conducting radon testing. This is because you’ll never know if vacant homes have higher radon levels. If you are curious to know, then we’re here to give you the answer.

Radon Levels in Vacant Homes

Most people who are aware of how dangerous radon has the same question in mind. Are radon levels higher in vacant homes? Some homeowners believe that radon is more evident in newly built houses. Therefore, they ask the assistance of professional radon contractors to decrease radon in the place. Others who have abandoned their home for a long time also worry if cancer-causing gas is more evident after leaving it for months or years. Before we answer the question, there are several things that you need to know when it comes to radon entry. The following will help you understand how radon enters your home and answer your question of whether leaving the house vacant for a certain period can elevate radon levels.

Radon enters your home through cracks or openings in your house’s foundation. 

Whether your home is vacant or not, radon can still enter because it passes through the cracks or opening of your house’s foundation unless you have applied radon mitigation techniques. Aside from this, the differences in air pressure between the inside of a building and the soil around it can also contribute to radon entry.

Your home exchanges its air every 6-8 hours. 

According to professional radon contractors, the air in your house circulates, and it exchanges its air every 6-8 hours. Meaning, if there are high radon levels, there is a possibility that it will be reduced. This could happen through natural convection and air circulation with your HVAC system. However, it is still essential to ensure that the house was built with radon reduction techniques to remove your worries regarding high radon levels.

Leaving your windows open for a long time contributes to radon entry.

Radon experts say that unless you can have every window open when in a home, open windows can create a more significant stack effect that pulls more radon gas into your house. So make sure to improve your home’s ventilation, so you don’t have to open your windows for a long time.

Radon is indeed dangerous because it brings adverse health effects. But since it is naturally occurring, what homeowners can do is to apply radon mitigation techniques. Although there are DIYs that you can follow, it is still best to ask for radon experts’ help; doing so quill guarantee that your home is safe from high radon levels even if you leave it vacant for a long time.

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Radon Testing: Is It Necessary When Buying A Home?

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Are you planning to buy your dream house soon? If you are purchasing a ready-to-move-in home, you probably know that there are many things to consider. Aside from the house’s location and its price, you also need to test it for radon. Some buyers are unaware that radon testing is significant, especially if you are relocating to a new house. In this article, find out why it is necessary to test your home for radon and what kind of radon testing is recommended.

Radon: What Is It?

Radon is a radioactive gas. Since it occurs naturally, you can find it anywhere, including your home, school, and even in the workplace. The worst thing about radon is it can cause lung cancer. According to the World Health Organization, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. If your home has radon, it doesn’t mean that you’ll acquire lung cancer right away. Exposing yourself to high radon levels for a long time can damage the cells in your lungs, which can lead to lung cancer.

Why Testing Your Home For Radon Is A Must

High radon levels are dangerous because they can cause lung cancer. Although there is no strong evidence that radon can also cause other health conditions, still, it is vital to have a radon-resistant home. When buying a house. It is critical to conduct radon testing to assess the radon levels of your new place. Once you have the results, you can plan for the best radon reduction technique to create a radon-resistant home.

There are two types of radon testing, short-term and long-term. Both are helpful, but they should be done correctly to get the most accurate results. Although there are DIY radon testing that you can do, hiring a professional radon corrector is highly recommended. When looking for a radon contractor, make sure they have a license to conduct radon testing. Having a license means they are legal to operate, and they are knowledgeable when it comes to radon mitigation.

Which Radon Testing Is Highly Recommended?

Radin testing can be short-term or long-term, and the better one depends on what you want to achieve. For instance, short-term radon testing is recommended if you only want to know if radon exists in the house you are about to buy. If the results say there are high radon levels, you need to ask the contractor about the best radon reduction technique that can be applied to your home. Once you have bought the house, long-term radon testing is a must so that you can monitor whether radon is reduced or not. 

Radon is a harmful radioactive gas because of its adverse effects. The only way to combat it is to apply the radon reduction technique to ensure you have a radon-resistant home. But before you do radon mitigation, you need to conduct radon testing first to identify the radon levels in your area. So before you buy a house, make sure you test it for radon to keep your family safe from the cancer-causing gas.

13 Radon Mitigation Techniques

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Radon is literally everywhere. You can find it at home and in the workplace. The worst part is that radon is also found at schools. This alarms parents and teachers because they can affect the children who are more vulnerable to diseases. Although there are several methods in getting rid of radon, it is indeed challenging to fight something that people cannot see. Remember that radon is a cancer-causing gas that cannot be seen, smelled, or touched. And the only way to determine whether this radioactive gas is present is through radon testing.

Radon Testing vs. Radon Mitigation

If you are dealing with radon, you might have encountered terms like testing and mitigation. Although they might look similar in definitions, these terms are different. Radon testing refers to the process of testing an area whether it has radon or not. Radon test kits and radon detectors are used to determine if the radioactive gas is present in your home, school, or workplace. The price of each radon test kit and radon detector varies considering the brand and quality.

On the other hand, radon mitigation refers to any process of removing the concentrated radon levels in domestic and commercial properties. Since radon is a dense gas, it can enter your home, classrooms, and offices without you knowing it. The worst part is this gas can collect in large quantities over time. Therefore, homeowners, school authorities, and employers need to choose any effective radon mitigation techniques to ensure that every home, school, and workplace is radon-free.

13 Radon Mitigation Techniques

To make every home, classroom, or office radon-free, radon testing is necessary. This process will determine whether the radon level in the area is acceptable or not. Even if the radon level is low, it would be better to aim for a radon-free environment. Besides, you can perform several radon mitigation techniques, including the following:

  1. Block wall suction – 50 to 99 percent
  2. Drain tile suction – 50 to 99 percent
  3. Heat recovery ventilation – N/A
  4. Home pressurization – 50 to 99 percent
  5. Natural ventilation – N/A
  6. Natural ventilation (crawlspace) – 0 to 50 percent
  7. Passive sub-slab suction – 30 to 70 percent
  8. Private well water aeration – 95 to 99 percent
  9. Private well water granular carbon (GAC) – 85 to 99 percent
  10. Seal radon entry locations – N/A
  11. Submembrane depressurization (crawlspace) – 50 to 99 percent
  12. Sub-slab suction – 50 to 99 percent
  13. Sump hole suction – 50 to 99 percent

You can talk to the radon experts so that they can tell you which of the listed mitigation techniques will work best on your domestic or commercial property. The best strategy in radon reduction is something that works best for long-term mitigation goals. Choosing the right mitigation technique can help you save more money.

Radon Mitigation: DIY vs. Radon Professional

When it comes to the radon mitigation techniques discussed earlier, you could be wondering whether to do them yourself or hire a certified radon professional. The truth is you can choose any of them and perform DIY mitigation. Many companies out there sell DIY radon mitigation kits, allowing you to use them without the need to hire a licensed radon contractor.

However, if you want to ensure that the radon mitigation technique you have chosen will work best, you may consider hiring certified radon mitigation professional. This is because radon professionals are experts when it comes to reducing radon levels. No matter which technique you want to do for your domestic or commercial property, they can assist you with installing equipment or materials that will make your rooms radon-free.

Identifying your home, school, or office’s radon level is the first step in achieving a radon-free environment. Therefore, you need to conduct accurate radon testing so that you can choose which radon mitigation technique to use. No matter what strategy you pick, what matters most is to reduce the radon level and, better, make the area radon-free.