Tag Archives: radon reduction

Radon Reduction: How to Get Radon Out of Your House

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Since radon is in the form of gas, it can quickly enter your home through your house’s foundation. It can also pass through the cracks and sealings of your home. Therefore, you need to think of the most effective ways to prevent radon entry. There are simple radon reduction techniques that you can follow, but if the radon level in your home is too high, it would be best to call for radon experts’ advice.

It All Starts With Radon Testing

Whether you think your home has radon or not, it is still recommended to conduct radon testing. Why? If you believe your home is radon-free, you can use radon testing to prove it. With the test results, you can identify the presence of the said radioactive material. If you think your house has radon, you can check its level, thus helping you address the issue through the proper radon reduction techniques. 

Radon testing has two types, short-term and long-term. It would be best to do both since each of them has its purpose. The first one is to identify the presence of radon in your home, while the latter is to monitor the gas level continuously. Since radon fluctuates, you cannot tell when the radon level is high; that is why long-term testing is vital.

5 Radon Reduction Techniques to Try at Home

If the result of radon test tells you that your home is positive for the radioactive gas, then it’s time to try the following techniques at home. Some of these can be done by yourself, while others require professional assistance.

Install special traps in the basement floor drains.

If you place traps in the basement floor drains, you can prevent the water from draining from entering the basement. This technique is also known as a backflow restrictor or a one-way valve.

Seal the tops of concrete blocks.

Concrete block walls or CMUs refers to the hollow which provides an open path from the ground/footing to the ceiling or roof system. It is vital to seal these tops using concrete to reduce radon. Know that doing so could be challenging, but you can stuff the open section with newspaper as a stopper, down about 3 inches from the top and filled with concrete to seal them off.

Hire a licensed radon contractor.

You can find DIY radon reduction techniques which apply to your home. But if a professional advise you to install a mitigation system that requires professional assistance, make sure to hire a licensed radon contractor. This way, you can ensure that the mitigation system will be installed properly.

Install a sealed cover over your sump pump.

Some homeowners often observe that the sump pump has two entry points. This includes one from the footing drain, and the other one is under the slab drain. Both of these areas can collect radon gases from the ground, so make sure to cover the sealing lid used to seal around the exit pipe.

Seal all cracks in your basement.

Radon is usually high in the basement because this gas can be found in soil. To get rid of this gas, you need to seal the cracks along the basement perimeter walls. Also, consider the following areas:

  • around posts through concrete
  • chimney
  • cracks in the concrete floor
  • floor drain
  • main electrical entry point
  • main plumbing pipe entry point
  • sump pump cover

Radon is the second leading cause of cancer in the United States. That’s why the World Health Organization, together with other health and environmental groups, encourage everyone to make each home radon-free. This is possible through radon reduction techniques which homeowners can do. If you need any help, you can contact the radon expert from your state.

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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.