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.
