Owning a home is an ongoing struggle to ensure it remains safe for you and your family. One aspect of home safety that should top your list of concerns is radon infiltration. Radon is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless radioactive gas that may enter your home from below and settle in. Over time, breathing in radon increases the chance of developing lung cancer. Knowing that now, you likely have several questions about radon, including about what it does and how you can avoid it. Here are the four most frequently asked questions about radon.
Why Should I Be Concerned about Radon?
As we mentioned, radon can cause lung cancer. In fact, it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer, right after smoking. Long-term exposure to radon significantly increases one’s chances of developing lung cancer, and that likelihood increases for children, individuals with compromised respiratory systems, and smokers. Test your home for radon’s presence to eliminate that worry or to know it’s time to take action to mitigate its presence.
How Do I Test My Home for Radon?
You have two choices. You can do it yourself with a home testing kit purchased online or over the internet. The kit will come with clear instructions on how to use it—usually involving leaving it out in the basement for several days or weeks. Afterward, you mail it to a lab where it will be tested, revealing the levels of radon gas, if any, in your home.
For a more official and accurate reading, hire radon technician to come to your home, set up their equipment, and measure the radon levels (again, if any are present). A professional will give you a more definitive reading and offer advice on your next steps for dealing with radon.
What Are Acceptable Radon Levels?
Honestly, no amount of radon should be considered safe, but a reading of 4 picocuries per liter (4 pCi/L) or above demands immediate action be taken to expel the radon from your home. If your home or professional test shows a reading that high or higher, seek the advice of a professional radon mitigation service.
How Can You Reduce Radon Levels?
If your home tests positive for higher levels of radon and you bring in a radon mitigation expert, they may suggest the following means for dispersing the gas:
- Sub-slab depressurization: For this common tactic, a vent pipe and fan system is set up to draw any radon gas under your home upward, toward the roof, where it is harmlessly dispersed. Many new homes have such systems set up before the foundation is poured, but older homes may require an external or sump pump system.
- Sealing cracks: Radon enters a home through cracks in the basement floor and foundation. Using silicon caulk or cement can seal up these cracks and keep radon out, though a radon mitigation system is also required.
- Better ventilation: Keeping fresh air flowing through a home via open windows and doors and a series of fans is also helpful for keeping radon levels down.
Those are the four most frequently asked questions about radon. If you plan to remodel your home the right way, consider incorporating radon mitigation systems into the plan. And if you plan to build a new home, build it with radon safety in mind! You now understand the risks, so don’t let your home be vulnerable to radon.