What is Radon Gas?

Radon is colorless and tasteless. Outdoor radon levels are 0.4 pCi/L. Radon can be found in soil or rocks. You can have indoor levels up to 0.4pCi/L, if the radon gas escapes from the soil or rocks under your house. Although there isn’t a safe level of radon in the air,ther is an action level set by the EPA at(4.0 pCi/L) that means that if your home has radon levels above this, you need to act quickly.

Radon Gas in Basements and Crawlspaces: Why is this a problem?

Radon gas is dangerous and can be found in almost every home. It is a radioactive gas that can damage your lung cells and increase your chance of getting lung cancer. Radon, is the second most common cause of lung cancer. We will now discuss how we can reduce levels of radon.

Reducing Radon Gas In Your Basement

Indoor radon levels can vary greatly depending on how often windows are opened and the use of your HVAC system. There are two kinds of radon testing: short-term and longer-term. A short-term test takes between 3 and 90 days to give you a snapshot of your current radon levels. This is usually used in real estate transactions. The long-term test gives a more detailed picture of levels fluctuations and can last for up to 91 days. You will get a more complete picture of your home’s level fluctuations from one day to the next.

Start by testing your house for radon. You need to determine a method to lower your levels if they come back as high. Although it can be difficult to lower your radon levels sufficiently, you should consider installing a mitigation system.

After a mitigation system is installed, the second best way to lower your radon levels is to open doors and windows to allow air to circulate throughout your home. The crawlspace or basement of your house should be ventilated. If you have slab foundations, then the living space.

Ventilating a finished basement is a cost-saving and more comfortable option than ventilating the rest of your house. This will allow you to reduce radon levels. You can open the windows. You can open all the windows, but not just one, to create cross-breezes. Radon is released when it reaches the air. It happens the same way when you open your window. Fresh air dissipates the trapped gas. Weather permitting, you should open your windows every day. You can take the assumption that your level is now higher if it has rained in the past four days, and the windows are tightly shut. Let the radon drop by opening all windows and doors.

The indoor pressure of your house can be reduced by combustion units, such as fireplaces or wood stoves, which in turn will cause radon gas to enter the home. Open windows near exhaust fans or combustion units that are required to be used. If possible, install an outdoor supply system. Seal basement cold-air return registers on an HVAC system to prevent basement air from leaking into the air ducts.

The largest amount of waterborne radion is released into the environment by appliances and activities in the home that heat water, such as dishwashers and washers. To have a significant effect on the indoor air quality, the household water level must not be too high. A rule of thumb is that 10,000 pCi/L radon from the household water will equal 1 pCi/L in indoor air.

After you have completed the DIY steps to lower radon levels in your home, you can radon test it again. Keep doing what you have been doing, even if the level is lower. You should take action if the level remains the same or is higher.

Based on your location and foundation type, a radon mitigation contractor can tell you which type of radon control system is most appropriate for you. You can also get tips from them to keep your house safe. For example, they will be able check for cracks and seal them up.

In our next  post we  will share with you ways a radon mitigation contractor can prevent radon in your basement.