Radon Gas

In a word, no. Research in America has indicated that there is likely to be more radon in the building materials found in the average home than in a

granite worktop.

Radon gas is a by-product of the radioactive decay of radium which comes from uranium. It is not possible to see, hear, smell or taste radon gas which occurs naturally through the presence of uranium in most rocks, soils, bricks and concrete. The main source of radon is the soil or rock beneath a dwelling and areas where there are likely to be high levels of radon emission are well documented and can be found on radon maps.

Radon gas itself does not present too serious a radiological hazard when breathed in and immediately exhaled.  The problem lies with the decay products which behave like solids and can attach themselves to dust and moisture in the atmosphere. These solids can take up residence in lungs and airways and emit alpha particles which are known to cause cell damage. We all breathe in radon to some extent and it accounts for half of the radiation dosage each of us receives.

Understanding exactly what radon gas is and how it can affect you and your family will help you make an informed decision on whether you need to test for it.  Radon gas has received such high exposure lately because not only is radon a cancer causing gas, but it is totally invisible and leaves no hints of smell.

If this is such a seemingly elusive gas, how does radon gas poisoning occur, and how does it get into our homes?  Radon has been commonly used for the medical effect it can have (often in spas).  While not typically used in a commercial setting, it occurs naturally from the radioactive decay of uranium.  This can be found in places such as rocks, soil – an even well water.

This process allows radon gas to move into homes through cracks in the floor or foundation, drains, and through hollow walls.  Often the gas will migrate from the basement or the dirt under the home due to differences in the air pressure.

Radon gas testing has become standard practice because of the  potential effects of exposure.  Radon poisoning can cause cancer, and ultimately death.  There are certain areas that are more prone to radon gas exposure, and if your home is located in one of these places, radon testing should be considered a necessity.  Even if your home is not in a high occurrence zone, your family will still benefit from an inexpensive kit to give you peace of mind.

If you are wanting to be proactive and prevent any exposure to radon gas, there are a couple of simple steps you can take.  You should assess your home’s ventilation system.  Make sure that a cross breeze is created, and purchase an attic fan system.  Ceiling fans inside are a great way to increase the air’s movement to make your home safer, not to mention more comfortable throughout the year.

If your home has any cracks, seal them up.  If you don’t feel capable of finding all cracks, hire a professional to handle it for you.  Any open areas in the foundation or coming up from the crawl space present a potential hazard.

Taking these preventative steps, as well as making sure to test for radon gas with one of the affordable test kits, is one of the easiest ways to keep your family safe.  Failing to test for radon is why this gas has been dubbed the “silent killer”, with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath and other respiratory distress being results of exposure.

If you want to make sure your home has been cleared of radon gas, make sure to keep a supply of radon test kits on hand.  Then periodically check the levels in your home.  With periodic testing, proper ventilation and sealed cracks, your home should be safe for your friends and family.

Radon is an issue you can’ afford to ignore. Radon was first discovered in 1900, and is the fifth element that is radioactive to be discovered. Radon is a naturally occurring gas, found all over the world, no matter where you may live. It is created by the breakdown of uranium, which is a substance found in small quantities in just about anything, from water to soil. This means that it is in just about every structure that people live in in some form or another. Even new homes may have a Radon problem.

Radon should be of concern to the home owner, but it shouldn’t be a cause of anxiety, because there are many ways to protect your family from radon gas. There are many different radon protection systems available, from Radon protection membranes that are placed between you home’s foundation and the actual ground, and even sump pumps, ventilation fans, and detectors that you can install to protect your family from this poisonous, odorless gas.

The first steps to radon protection is finding out if and how much radon gas you currently have in your home. A radon detector can be purchased at AirTech Environmental for minimal cost. Depending on the type of detector you install in your home, it takes as little as twenty four hours to register if you home has a radon gas problem.

If you do have radon in your home, you may have to install some simple ventilation equipment to eliminate the problem from your home. If you can, you should hire a professional to come in and help you assess the situation. They can recommend what types of radon protection measures are available, and help you develop a radon protection plan that is not only going to be the most effective, but one that will fit in your budget. There are basically two types of radon protection sytems, and while there is not enough space here to go into complete detail for each one, here is a brief overview of them.

One type is the passive radon protection system. There are two parts to this, basic and full. This is really designed for new construction. For basic Radon protection systems, this consists of creating a barrier between the basement floor, which should already have some kind of moisture barrier, and won’t be too much of an added cost. Then you need to create barriers between walls, and make sure that everything is sealed properly against radon gas.

Active Radon protection systems provide proper ventilation for your home to prevent the buildup of radon gas.  This may include sub flooring ventilation fans, sump pumps and other dispersion methods that will effectively remove radon completely from you home. You will also have to have someone come in and do routine maintainance, and while you may be able to perform some of these tasks, a qualified person should at least do a yearly inspection.

Radon mitigation often becomes essential at times when people find they have a problem within their home. In essence, radon is tasteless, odorless, and colorless, therefore acting as a silent killer in some cases. Many times, use of a radon mitigation system tends to alleviate problems that are associated with the presence of radon gases.

Reasons to Remove Radon From Your Home

Some of the major reasons linked to the removal of radon from someone’s home, has to do with the long term health consequences of its presence. In most cases, long-term exposure to radon gas is linked to people eventually developing lung cancer. Therefore, the removal of this type of gas from a person’s home can help to prevent future health problems.

How to Remove Radon Gas From Your Home

If you suspect a problem with radon gas within your home, one of the first things to do is test the level of the radon gas within your home. From there, you should be better equipped to determine what types of options that you have, according to the levels found.

Methods for removing Radon Gas from your Home

Some of the different radon mitigation techniques involve sealing cracks within your home, in addition to other openings found within the basement walls. By doing this, you can potentially reduce the amount of radon found within your home.

In some cases, a radon mitigation contractor will use methods such as the utilization of a pressurized system in order to block the radon from entering the person’s home. Often, a radon mitigation fan is used with this type of option and involves blowing air into the basement, therefore forcing the gas out of the person’s home.

One of the most effective ways to deal with a radon problem has to do with the utilization of a radon mitigation sump pump. However, this option tends to carry more of a radon mitigation cost than do others. For the most part, this has to do with the process involved with building the pump in addition to a number of other things.

The Cost of Removing Radon Gas from you Home

Often, the cost for radon mitigation depends on a number of different factors. In most cases, this has to do with the choice a person makes on the type of radon mitigation they want. For the most part, people can either get away with spending a small amount while others will end up on the larger range pertaining to cost.

When you first decide to purchase a home for your family, you are required to have a home inspection. During this home inspection certain things are tested for, such as termite damage, asbestos, or other things depending on your location and the country you live in. One such radio active chemical substance that can cause cancer is known as Radon. While not as many people are aware of the dangers radon can impose, this is not yet one element that is searched for as often as it should be. Radon is dangerous because not only is it colorless, tasteless, and odorless but it also claims the lives of thousands around the world every year. There are a few ways to complete radon testing in your home that can be done without much stress, time or money.

In the following article, we will discuss some of the most accurate methods for radon testing, how much they will cost, and the length of time it will take to complete.

The two types of radon testing methods are passive and active. You can choose to purchase a radon testing kit and complete the procedure yourself, or you can hire a professional who will do it quickly and effectively.

With the passive method of radon testing, you do not need any power to complete the test. Some of the devices included in the testing method are alpha-track detectors, charcoal liquid scintillation devices, and charcoal canisters. These are exposed to the air in your home for a certain period of time and then sent to the lab for analysis. The results are then sent back to you so you can complete whatever steps are necessary to resolve the situation. The charcoal test is the short term method which is calculated within 3-7 days. The alpha-track method is longer and it takes 1-12 months for accurate data needed for results. The costs for these kits are between 10£ and 40£.

The active radon testing devices do require power to work. They are continually recording the radon measurements in the air and show in spikes and dips accordingly. It requires continuous working radon and level monitors. It has a feature that protects the accuracy of the readings if the device is moved or interfered with. These are often thought to be a little more reliable than the passive methods and are what most professionals and home inspectors use. The length of time it takes for the active testing is consistent with the passive tests. For the short term you can generally have a reading in 48 to 96 hours. For the long term it will be after 90 days. These costs could range between 75£ and 95£. It will cost a lot more for hiring a professional, and as different companies may have variances in the fees, it would be best to ask the company you choose to deal with what all the fees would be.

We need to protect our homes, our lives, and our families. Taking the time needed to test for radon before there is any death or heartache should be a top priority for every household. There is a way to reduce the levels of radon found if you catch it on time. Take the steps to save your family today.

2 Story home Built 1995 with drain tile and sump mitigated with mysterious air flow any help ???

Before investing in a full out radon mitigation system I wanted to understand if there is anything I can do while waterproofing my basement that would lower the levels of radon.

I recently purchased a Safety Siren radon detector to monitor levels in my property. I thought that I had radon levels under control as I keep all my radium well sealed and use a HEPA activated carbon air filter. I set it up in my store room. After 48 hours ( thats how long it takes the Pro 3 to calculate an initial reading) I was quite surprised to see a reading of 18.4 pCi/l. This is a higher level than I was prepared to live with. So I made a simple ventilation system. Works great as can be seen with the reading now under 1 pCi/l. I am very impressed with the Pro 3. I thought a high gamma background would give a false high reading. This is not the case. It uses an ion chamber that looks to be made from pvc and sealed. I have no idea how it can detect alpha.

I just got the results back from my radon testing – it was an average of 6.9pCi/l (should be at 4 or below). It is a brand new house – construction was complete about two weeks ago. I know the age of the home does not matter in the radon levels.

What steps have you taken to lower radon levels in your home?? How much is it going to cost me to fix this dangerous problem???