Radon Mitigation during Winter Months

During the summer, radon may not be such a problem for homes, but there is the possibility it could build up during the winter when your home is more likely to be sealed up to keeping heat. Radon occurs naturally, and is a radioactive gas that can collect in the soil, rock and water surrounding your home. It's drawn into the home due to the difference in air pressure in your home's foundation compared to the surrounding soil that causes the foundations to act like a vacuum, forcing the gas in through cracks and openings. 

Taking Radon Seriously

Radon is definitely something that should be taken seriously, as it is the second most common reason for lung cancer within the general population, and is the main cause of lung cancer amongst non-smokers. If you think your home may be at risk of having higher levels of radon, it's important to get it properly tested, so that the levels can be reduced.

Getting a Qualified Radon Mitigation Contractor to Fix Radon Levels

It is important to get a properly qualified radon mitigation contractor to thoroughly assess your home so the radon problem can be fixed. This is because they'll need to set up tests to assess the radon levels both before and after the radon mitigation work. In addition they should be able to tell you exactly how long the work will take to complete, and will thoroughly inspect the structure of your home before giving you an estimate. The diagnostic tests need to be completed beforehand in order for the correct type of radon reduction system to be chosen, as obviously different cases can differ considerably. One thing to be aware of is that the radon reduction system is likely to cause the loss of some heated air, and you may see an increase in your energy bills.

Techniques Used to Reduce Radon Levels

There are several different techniques that can be used to reduce radon levels in the home. Some are designed to reduce radon levels after the gas has entered the home, while others rely on reducing the amount of gas entering the property. The type of technique used is likely to be dependent upon the construction of your home, so it can be helpful if you have this information available for your contractor. It's preferable to choose a system that prevents the radon from entering the property, and one method is called soil suction. This works by extracting the radon from the soil below your home before venting it through a pipe to the air surrounding the home where it can be safely dispersed. Another technique works by sealing up all the cracks in the foundation, and this is a pretty basic approach to reducing radon levels. Yet another technique relies on pressurizing a room or home through using a fan to blow air into the lower levels of the home in an attempt to create a sufficient pressure to prevent the radon from entering the property. This isn't a particularly popular technique as it does rely on the doors and windows remaining closed, and may mean the introduction of more outside air into the home. It's likely this technique would only be tried if others have failed to reduce radon levels sufficiently.