Protecting Your Home from Radon

Radon gas is a naturally occurring substance that rises out of the ground from the radio-active decay of various types of materials found in the Earth’s crust. It exists most everywhere to some degree—in most places the amount of radon is negligible, especially in an outdoor environment. But inside buildings, including your home, radon gas can become more concentrated, causing severe health risks for the people living in that space. Radon gas is odorless, tasteless, and invisible, which means that to be sure your home is free of this dangerous element, proper testing is necessary. Radon gas being such a risk, it only makes sense that everyone should ensure it is not putting their family in danger.

Radon and Your Health

Radon gas in a domestic setting has been directly linked to lung cancer, making it one of the most potent causes of lung cancer after smoking. There are tens of thousands of deaths related to radon caused illness per year. The danger it poses to you and your family is significant and should not be ignored. 

Testing for Radon

Testing for radon gas is the important first step in removing it as a threat to your family’s welfare. There are test kits that you can buy fairly cheap that will give you an inkling to what the radon levels in your home might be. Be aware that these tests are not definitive, because radon levels fluctuate based on a variety of factors, so properly testing for radon gas should include a series of small tests to get a clear picture of the radon levels your home is exposed to over time. Since there are factors that change the amount of radon gas generated in any given place, you may wish to test for it every few years to make sure nothing has changed. If you are thinking of buying a new home, be sure to have the property tested. This can be a big factor when buying a new home that often gets overlooked.

Radon Mitigation

If after you test your home for radon gas, the results come back with dangerous levels, you will want to employ various methods of radon mitigation—reducing the radon levels within your home. One such method uses pipes directed under your home to blow radon gas out and away from your home to the outside where it can dissipate into harmless quantities. This is one of the most reliable and most used methods of radon mitigation. Since radon originates from the ground, it is pumped away from your home before it is given a chance to enter it. Occasionally, radon gas can be produced by certain building materials, causing it to originate within the home. If this is the case, there are methods of removing it from your home through a special ventilation system. Both of these methods have proven to be effective to combat against radon gas, but there are other methods available to you if neither of these are what you need. Be sure to speak with our local representative about radon testing and mitigation, so you can keep your family safe in the comfort of your home.