What is Radon Gas?

Radon gas is extremely serious as it is a radioactive gas that is colorless and odorless, and it
could be in your home. According to the Surgeon General, the presence of radon gas in the home
is the second most common cause of lung cancer in the United States. The problem is even worse
if you live in a home that has high radon levels and you also smoke. Various studies have also
found that children may be more sensitive towards this gas and may be more vulnerable to the
side effects produced due to exposure. This is thought to be due to the fact that they breathe more
quickly, and the cells within their body are still developing and dividing. The gas is inhaled or
ingested and can be found in rocks and soil and also groundwater.

Testing for Radon Gas in Your Home

The only way to find out whether or not you have radon gas in your home is to test for it, as there
really are no immediate symptoms that might alert you to its presence. If you find your home has
elevated levels of radon then it is probably worth conducting a follow-up test as levels can
fluctuate considerably. The follow-up test will let you know whether or not the results were
caused by any other factors such as particularly warm weather. Radon gas can be present in the
home for years before the problems caused by it become apparent. It's estimated that around 20%
of homes in the US could have elevated radon levels. Although you can test for the gas yourself,
it may be better to look for a certified radon mitigation service.

What is Radon Mitigation?

Radon mitigation is simply the methods used by a certified professional to test for and then lower
levels of radon within the home. Radon gas can enter through cracks in the foundation, through
drains, and even through gaps around wires and pipes. Radon mitigation looks at ways of
preventing the radon from entering the home as well as methods of lowering the levels of radon
already present. It can be highly effective at reducing levels, and the methods can depend on
whether or not your home has a basement or crawl space, or whether it is built on a solid slab of
concrete. Most methods of radon mitigation rely on techniques designed to extract the radon
from the ground underneath your home before venting it to the outdoors. It is definitely well
worth the cost of having radon mitigation professionally done, as the heartache and costs of
caring for someone with lung cancer can be considerably higher.

Radon Levels Can Rise during the winter

Radon levels can get worse during the winter for several different reasons. One of these is the
fact that cold weather or snow on the ground can cause a blanket effect, trapping the radon in the
soil surrounding the home. In these circumstances it's more likely to escape into the house where
the soil is not so cold. Another reason is that homes tend to be closed up much more tightly
during the winter and this prevents radon gas from being diluted by fresh air coming in from the
outdoors.

Furnace Repair or Upgrade to an Older System, Which Is Best?

Furnaces have a nasty habit of breaking down in the middle of winter, especially if they didn't
receive their fall furnace tune up, but if it gets to the point where a furnace keeps breaking down,
then is it better to simply bite the bullet and budget for a new furnace. If you have had your
furnace for quite a few years then it may be time to start looking round for a new one. It's often
possible to pick up a bargain as there are pretty good furnace sales every so often. Although the
initial outlay may be more than having an old one repaired yet again, it's likely to lead to greater
energy savings in the future as newer models are simply more fuel efficient. If your furnace is
already quite new and you've been keeping up with the manufacture required maintenance
schedules, then it may be worth looking at why it keeps on breaking down or working less than
efficiently as there may be certain modifications you can make to get it back up to speed.

Fitting Programmable Thermostats

This is a pretty good upgrade to make to any heating system work for you, as replacing an old
thermostat with one of the newer programmable digital thermostats will almost certainly lead to
energy savings. The advantage of these types of thermostats is that they'll automatically adjust
the temperature of your house to give the greatest level of home comfort while you are there, and
will adjust the temperature to save energy while you're not. Programmable thermostats are
surprisingly easy to use, and once set correctly should help to lower fuel costs. They are also a
relatively cheap way of upgrading a home heating system.

Making Sure Air Filters Are Changed Regularly

This is another easy thing to do to make sure an older furnace runs a little more smoothly. It's
recommended that the air filter on any forced air furnace is changed every month, and if you
installed a modern programmable thermostat it might even remind you when it's time to do so.
There are lots of different types of filters available, so it's best to ask advice from an expert.
Some are relatively inexpensive, while others are pricier as they are designed to trap much
smaller particles. It is also a good idea to regularly vacuum out the blower and other accessible
areas of your furnace every so often to prevent dust from building up.

Making Sure Outside Vents Are Not Blocked During Winter

Another simple but vital piece of home maintenance during winter is to make sure all outside
vents and chimneys are kept free from debris, leaves and snow. While this may impede the
efficiency of a home furnace, it is also likely to increase the risk of carbon monoxide building up
in the home. Blocked vents and chimneys can also present a fire hazard. Maintenance and
furnace repairs are important for the health and safety of your family, and unless you are
supremely confident in your skills, is almost always best carried out by a qualified professional,
although most people should be perfectly able to change the air filters in a furnace on their own.

Could a Solar Heating and Cooling System Help You Cut Your Fuel Bills?

Rising energy prices are a concern for many households, and a lot of people will have made the
decision to turn down the thermostat by a degree or two in an effort to lower fuel costs. A lot of
people's homes are heated by energy produced by burning fossil fuels, something that is regarded
as contributing towards greenhouse gases and climate change. In addition these fossil fuels
cannot be replaced and will eventually run out. The alternative is to look for greener solutions to
heating a home during winter. One such method is to choose a solar heating and cooling system.
This is a renewable, carbon free alternative to electricity generated through burning fossil fuels,
and is becoming far more popular these days. Technology has moved on to make the solar
heating and cooling systems more affordable and far more effective at helping to provide
considerable energy savings in the home.

How Does a Solar Heating and Cooling System Work?

The simplest and most straightforward way is to choose a system that works on photovoltaic
cells that simply collect the energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. Most people
choose to have a system that is tied into the local electricity company’s grid. This offers the
flexibility of being able to use electricity made through the home’s solar heating and cooling
system, while still having access to the electricity from the local utility company at times when
more energy may be needed. Home owners with this type of system also have the option of
feeding electricity back to the utility company. People living in remote areas may choose to have
a standalone system, and this can be far more cost-effective than trying to connect to the nearest
electricity grid. Some heat pumps are sold as being solar ready, which means you have the option
to add photovoltaic cells to your heating system at a time when it suits you. It also gives
homeowners the flexibility of being able to add modules bit by bit whenever they have the
money to do so.

Getting Ready for a Solar Heating and Cooling System

The first step in planning for a solar heating and cooling system is to find a reputable dealer and
installer. They will be able to ensure your home is actually suitable for this type of system. Some
people may have a roof that is not big enough, or they may not get enough sun to justify this type
of system. Other people may be restricted as to the type of system they can have in their
neighborhood.

Solar Heating and Cooling Systems Are Unobtrusive and Easy to Use

One of the questions frequently asked by customers considering a solar heating and cooling
system is whether or not the photovoltaic cells will affect the appearance of their roof. The
answer is that the modules are designed to fit almost flush with the roof, so they really are very
discreet. They are easy to operate, and some even contain modules that send information directly
to a website. This means you can view the performance of your system at any time online. The
kind of information gathered includes energy production, carbon offsets and the current status of
the system.