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You can’t see, smell, or taste radon, but if it gets into your home, this “silent killer” can make your home more vulnerable to lung cancer.
The Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as National Radon Awareness Month because wintertime concentrations of this naturally occurring radioactive gas are 10 times higher, and because many windows and doors are closed and families spend more time indoors in cold weather. . , even in the Arizona desert, radon traps and increases the risk.
Cost To Fix Radon In Basement
As uranium decays as part of its natural decay chain, it releases a gas that itself breaks down into radon progeny, which can enter homes through cracks in walls and concrete floors, holes and drains, and sometimes even water.
What Causes Radon In Basements
That’s especially dangerous because the Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as National Radon Action Month, said Bob Brown, a certified radon tester and founder of Phoenix-based Arizona Foundation Solutions, which offers site inspections and foundation solutions and offers radon remediation.
Radon is the leading cause of death from lung cancer among nonsmokers in America, killing about 21,000 Americans each year, he said, citing EPA data.
Recognizing its importance, EPA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, and nine national nongovernmental organizations launched the National Radon Action Plan in November 2015.
Arizona is rated as the No. 2 area in the United States for radon levels, Brown said, again using EPA information.
How Much Does A Radon Mitigation System Cost?
“Some areas of Arizona are more likely than others, but any home can have radon, even if the homes around you don’t,” he said.
According to the EPA, the US Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control, Brown encourages homeowners to protect their health by testing their homes, schools and other buildings for radon.
Testing is the only way to know if your home has elevated radon levels. Affordable radon test kits are available online or at home improvement and hardware stores for $10 to $20, or you can hire a qualified radon specialist like Brown. More information about testing kits and finding qualified radon specialists is available at epa.gov/radon.
Detection is cheap and easy and usually takes two days with one of several devices, such as a charcoal canister or continuous monitor, said Brown, who has been in the radon detection and remediation business for 28 years.
Cost Of Radon Mitigation
A common method for remediation is the process of removing radon from the soil before entering the home. Detection and recovery costs typically range from $1,500 to $2,500, he said.
West Valley homeowner Kelly Laffey had heard some of her neighbors had radon problems, and because she had basements, she was especially concerned about infiltration from the surrounding soil. He received a test kit that showed a higher than normal reading. Brown’s company contracted for the restoration.
“The crew did a great job,” Laffey said, “and if I ever decide to sell the house, I’ll tell the new owner that it’s done.”
“I recommend sources of information for buyers and sellers so they can educate themselves about radon,” says Liz Recchia, broker/owner, We Sell Real Estate, LLC, Phoenix.
The Radon Level Is High! Now What???
However, watch out for testing and remediation contractors who are not certified by the National Radon Proficiency Program, Fletcher, NC’s certifying organization for the EPA. Visit Azrra.gov to find state-certified contractors and testers through the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency.
If you’re buying a new home in the West Valley, the EPA recommends researching radon-resistant homes by looking for builders who use radon-resistant construction. The EPA recommends taking steps to reduce indoor radon levels in your home if your radon test result is 4 pCi/L or higher. It’s best to get your radon problem fixed before you put your home on the market because you’ll have more time to fix the radon problem.
If elevated levels are found during the real estate transaction, the buyer and seller should discuss the timing and costs of radon abatement. The cost of repairs to reduce radon levels depends on how your home was built and other factors. Most homes can be repaired for the same cost as other common home repairs, such as painting or installing a new hot water heater. The average cost for a contractor to reduce radon levels in a home can range from $800 to about $2,500.
There are various methods that can be used to reduce radon in homes. Sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation is a key part of many radon mitigation techniques. EPA does not recommend using sealing alone to limit radon exposure. Sealing alone has not been shown to significantly or permanently reduce radon levels.
Radon Makes For An Uninvited House Guest
In many cases, a ducted and fan system is used to reduce radon. These “slab decompression” systems don’t require major changes to your home. Similar systems can be installed in homes with scant space. These systems prevent radon gas from entering the home from under the concrete floor and outside the foundation. Radon mitigation contractors can also use other methods to work on your home. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors.
If you’re planning any major renovations, such as converting an unfinished basement area into living space, it’s important to test the area for radon before you begin.
If your test results show high radon levels, inexpensive radon proofing methods can be added as part of the renovation. Major renovations can change the radon level in any home. After the job is done, take the test again.
You should also re-inspect your home after installation to ensure that radon levels have decreased. If your living patterns change and you start occupying a lower level of your home (such as a basement), you should retest your home on that level. Additionally, it’s a good idea to retest your home in the future to ensure that radon levels are low.
Radon Testing: How To Do A Radon Test And Remove Dangerous Radon Gas ยป The Money Pit
Choose a qualified radon mitigation contractor to reduce radon levels in your home. Any mitigation measures or system installed in your home must comply with your state regulations.
EPA recommends that the abatement contractor review the radon measurement results before beginning any radon abatement work. Retest after radon abatement is complete to confirm that previously elevated levels have decreased.
Just like any other home renovation, choose a radon mitigation contractor to handle your radon problem. You may want to get more than one estimate. Ask for their references and check them out. Make sure the person you hire is qualified to install a mitigation system. Some states regulate or certify radon mitigation service providers. The presence of radon is unpredictable; one house in the same neighborhood may be infiltrated by radon while the house next door is free of radon. Gas is invisible and undetectable without testing; it passes through cracks and holes in the foundation of the building.
Given the toxic health effects of radon, it is not surprising that radon mitigation systems are a top priority. Disclosures are usually required when a home goes on the market. Although not required by law, radon tests are often requested by buyers. If there is evidence of high radon levels, installing radon mitigation systems can be a sticking point in sales negotiations.
Six Added Benefits To Installing A Radon Reduction System
New homes often incorporate passive and active systems as part of the home’s design and construction. The EPA’s Radon Mitigation User’s Guide: How to Fix Your Home explains various mitigation systems that can bring radon levels to safe levels. Note: There is no safe level of exposure, but radon levels of 2 pCi/L or less reduce the risk of sudden radon exposure.
Fan-based mitigation systems filter moist air from the soil beneath your home. An active system can remove half a gallon of water per hour from under a slab foundation or basement.
Lower humidity has health benefits in the form of fresh air in the room and removal of musty odors. Less humidity means less or less resistance in the form of bacteria, mold and dust, which can exacerbate asthma, allergies and other lung conditions.
Less humidity means using less moisturizer, if you need a moisturizer at all. In addition, HVAC systems also rarely operate. Less demand for energy-intensive air conditioning systems means lower electricity bills and an added benefit to the environment – reduced emissions.
How They Work
The roof vent is less obvious and less accessible than the intake and exhaust pipes. Roofed units are protected from the weather, extending the life of the system. The location moves vents away from doors and windows, making it less likely that radon will return to the home. It can also buffer system noise.
Radon mitigation systems that are part of the design and construction of new homes are easier and therefore less expensive to install. By design, they usually require less material, making them less expensive. It is easier to hide internal pipes inside cabinets and boxes.
Radon
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