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If you are a homeowner, you should of course ask the question, “What causes a high level of radon in the basement of a home?” The answer may be surprising, but it is an answer you need to consider if you want to protect yourself and your family from radon exposure.
Let’s take a look at what causes a high level of radon in your home so you can understand how to limit your exposure and protect your family from this dangerous radioactive gas.
How To Fix Radon
Radon comes from decaying uranium, which is contained in rock and earth in the basement of every home (under the foundation). Due to the constant contact with the ground, the basement of the house is the main entry point for radon gas. Access to open ground in parts of the basement, such as through wells and sewers, or through the naturally porous cement base of the basement, provides many effective means for Radon to enter the home.
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Conditions in your basement can also contribute to the level of radon. When the internal pressure in your basement changes drastically with external pressure, you can create what is called a “stack-effect”. This process actually draws stronger air between the high and low pressure zones and can take in more air from the rock and the ground beneath your house, affecting your radon level.
Radon gas is present in every home at various levels and it is almost impossible for the radon level to be 0. However, there are several things you can do to reduce your radon levels.
Keep in mind that these tips can lower your radon levels, but usually small improvements like these will slightly lower your radon levels. If you have an extremely high level of radon, the radon mitigation system is the only way to reduce the dangerous level.
Many homeowners also keep appliances in the basement. Once you know what causes radon in the basement, you can be more careful. Exhaust fans, water heaters, ovens, fireplaces, and dryers that you have in your basement reduce the air pressure in your home. As mentioned earlier, this increases the impact of the stack, especially in very narrow cases.
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You may also need to consider reverse chimney flow if your home is overcrowded. This can also cause a burning spillage in the appliances in your basement if you are not careful.
Make sure you have a radon detection kit in the most visible areas of your home. The discovery is the first step in finding a solution when it comes to radon. Now that you know what causes radon in the basement, it’s time to save yourself and your family.
Rapidos is a short-term radon test that will monitor between 10 and 90 days. This very accurate test will take into account the daily fluctuations in radon and provide an average concentration.
Radtrak³ is a long-term test that will monitor between 90 days and 1 full year. This very accurate test will take into account all the daily fluctuations in radon levels. Radon, a class A carcinogen, is a tasteless, odorless, colorless gas produced by uranium decomposed in the earth. According to the Kansas Radon Program, radon levels are estimated to be high in one in four homes in Kansas.
The Radon Level Is High! Now What???
Dangerous gases contribute to thousands of deaths from lung cancer each year after entering the home base through the ground. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Children and smokers living in homes with high gas levels are more at risk.
Homeowners are required by law to disclose any information about elevated radon gas levels in a residential property. Home buyers should have an internal radon test done by a certified radon technician before buying a home. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that all homes be tested.
The average indoor level is 1.3 pCi / l and the EPA recommends that home buyers take action when the level is 4.0 pCi / l. In Kansas, the average residential radon test observed is 4.8 pCi / L, which exceeds the EPA alert level.
If the results of the radon inspection are equal to or greater than 4 pCi / l, radon reduction work is required and the house should be tested once the initial work is finished.
What Causes Radon In Basements
Home sellers must have their home inspected by a technician certified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Homebuyers should feel comfortable knowing that their newly purchased home has received radon inspection and all concerns have been removed.
If high levels of radon are found in your home after a follow-up test, equipment can be installed to reduce the level of radon in your home to a safe level. The costs associated with radon tests are much lower than the costs involved in fighting lung cancer.
Firehouse Home Inspections are certified annually by hundreds of home buyers in Home Inspection, Radon Testing and Video Sewer Inspection. Stop your exposure to radon gas and schedule your inspection by calling 316-648-5779 today. This question is often encountered in every season of radon testing. Fortunately, any home with radon problems can be repaired, and a radon quenching system will reduce the radon concentration.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas emitted by depleted uranium that is found naturally in soils and rocks. This gas can build up in the building and cause lung cancer. If the house has a level of 4 drops per liter of air (pCi / l) or more, radon is likely to be a problem. To put it in perspective, a household with an annual average of 4 pCi / l represents the same risk of developing lung cancer as a person who smokes about half a pack of cigarettes a day. However, solving a radon problem at home reduces the risk of radon-induced lung cancer.
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After short-term tests, the results of radon tests suggest different actions. If a person tests and gets below 4 pCi / l, no mitigation is required. The reconnaissance test is recommended every two years, before and after the million-year house project, after any significant seismic activity, and during the cold season if the initial test is in the warmer months.
If the radon concentration is between 4 pCi / l and 8 pCi / l, individuals should get a long-term test kit for the entire year. This test provides an average annual fluctuation in radon concentration during the test period. If the annual result is 4 pCi / l or more, do it at home.
On the other hand, after an initial short-term test with a level above 8 pCi / l, first use another short-term kit to test the accuracy of the test, then consider a reduction.
Some mitigation techniques exist, but the two most common are crawl space mitigation, also known as submembrane depressurization, and cement slab mitigation, also known as subslab depressurization.
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Since every home is different, the following descriptions are common methods of radon extinction. For a submembrane depressurization system, the crawl space is cleared of obstructions and old bugs that can prevent the new system from working properly. Then a perforated pipe is laid on the ground. This pipe then connects to the pipe system with a fan located outside the house or in the attic. If the piping system is rooted above the side of the house, the pipe should be at least 6 inches above the roof edge and no closer than 10 feet from the opening of any window or chimney.
If the system is constructed through the attic, the pipe shall end at least 12 inches above the roof surface. A minimum of 3 mm cross-laminated polyethylene sheet is placed on the ground in the crawl space and sealed with polyurethane coking on floor beams, wall walls and leaf seams. The sheet acts as a membrane and traps radon and clay gases. To power the exhaust fan, a junction box is installed near the fan. The fan works continuously to remove radon and dust gases trapped under the membrane. The gases escape from the roof surface, reducing the concentration of radon in the house. A pressure gauge is installed on the piping system to measure the air pressure to ensure it is working properly.
In contrast, with a subslab depressurization system, the foundation cracks and floor joints are sealed with a polyurethane coolant. Strategically placed 3 to 4 inch diameter holes are drilled into the cement foundation, preferably in a cluttered space such as a closet or utility room. Gravel and earth are removed from the bottom of the borehole, and as a sub-membrane depressurization system, the piping system is connected to the hole drilled by an exhaust fan at the other end. Radon and ground gases are pulled from the bottom of the house and released from the roof surface.
Mitigation values vary by square meter and type of foundation. As for the cost of a home improvement project, the average slab mitigation is $ 2,500 and the average crawl mitigation is $ 3,800.
Is Radon Really A Serious Problem?
A DIY manual is available for purchase or to check at local libraries. For those who are unable to breed, a certified radon mitigator with a state contract license must be hired. Two certified Radon Mitigators in the state of Nevada can be found at www.RadonNV.com, or for more information call the Radon Hotline, 1-888-RADON-10 (1-888-723-6610). A free radon test kit is available here
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