Table of Content
The best advice is to undertake radon testing in all households, whether you are selling or not. The mitigator should sign a contract that he or she will get the radon levels at or below 2.7 pCi/L of air. Many continuous tests offer Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to connect them to your smartphone. This allows you to receive notifications and alerts if radon levels are too high.
Walk through the system with the contractor to develop familiarity. After the contractor is finished making adjustments and installations, ask them to walk you through the system. Ask questions if you need clarification and write down any instructions or pertinent information the contractor provides. For information about installing an in-line fan, see Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon. The techniques described here also make your home more energy efficient and could provide you an average of $65 savings per year in your energy costs. For a new home, ask if radon-resistant construction features were used and if the home has been tested.
Test your home for radon after the system is installed
Speak with several different contractors and ask them to provide you with a bid. Consider the contractor’s level of experience as well as the price they quote you when deciding which person to hire. A fan is used to either continuously blow air into or extract air out from the space below a suspended floor. This can be used when natural under-floor ventilation is inadequate to reduce radon level. When someone breathes in radon gas, it goes into their lungs, exposing them to small amounts of radiation. This may damage the cells in the lining of the lungs and increase a person's risk of lung cancer.
All below-grade openings in the concrete foundation floor are sealed to reduce soil gas entry into the home. Because radon gas can’t be seen or smelled, the only way to know whether you're being exposed to it is to test for it. A Citizen’s Guide to Radon, produced by the EPA, explains how to test your home for radon easily and inexpensively, and what to do if your levels are too high.
WMRC Radon Menu
At the American Cancer Society, we’re on a mission to free the world from cancer. Until we do, we’ll be funding and conducting research, sharing expert information, supporting patients, and spreading the word about prevention. Whether you want to learn about treatment options, get advice on coping with side effects, or have questions about health insurance, we’re here to help.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to request a free radon test kit from your state radon office. Make sure you test your house after any maintenance work is complete, and regularly test to verify your radon mitigation system is operating correctly. And it isn’t as expensive to hire a professional as you may think. Radon Abatement Services has the expertise and credentials to ensure radon gas is removed properly. For more information on how radon can affect your health, see our frequently asked questions about the health risks of radon. Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
Follow This Old House online:
It can enter buildings through cracks in floors or walls, construction joints, or gaps in foundations around pipes, wires or pumps. Radon levels are usually highest in the basement or crawl space. The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter. You place a plastic detector about the size of a biscuit in your living room, another in your bedroom and leave them for three months. After that you post them off and your radon level is calculated. If the level is high you can take steps to reduce radon levels in your home.
Therefore, radon in the home will not build up over time as long as the source and other characteristics of the residence remain the same. Here are a few facts about radon, and what you can do to help keep your family healthy and safe. To find out more about radon test kits, visit Radon Hotlines and Information Resourcesexternal icon or refer to the EPAexternal iconweb site on how to use a test kit. I have worked in the radon field for 15 years, most recently as the radon coordinator for the Department of Environmental Quality.
Every house has what’s called a “unique pressurization signature.” This is the result of the heating, ventilation, plumbing and drainage systems working together. Always test radon levels again after you’ve made any of these changes. Periodically check on the equipment to ensure it is operating correctly. Contact your contractor if there are any issues or malfunctions. Also, fans need replaced about every 5 years, and filters, like for a heat recovery ventilator, may need changed as often as every 6 months.
Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop. Testing your home or officeTesting is inexpensive and easy — it should only take a few minutes of your time. It requires opening a package and placing a small measuring device in a room and leaving it there for the desired period. The longer the test, the more relevant the results are to your home and lifestyle. Your ongoing costs will be relatively minimal after installation.
A small quiet fan blows fresh air, usually from the roof space, into the building. Find out the yearly average radon level for a property and if it is above or below the Action Level. The Environmental Protection Agency's map of radon zones shows which areas have the greatest potential for elevated indoor radon readings. Homes in places with high radon potential, called Zone 1 areas, should be built with radon-resistant features.
An experienced expert usually applies varying techniques to lessen the radon concentration levels. These are ways that you are not conversant with and fully equipped to execute. Always test again after finishing to make sure you’ve fixed your radon problem.
Ask about radon resistant construction techniques if you are buying a new home.It is almost always cheaper and easier to build these features into new homes than to add them later. If you solicit at least three bids, you will have a good idea of the general price range of mitigation services. You may want to choose a contractor located close to your house or go with the lowest price. While you can conduct a radon test on your own, a trained professional may be able to get more accurate results. A professional will also be able to help you interpret the test results and determine whether mitigation is necessary.
Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air.Natural ventilation in any type of house is only a temporary strategy to reduce radon. Radon in a home can pose a serious threat and increase the chances of developing cancer. Testing for radon levels can alert you to a potential threat and enable you to hire a professional to mitigate to prevent or reduce dangerously high levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control , long term radon testing is more likely to provide you with accurate results.
Unfortunately, there are no symptoms of radon exposure until it leads to lung cancer, so rely on the radon test results to determine if you need to take action. Fans get the air in your home or office circulating, while a positive ion generator charges the particles of radon. The particles are then attracted to the walls, floor, and ceiling, preventing them from being absorbed into your lungs. If your home tests at 4.0 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or above, activate the system by installing an in-line fan. Consult one or both of the national radon proficiency programs or your state radon contact for a list of qualified radon service professionals near you. A 3- or 4-inch gas-tight or PVC pipe (or other gas-tight pipe) runs from the gas permeable layer through the house to the roof to safely vent radon and other soil gases above the house.
This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. While opening windows may reduce radon levels somewhat, there are a number of reasons why this isn’t a good long-term solution. Contact your state radon office or one of EPA’s national radon proficiency programs to find a qualified professionalexternal iconto fix your home. Lowering high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills. Contractors who do not specialize in radon reduction could make the problem worse. Keep the windows open on the lowest level, weather permitting.
No comments:
Post a Comment