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The burning of coal and other fossil fuels also releases radon. When radon escapes from soil or is discharged from emission stacks to the outdoor air, it is diluted to levels that are normally, but not always, lower than indoor air. The mitigator should sign a contract that he or she will get the radon levels at or below 4 pCi/L.
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.
Does radon gas rise?
Radon levels can be lowered, and homes can be built radon-resistant. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases, may be reduced. The American Cancer Society offers programs and services to help you during and after cancer treatment. We can also help you find other free or low-cost resources available.
If the radon levels become too high within a structure, it can pose serious health concerns. Approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are caused by radon exposure, making radon second only to smoking for lung cancer deaths. If your levels come back high, you need to find a way to reduce them. Once set up, the mitigation system will remove air from the soil and send it outside the home. The radon mitigation professional you hire should also assess the foundation and seal any cracks or openings to further reduce the amount of radon gas that is able to enter the home.
Radon measurement pack
While indoor radon gas levels are generally higher during winter, sometimes the summer can have higher indoor radon levels. Whether you use the DIY tips to reduce radon levels, or you install a professional system, you need to know if your efforts are working. Find a local, certified company to perform testing and, if required, install your radon mitigation system.
You can help reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy choices like eating right, staying active and not smoking. It’s also important to follow recommended screening guidelines, which can help detect certain cancers early. Radon gas is a radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. It’s produced as a byproduct as certain radioactive elements decay. The most common type of radon has a half life of 3.8 days, which means half of the gas is left 3.8 days after it formed. Radon testing is easy and the only way to find out if you have a radon problem in your home.
What Is the Danger of Radon Gas?
There are no widely available medical tests to measure whether you have been exposed to radon. But if you think that you might have been, talk with your doctor about whether you should get regular health checkups and tests to look for possible signs of lung cancer. Possible symptoms include shortness of breath , a new or worsening cough, pain or tightness in the chest, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing. It is also possible for radon to enter your home through your water supply, though this poses a much lower risk than when it comes through the soil. If you have a private well, you can have it tested for radon. If the levels are high, you can have the water supply treated so that the radon is removed before it enters your home.
An active radon sump, fitted with a fan, is the most effective way to reduce indoor radon levels. Sumps work best under solid floors and under suspended floors if the ground is covered with concrete or a membrane. Occasionally, passive sumps without a fan may reduce radon levels. You will be directed to the AARST/NRPP, NRSB website where you can search for qualified professionals in Utah.
STEP 4: If you have a private well, test your water for radon.
A short-term radon test kit can give you quick information about whether radon gas is present in your home. Depending on the test you choose, you’ll need to leave it out in your house for between 2 and 90 days. After the required amount of time has passed, the test can be sent back to a lab for processing. If the radon levels in your home are at or above 4 pCi/L , contact a radon mitigation company.
After installing a radon reduction system, test your home again to make sure it is working and consider retesting your home every two years to be sure radon levels remain low. Simple, inexpensive techniques can be used to lower radon levels and increase energy efficiency in your new home. Upgrading is Easy If high levels of radon are found, a fan can easily be installed as part of the system for further radon reduction. These checks ought to be done periodically to make sure that the radon mitigation systems are operating perfectly and devoid of any technical glitches. This is done with the use of a manometer to ensure that the fan is functional and that the whole system is performing at an optimum level.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. If you smoke and live in a home with high radon levels, you increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Having your home tested is the only effective way to determine whether you and your family are at risk of high radon exposure.
While short-term radon tests deliver the fastest results, they are not always the most accurate option. Radon levels can fluctuate over time, so the reading you get over just a few days may not be reflective of the level of radon present in your home at other times during the year. Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air.
When radon rises to the surface of the ground outdoors, it dissipates when it hits the air. Open your windows as often as you can, weather permitting. If it rained the last four days and all the windows were firmly shut, you can assume your level has risen again. Open the windows and even the doors and let the radon reduce itself. Some simple actions such as sealing around loft-hatches, sealing large openings in floors and extra ventilation do not reduce radon levels on their own.
Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning. Available in both short-term and long-term monitoring, the tests are easy to use and require minimal setup. “The test is cheap and reliable—it doesn’t take rocket science,” says Bill Wehrum, an administrator at the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.
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.
Simple and inexpensive techniques reduce radon levels on average by 50%. The techniques may also lower levels of other soil gases and decrease moisture problems. These tests are crucial to ensure that the radon is within the stipulated or desired threshold. A radon test kit is therefore essential in the final and later stages of radon mitigation in a bid to rid the house of this gas by ensuring that it is effectively shut out and kept at bay.
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