What is Radon ?
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It moves into the air people breathe in their homes.
Radon is The Second Leading Cause Of Lung Cancer.
Radon is a Class A carcinogen, meaning it is known to cause cancer in humans. The scientific community and every major health organization rank radon as the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer, causing an estimated 20,000 U.S. deaths annually. Each pico-curie of radon measured causes about the same damage as smoking 2 cigarettes per day.
What level of Radon is dangerous?
The EPA has set 4.0 pCi/L (pico-curies per liter of air) and higher as the "Action Level" for radon concentration. Action should be taken to lower the radon in homes where exposure to residents exceed this level. The EPA also recommends that you should "consider taking action" when radon level exceeds 2.0 pCi/L.
The higher the radon level in a house, the more important it is to take action. Lowering the radon level will greatly reduce the risk of lung cancer.
Where does Radon Come From?
Radon comes from the ground. It may get in through:
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Cracks in floors and at the floor/wall seam.
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Dirt and/or gravel crawlspaces.
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Openings around pipes and plumbing.
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Open sump pits.
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Hidden openings.
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Through the pores in the concrete itself.
Most radon gets into a house because of soil pressure caused by temperature and weather, which causes differences in pressure between the air inside and the air under the home. Radon gas is sucked into the home through openings that come in contact with the soil under the house. Radon gas rises up from the soil under a home and becomes trapped inside, causing the level to be concentrated.
Can any Home Can Have It?
Almost any house can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well sealed and drafty homes, homes with or without basements, and homes with either finished or unfinished basements. They are all equally at risk.
Do New Homes Have Radon, Too?
Yes. Because radon originates from the soil the house is sitting on. New homes are well insulated and can actually hold more radon in.
Is Radon Found in Your Area?
High radon levels are found in homes throughout the Midwest.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mapped the nation into three radon risk zones. They estimate 15 - 20% of homes in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan have elevated levels of radon in the air on the main floor, not just in the basement.
What Makes A Radon System Work?
A radon ventilation system is effective because it actively draws the radon from the soil under the home and diverts it before it has a chance to enter the basement. The gases are exhausted safely outside and up at the roofline.
You can think of it as “vacuuming” underneath your house.
What Does It Cost To Fix A House ?
The most common technique to reduce radon, called sub-slab depressurization, is highly effective and does not require major changes to a home. A radon reduction system costs between $800 - $1200 and installation takes about 4-5 hours.
How Do You Prove That It Works?
A post-mitigation retest is required to prove that the radon has been successfully ventilated and that the air inside the house is now safe.
Every licensed radon mitigator offers a warranty & guarantees their results. Let your client know that they should obtain proof of the retest result in writing to keep in their home repair file.
Are there any additional benefits to having a radon reduction system?
Mitigation systems have been shown to offer additional benefits beyond just reducing radon, such as reducing moisture, pollen, spores, mold and mildew in the home.
At the same time the system suctions out the radon, it is also pulling out other unhealthy pollutants that jeopardize our health and well-being. A radon system makes keeping the family healthy a much easier job.
The constant air-flow under the slab of the home prevents damp soil air from entering the house. This will result in a noticeably drier basement, which helps to retard the growth of mold and mildew and greatly reduces musty odors!
