What Is Radon and How to Get Rid of It?
If you’ve been putting off testing your home for radon for months (or even years), it’s time to put it back on your to-do list. This is one of those things that you know what to do, but is often pushed aside in favor of more interesting home projects, where you immediately notice the difference – like hanging curtains or painting a room. But you can probably enjoy the room and curtains more knowing that you are protected from radon. Here’s how to check for, get rid of, and prevent radon.
What is radon?
First, it is despicable. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is a colorless, odorless, invisible, naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the decomposition of uranium in soil, rocks, and water. From there, it is released into the air we breathe, including the air in homes, offices and schools.
But since we spend most of our time at home (or at least we do now), there are concerns about undetected radon in our areas of residence. In addition, elevated radon levels are not limited to one geographic region: the gas can be anywhere.
All of this matters because radon is bad for our health. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon can cause thousands of deaths every year, and the chief physician says radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country after smoking.
How to do a radon test
Fortunately, checking your home for radon is easy and relatively quick. You just need to get an Accu-Star certified radon test from your local home improvement store or directly from the company’s website.
There you will see options for both short and long term radon tests. Short-term test kits measure radon levels over two to seven days. If this is your first time doing a radon test at home, start with a short-term test to find out if you have a radon problem, it will take you less time. But after that, you can opt for a long-term test kit that measures radon levels for at least 90 days.
On the Accu-Star website, tests range from $ 25 for a short-term kit to $ 30 for a long-term kit. You can also purchase discounted kits through the National Radon Program Service at Kansas State University , which costs $ 15 for $ 15 for the short-term kit and $ 25 for the long-term kit.
How to get rid of radon
If your radon test results show that high gas levels in your home are higher than 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCI / L), then it’s time to call a professional, because this is no longer a DIY job. … Contact your state EPA office for a list of qualified mitigation contractors in your area.
Here’s what they do, according to Natalie Rodriguez of This Old House :
A radon mitigation contractor will be able to tell you which radon control system (active or passive and sub-slab, sump, or block wall suction) will be most effective for you, depending on where you live and what kind of foundation you have. … They should also be able to give advice on keeping your home safe, such as constantly checking for cracks in the foundation and repairing them.
Rodriguez also notes that it’s important to re-check your home after any work is done and then periodically thereafter to make sure everything is working properly.
How to prevent radon
There is something you can do yourself to protect your home (and the people living in it) from radon: passive radon control. Here’s how to do it, again, courtesy of Rodriguez:
- Install a layer of gas-permeable aggregate, such as four inches of gravel, under your slab or floor system in your home if you don’t have room to go around. Cover this layer or the floor of your underground with plastic wrap to prevent radon gas from penetrating through this level into your home.
- Seal and repair any cracks in the foundation and walls. This will not only help prevent radon from entering, but it will also increase the energy efficiency of your home.
- Run a gas tight pipe three to four inches from the first layer or subcreep to the roof. This will allow gases to escape from the soil safely to the outside.
- Connect an extra loop to your attic so you can install an exhaust fan that turns the pipe into a vacuum cleaner, or an active radon control system that pulls gas out of your home.
Of course, this will take a little time and effort, but not inhaling harmful gas is worth it.