Radon is a dangerous gas that, ingested in large enough quantities, is capable of causing lung disease in human beings. In fact, it has been proven that radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer, smoking, of course, being the first.
Home buyers in many states are required to have a certified home inspection done on the home they are hoping to buy. Many home inspection services are also able to do residential radon testing. Radon gas testing is not expensive, and it provides important information about the radon levels in the home. Typically, a home inspection or a radon testing contractor, will do a short term test over a period of two to 90 days. Usually, a testing device will be placed in the basement of the home and will measure the amounts of radon in the air over the specified period of time. Because radon gas can seep into a home through the soil underneath and surrounding it, the basement is the logical location to place the testing device. Long term testing by a radon testing contractor or home inspection service will measure the radon in the air of the home for a period over 90 days.
A common way for radon gas to enter a home is through any gaps or cracks in the foundation of the home, in the floor of the basement, and in the walls. If levels of radon are discovered in the home that have been deemed unsafe by the Environmental Protection Agency, a radon mitigation and abatement service will have to be hired to come to the home in order to reduce the amount of radon coming in. This is an involved process that requires training and certification and should always be carried out by professionals. A radon testing contractor could very well be the same company that is licensed and able to provide the abatement service as well. It is estimated that one out of 15 homes in the United States have actually measured an unsafe level of radon, over the top of the safety level where the EPA requires action to be taken.
One of the first actions that should be taken when a home’s radon level is found to be unsafe is to seal every crack and gap that could be an open door to radon gas entering the home. A radon mitigation company will begin the process of reducing the amount of the radon in the air. A type of vacuum is place under the home in order to pull the air out of the house and back into the outdoors. This type of radon abatement is proven to reduce the radon in the air by 80% to 99%. A pipe attached to the vacuum has to be facing upward outside the house, toward the roof, so that the air is sent away from the home. The strength of the vacuum placed under the house depends upon what type of soil the home is sitting on. It could be gravel, dirt, clay, or sand. The best way to realize the most successful reduction of radon is to have every inch of the underground space of the house treated. Radon can seep in anywhere and everywhere throughout the soil underneath the structure.
Sump pump installation that is not sealed is also a common culprit in allowing radon gas to enter a home. If, after sump pump installation, there are any gaps or openings left in the pit, radon is certain to escape into the living spaces. Lids are available with which to cover open spaces, and are highly recommended to homeowners no matter what the measurement of radon in their home. In essence, a sealed sump lid will help keep everything under the ground that should be under the ground! Local sump pump installation services are available wherever customers might live, increasing their availability in case of a problem later on.
A radon mitigation system placed in a basement will prevent the seepage of radon gas into the home. An added plus to the success of one of these systems is a basement that is dry. When having the home radon tested, customers can ask for this information from their radon testing contractor.
