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However, long-term exposure to radon gas can lead to lung cancer. However, because radon isn’t safe at any level, they also suggest treating homes with radon levels between 2 and 4 pCi/L. According to the EPA, the average radon gas concentration in a home is about 1.3 pCi/L, which does not pose an appreciable risk to most residents living in the house.
5 Microns Inc. performs asbestos, mold, drinking water, radon gas, air quality, testing lab services, and much more. Our inspectors are AHERA, HAZWOPER, and Lead Renovator certified. The radon levels in the soil beneath a home can increase, leading to raised levels within the home. Over time, it is also possible for more radon to accumulate in a home, leading to an increase in readings from one year to the next. A long-term test is more likely to provide accurate results that take fluctuating radon levels into account than a short-term test would be.
Test your home for radon after the system is installed
When combined with other effective measures, they can improve the reduction of radon levels. Completely sealing floors is difficult and can cause rot in wooden floors. The Environmental Health Department of your local council may be able to offer advice. For levels in excess of 1000 Bq m-3 you may wish to contact UKHSA for advice. Go to our radon websiteand click on the Certified Mitigator link. You will be directed to the NRPP/AARST website where you can search for qualified professionals in Utah.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends contacting a qualified professionalexternal icon to install a radon reduction system if your home radon level is at or above 4 pCi/L of air. EPA also recommends taking action to reduce radon if your home radon level is from 2 pCi/L through 4 pCi/L. Some techniques work to reduce the amount of radon entering your home, while others focus on removing radon already in the air. Work with your contractor to choose the best techniques for the levels of radon in the space as well as your budget. Ask the contractor to prepare a contract that details the strategy you have chosen, then review and sign it before any work begins. Contact your national radon office for a list of certified contractors that can safely make adjustments to your property to reduce radon exposure.
WMRC Radon Menu
A separate junction box is placed in the living space to power the vent fan alarm. An alarm is installed along the vent fan to indicate when the vent fan is not operating properly. If radon levels in your home are high, you can take steps to lower them.
If used along with positive ion generators, ceiling fans are capable of reducing radon levels by 90%. This is achieved by a phenomenon called plate-out, which neutralizes radio-active particles. People who smoke and are exposed to radon are at a greater risk of developing lung cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General’s office estimate radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S.
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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.
Since you cannot see or smell radon, special equipment is needed to detect it. When you’re ready to test your home, you can order a radon test kit by mail from a qualified radon measurement services provider or laboratory. Sending the kit to appropriate sources to determine radon levelFollow the directions on the test kit packaging to find out where to send the device to get the results. Getting your house tested for radon can cost between $350 to $450, including the service, testing, and a report. All foundation and wall cracks should be sealed and caulked.
Q. What is the recommended length of time for a radon test?
This system, known as a soil depressurization system, does not require major changes to your home. Sealing foundation cracks and other openings makes this kind of system more effective and cost-efficient. Similar systems can also be installed in houses with crawl spaces. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors like whether your home has a basement. Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally released in the air from rocks and soil. It can be found in the air outside and can get inside buildings and homes, where it can build up.
Test kits are inexpensive and may be purchased at your local hardware store. Or visit National Radon Services Program to order a test kit. Exposure to radon accounts for about 21,000 deaths from lung cancer each year according to the US Environmental Protection Agency . While that is nowhere near the 480,000 deaths a year caused by smoking, it’s still significant. And it’s the leading cause of lung cancer in people who don't smoke.
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.
Results come back measured in picocuries per liter of air, pCi/L. While the EPA action level is 4.0 pCi/L, anything below 2.0 pCi/L is preferred. Use of a heat recovery ventilator or energy recovery ventilator . An HRV / ERV is a machine which exchanges indoor and outdoor air, which reduces the radon levels through dilution. Learning that you have elevated radon levels in your home can be upsetting, but fixing the problem is easier and less expensive than you may think.
Aiming for the lowest radon level you can achieve in your home will reduce your risk of harmful health effects, including lung cancer. If you have exposed earth in your basement, storage area, crawlspace, or another area of your home, you can significantly reduce radon levels by covering the soil. Use high-density polyethylene plastic to completely cover the exposed earth. Seal the seams as well as the edges to the foundation to keep radon from leaking into the air.
We hope this article takes some of the mystery out of radon mitigation. And remember, to protect yourself and your family, test your home for radon today. Your ongoing costs will be relatively minimal after installation.You’ll pay about $6 to $8 per month on your utility bill, and you will need to replace the fan after about 15 years.
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.
This will help prevent radon from entering your house, but it will also improve your home’s energy efficiency. Learn more about acceptable levels of radon and techniques used to mitigate radon. Radon gas is drawn into a building by the “thermal stack effect,” the natural vacuum structures create on the soil. Radon is actively sucked into structures through minute openings and even through semi-porous materials such as cinder block and concrete. If you smoke, quitting is still the best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer.
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