Tag: radon

There are numerous types of radon mitigation systems to choose from, and with the risk that radon poses to your health, choosing the right system for your home needs is an important task. Therefore, it is well worth investing a bit of time and effort in becoming an informed consumer before making your final selection from the available radon mitigation systems.

There are a variety of factors that will influence your choice in radon mitigation systems. The degree of your radon problem is the primary factor you’ll need to consider when making your choice. Choose a reliable means for testing, and remember that an independent testing service is likely to be the most trustworthy option, as opposed to a test performed by a company that is also trying to sell you one of their radon mitigation systems.

Once you’ve established the extent of your radon situation, you’re ready to start considering the types of radon mitigation systems most suitable for your needs. The type of home that you live in and the space you have available will be a part of the decision making process. There are going to be differences in your options for dealing with radon, depending upon whether you have a basement, a crawlspace, or a home located on a slab of concrete.

There are both interior radon mitigation systems and exterior to choose from. The ventilator on exterior radon mitigation systems is found on the exterior of the house, an attractive option for those with little available space. Those that are located on the interior of the house can be located in the basement or the attic, and there are low noise models available as well.

Effectiveness is, of course, the most important quality of radon mitigation systems, but convenience is nice, too. With time and effort invested in finding the best types of radon mitigation systems for your home, you’ll be able to find a system that can offer both.

Radon is a very dangerous gas that is created naturally in the ground around the world. Radon comes from the decomposition of uranium, and all rocks and dirt have some amount of uranium in them. Radon is also totally without scent, color or taste, so the only way you will know is by using special equipment to test for the presence of it. There are many self install radon alarms on the market so you can monitor your home for the dangerous radioactive gas constantly. When radon is detected you need to call a specialist that deals with radon remediation and they can come and do their own tests and then discuss some radon remediation options with you. If you do your own test for radon and there I only small traces of radon then there are some radon remedial techniques you can try on your own, and many hardware stores will carry these kinds of things.

When there is a large amount of radon detected then the radon remediation techniques and tools that you can do on your own will be useless, and this is when you need to call a specialist that deals with all kinds of radon remediation and then can make your house a safe place again with fresh clean air. They make a special sump pump device that can help keep the radon from entering your home, and this device usually goes in the basement since this is where much of the radon gas will enter your home. When you have to call a specialist they will also give you some devices to monitor the radon in your home if you do not already have something. Radon can be very serious and can cause serious health problems due to prolonged exposure to the radioactive gas, and it is something that exists worldwide.

When testing shows that there is a high amount of radon gas in a home, it will be necessary to have radon abatement procedures performed as soon as possible. Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that seeps into the basement of a home through a foundation that is not very well sealed. The gas is a naturally occurring by-product of radium decay, and because it is radioactive by nature, it has the potential to cause lung cancer in people that are exposed to it.

In the majority of cases, radon abatement will need to be performed by a professional contractor to obtain the desired result of a low radon concentration. Often these services come in the form of either radon mitigation systems, or radon elimination systems. When deciding between the two methods, one must consider the extent of the gas intrusion and the available budget.

The most common radon abatement procedure is called mitigation. Essentially, the radon gas is collected with a series of ducts as it enters the basement, and is diverted to the outside of the home with fans and a vent stack. This method is the more affordable of the two, and it is efficient at lowering the levels of radon gas.

Radon elimination is the other, more expensive, method of radon abatement. The process begins by inspecting the foundation of a home, and removing any crumbling concrete, priming the surface with a special paint, and sealing any joints with a rubber-based compound. Several coats of a rubberized paint are then added as a topcoat, over the foundation walls and the basement floor. This process completely seals the basement, eliminating radon intrusion, and as a bonus, it leaves the basement dry and ready to finish.

Either method of radon abatement will ensure that the occupying family will not suffer the ill effects of radon exposure, and, therefore, the expense is well worth it.

Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that naturally occurs in the soil.  This gas is extremely dangerous when humans breathe it in at high levels.  Since radon is so hard to detect, many people can live for years in a home with high radon levels and not even know it.   Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking cigarettes.  If you have an older home, or a home with a basement, it is extremely important that you get a radon test so you can be aware of the current levels in your home.  In most cases, radon seeps up through cracks in the flooring of a home’s foundation but those with well water should also be aware of its presence in the drinking water as well.  A simple radon test can help you to determine how much radon is in your home’s environment, and can help you decide what steps to take next.

A radon test is generally inexpensive and fairly easy to conduct.  You can purchase an in home testing kit from many retailers and also via mail order.  The test usually only takes a few minutes, and should not cost a whole lot.  It’s worth it for the peace of mind you’ll receive knowing that radon levels you have in your home.  If you feel a little weary of conducting your own radon test, you can always hire a trained professional to do the job for you.  The EPA has listings of qualified contractors, as well as your local state office.  A short term radon test should be able to tell you the general level of radon present.  If you feel uncomfortable with the results, then a long term test lasting over 90 days should be conducted, just so you can be absolutely certain what the radon levels are in your home. 

One of the more recently discovered threats to human health in the home is radon gas, but, fortunately, there are many different radon tests on the market today. Radon is a heavy gas that released during the decay process of the element Radium. As its name suggests, it is substance that has very high levels of radioactivity. High levels of the substance in a home can cause lung cancer, because every time the gas is taken into the lungs, the lungs are bombarded with radioactive energy. Soon, malignant tumors will begin to form within the lungs.

When a homeowner desires to test his or her home for radon, there are several options available. Short-term radon tests can be used to get a general estimate of the amount of gas in the home. The results, however, are not very accurate, because the quantity of the substance in a home tends to very greatly over time. A long-term, 90-day, test is far more accurate, and should be the second step in the testing process. The third available option is to hire a professional contractor to perform the radon tests. With more expensive and accurate equipment, this is probably the best option to determine the amount of radon that is in the home.

If the radon tests show that there are unacceptable levels of radon in the home, then the next step is to fix the problem. Sometimes the solution can be as simple as installing a vent fan and some ductwork. If that does not lower the levels, however, it may be time to call a professional in to do the work. The contractor will start by sealing any cracks in the foundation, and then a system will be installed underneath the home that will collect the gas and vent it outside. After the repairs are complete, it is a good idea to do a few more radon tests to ensure that the house is now safe.

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that has very serious consequences to humans if it is breathed in at high levels and for an extended period of time.  In fact, scientists say that radon is the second cause of lung cancer behind smoking.  Since radon is hard to detect, it’s very important that everyone do radon testing on their own homes to be sure of its presence.  There are two basic ways to perform radon testing: short term and long term.  The short term method involved purchasing a simple, at home testing kit that can be found at many retailers nationwide, or online.  The test consists of a canister that needs to be placed near the foundation of the home, since radon is found in the soil.  The canister then sits for anywhere from two to 90 days, and needs to be placed in the lowest level in the home.  If you have a basement, this is an ideal location.  Be sure to put the radon testing device in an area that can be sealed by closing doors and windows in order to get the most accurate results.

Long term radon testing is much more involved and usually requires the assistance of a professional.  This test involves using the radon testing kit,  but it must be left in place for more than 90 days.  The testing itself is simple, but it’s the final results that may need to be analyzed by someone who is familiar with radon and how it operates.  Whether you choose a short or long term radon testing method, it’s important to know about the potential presence of this harmful gas in your home so you can protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property.  By knowing where the radon is and whether or not the levels are harmful, you can have peace of mind and know that you’re protected from this silent killer.

There have been a variety of studies that have demonstrated that radon is dangerous to the health when it is present at levels over what has been determined to be reasonably safe. That makes a radon gas test an important part of keeping the home environment as safe and healthy as possible, as there are ways to reduce the amount of radon present, once you know that there is a problem.

With testing so important, it is a good ideal to familiarize yourself with the available radon gas test methods, so that you can choose the means of testing most suitable for your needs. Radon gas test methods fall generally into two categories, passive and active.

The passive radon gas test methods can be done in a building without power, before you move into it. These tests use such substances as charcoal and are left in an area to absorb the air and, if present, the radon. After a set amount of time, the radon gas test is then submitted to a lab for analysis.  

An active radon gas test runs continuously and requires a power source, as it is actively and constantly testing and keeping track of the levels of radon present. This constant measuring is thought to be much more reliable than the passive sorts of testing. This sort of test may be suitable for a site that has had a consistent problem with significantly higher than permissible levels of radon in the air.

A radon gas test is an important part of ensuring that your home environment is as healthy and safe as it can be. The best type of radon gas test for your home will depend on the specifics of your particular situation. In a home that has never shown a high radon level, a passive test may be fine. For a home that has experienced a significant problem, the active radon gas test may be the better choice.

Radon was discovered in 1900.  It is a colorless, odorless gas that is formed by the natural breakdown of uranium, and is most often found in soil.  The health hazards associated with radon are so significant, that breathing it in on a regular basis can be as dangerous as smoking 130 or more packs of cigarettes a day!  Radon gas was first found to be a danger to humans in 1984 when it was discovered to be a presence in homes.  After lung cancer, radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer, so its implications are extremely serious.  It is still not known whether or not radon gas causes other forms of cancer, but some doctors believe that it does contribute to some cases of diseases such as multiple sclerosis.   Fortunately, there are ways to find out whether or not there is a presence of radon gas in your home.  Radon testing kits can be purchased from many retailers for the cost of about $10-$20.  The investment is certainly well worth it.

You can help to prevent radon gas from entering your home by sealing all cracks in your foundation, as well as any leaks or cracks in the water drainage system.  Many local affiliates will also perform free radon tests and radon gas mitigation tactics for a small fee or even free of charge.  Millions of homes have been tested, but there are still millions more that have not, so it is imperative that everyone try to at least find out the level of radon gas in their homes in order to protect themselves and their family from this extremely harmful element.  The more you know, the more you can be aware and informed about not only the dangers of radon, but how to prevent and remove it when necessary.

Until 1984, the average homeowner was never concerned about the radon level is his or her home. That year, an employee of a nuclear power plant started setting off the radiation alarms every time he went to work in a two-week span. After a long investigation, it was determined that his high radiation levels were not the result of his current position of employment, but a silent and possibly deadly contaminant in his home.

His home was tested and the investigators found an extremely high radon level within the house. Radon gas is a highly radioactive material that forms as the element radium begins to decay. The substance is extremely detrimental to the health of anyone exposed to it in high enough quantities, and it is behind only smoking in its tendency to cause lung cancer. Radon is expelled from the ground, naturally, almost everywhere. Houses that are built on granite or shale, however, tend to have the highest concentrations of the gas, because the underlying ground is much more porous than materials like sand or clay.

Fortunately, the government immediately set standards regarding the acceptable radon level that can be present in the average home. Soon after, many services were offered to test for the gas in residences, and if unacceptable levels were found, the problem could be corrected. Now, there is a wide supply of kits available that the homeowner can use to test the radon level without needing to call a professional.

If a high radon level is found in a home, the most common advice is to monitor the situation for a while. The gas tends to fluctuate in volume, and, therefore, it may take a while to get an accurate measurement of the actual quantity of gas present in the home. Then, if it is necessary, a professional can be called to deal with the problem. Lowering a high radon level can prevent the future onset of radon-related lung cancer.

Radon is a radioactive gas that seeps into houses from decaying granite and slate underground.  As the radon gas rises, it enters houses through cracks in the basement and sump pump wells.  Once the radon enters the basement of a house, it begins to accumulate in the low areas.  Because radon is heavier than air, and basements are often not ventilated well, radon gas can reach dangerous levels quickly.  High radon levels are the second leading cause of lung cancer and is attributed to over 20,000 deaths in the United States alone.  Radon can be found in all areas of the world and is undetectable to human senses.

The European Union and Canadian governments recommend that houses have less than 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter, a measure of radiation) while the US Environmental Protection Agency recommends radon levels of no more than 4 pCi/L and says that even a radon level of 2pCi/L can be very dangerous.  You can measure your radon levels by purchasing a radon detector and hanging it in your basement.  After leaving it for a few days, package the detector and mail it to a radon laboratory where it can be analyzed.  If the Radon test is positive you should then purchase a longer term (up to 1 year) test to confirm the presence of Radon and to pinpoint how much of the radioactive gas is present. 

There are two main methods to lower the concentration of radon in your home.  The first is to prevent radon from entering your home in the first place.  This can be accomplished by using a foam sealant to fill any cracks in your basement floor and walls which might allow radon to enter.  The second is to install a ventilation system remove the contaminated air and blow it harmlessly outside.