What to Do If Your Home Has Radon
So, you’ve discovered that you have radon in your home. You probably have a lot of questions, and that’s natural. After all, you’ve just discovered radioactive gas in your home! But you have options, and there’s much to learn about radon. Here are a few tips on the first steps you need to take after learning that your home has radon, including how to fix high radon levels.
Understanding Home Radon Levels
There’s a lot to know about radon in your home, but let’s start with the basics. As a refresher, radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the ground. While it is dangerous – it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking – it’s also quite common.
Do all houses have radon?
Yes, all homes have some amount of radon gas. Radon is present in all rock and soil, so there isn’t anywhere in the world without radon – in fact, there’s even radon in the ocean!
However, the amount of radon present in a home can be affected by many factors, including existing radon mitigation systems, the type of rock and soil in the area, whether or not a home has a basement, and more.
How much radon exposure is too much?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is no safe level of radon exposure. As mentioned before, though, radon is unavoidable. With that in mind, the EPA recommends that Americans consider addressing radon levels in their homes if they measure between 2 and 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or more than 4 pCi/L.
What To Do if Your Home Has a Radon Problem
If you’ve learned that your home has high radon levels, here are the next steps to follow.
Reach out to radon mitigation experts.
Whether you tested your home yourself or had it professionally tested, the next step is to contact local radon mitigation experts, like The Radon Guys in Nashville, Tennessee. The Radon Guys can discuss your radon mitigation options and help you decide what might be best for your unique situation, home, and family.
Learn your radon mitigation options.
Radon mitigation looks different for every home. Depending on when your home was built and the building codes for your area, you may already have a passive radon mitigation system. In some instances, especially when high levels of radon are present, a passive radon mitigation system may not sufficiently lower radon levels in your home. Adding a radon fan to your passive system makes it more effective.
You may need an external retrofit radon system if your home has no radon mitigation. External systems route radon gas from beneath your home’s foundation into the air above your home, redirecting the gas away. Like other options, external retrofit radon systems are tailored to fit your home’s size, the type of foundation you have, and your personal preferences.
Don’t forget crawl space encapsulation!
If you have a crawlspace in your home, you’ll need an additional element of radon mitigation: crawlspace encapsulation. Homes with basements or slab foundations have concrete underneath them that helps contain radon so it can be drawn outside by a radon fan. Homes with crawl spaces, however, do not already have this protective barrier.
Crawlspace encapsulation involves installing and sealing a vapor barrier in the floor of your crawlspace, creating an airtight barrier to trap radon gas. This allows your radon mitigation system to work to its full potential. Without crawl space encapsulation, radon can still escape into the living areas of your home, even with a radon mitigation system.
Monitor and maintain radon levels.
Once you have a radon mitigation system installed in your home, it’s essential to continue monitoring the radon levels in your home. Be wary of companies that retest their own systems. A reputable company like The Radon Guys will have third-party testing done to avoid conflicts of interest. If you want extra assurance, you can purchase a separate radon detector that will allow you to keep an eye on your home’s radon levels.
Contact The Radon Guys Today
Discovered radon in your home? The Radon Guys are here to help. We offer effective radon mitigation solutions to lower radon levels and keep your home's air quality clean. Get in touch with us today to discuss your options and take action against radon. We provide home radon services in Tennessee and Kentucky.
