Radon levels are constantly changing – hourly, daily, and seasonal fluctuations are all common.
What factors can affect radon test results?
Many factors can give either a false negative or a false positive when conducting a radon test. High winds, barometric pressures, temperature, rain, and your home’s construction all play a role in radon readings.
Do radon levels increase over time?
Do radon levels change over time? We are asked about this all the time and the answer is yes. As the earth and soil under a house changes with time, it can produce higher levels of radon gas. Also, as your house ages, the radon that accumulates in the house may increase.
At what level should I worry about radon?
Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L.
What causes radon levels to rise?
Weather – changing temperatures and wind can affect the pressure difference between indoor air and ground air. This is important because radon traditionally leaks into the house from ground air. If temperature differences and wind cause negative pressure in the house, indoor radon levels are likely to increase.
How accurate are home Depot radon tests?
Findings show radon tests of less than 90 days are imprecise up to 99 percent of the time.
Can radon tests be wrong?
The short answer is yes, as errors can happen with any type of test, but the likelihood of a wrong radon level reading changes greatly based on a variety of factors.
How quickly can radon levels change?
The EPA even recommends checking radon levels at least every two years as radon flow can increase over a timescale longer than one calendar year. This is to say, just as radon levels fluctuate within a calendar year, they also fluctuate as years pass.
How accurate are radon detectors?
The monitors had a range of uncertainty from 2%–15% with a range of precision from 1%–24%. The monitors performed better at higher radon levels than at levels near the Canadian guideline level of 200 Bq m−3, and slightly better during ‘summer’ conditions than during ‘indoor winter’ conditions.
What time of year are radon levels the highest?
winter
The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.
Why does my radon reading fluctuate?
Changes in weather – particularly extreme weather events – can change the pressure differences and therefore change how radon enters your home. Some weather events, like storms, typically cause radon levels in a home to rise. Other events, like heavy winds, can cause radon levels to either rise or fall.
Are spikes in radon normal?
The short answer is yes. Not only can radon levels change drastically during a 48-hours measurement, but it is quite normal. Radon levels change rapidly for many reasons.
Will opening windows reduce radon?
As a temporary solution, however, you can reduce radon levels simply by opening windows. Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open.
How do you manipulate a radon test?
Some of these methods for how to pass a radon test include:
- Open windows. By opening the windows, you increase fresh air circulation and reduce the concentration of radon in the home.
- Install basement vents. …
- Use fans. …
- Create exits. …
- Mitigation.
Which radon test is the most accurate?
The Radon Eye RD200 tops our list for its fast, accurate readings. After setting up this radon detector, you’ll get your initial reading within the first 10 minutes with a more accurate reading appearing within the next 60.
What are normal levels of radon?
The average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air.
How do you read radon results?
What do my test results mean?
- Below 2 pCi/L (74 Bq/m3) is considered a low level of radon and a good test result.
- Above 4 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3) is considered a dangerous level of radon and the EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon levels.
Is it OK to live in a house with radon?
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. If you smoke and live in a home with high radon levels, you increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Having your home tested is the only effective way to determine whether you and your family are at risk of high radon exposure.
What is considered long term exposure to radon?
Radon Risk If You Have Never Smoked
| Radon Level | If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*… |
|---|---|
| 20 pCi/L | About 36 people could get lung cancer |
| 10 pCi/L | About 18 people could get lung cancer |
| 8 pCi/L | About 15 people could get lung cancer |
| 4 pCi/L | About 7 people could get lung cancer |
What are the first signs of radon poisoning?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.
- Persistent cough.
- Hoarseness.
- Wheezing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Coughing up blood.
- Chest pain.
- Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Loss of appetite.
Does radon cause anxiety?
In the United States, initial reports of radon-related deaths caused anxiety. Fairly quickly, the Environmental Protection Agency lowered 1986 estimates of radon-related deaths and the number of contaminated homes.
