If you are building in a Zone 1 county, you should include a radon control system in your new home. It is an inexpensive addition to the total cost of your house and is an easy way to protect you and your family.
What type of building is most affected by radon?
Radon levels are generally highest in cellars and basements because these areas are nearest to the source and are usually poorly ventilated.
Where in your house is radon most likely?
basement
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.
Is radon common in slab foundation?
Yes, homes built on a slab can still have radon. Whether the home is old, new, insulated or not and regardless of construction materials it can have radon.
How common is radon in homes?
Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more). Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state.
Is it OK to live in a house with radon?
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.
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.
How do I make my house safe from radon?
An active radon sump, fitted with a fan, is the most effective way to reduce indoor radon levels. Sumps work best under solid floors and under suspended floors if the ground is covered with concrete or a membrane. Occasionally, passive sumps without a fan may reduce radon levels.
Why is radon higher upstairs?
It’s estimated that for every 1,000 pCi/L in water an additional 1 pCi/L is added to the air in the average home. So a level of 2,000 would contribute 2 pCi/L, etc. Showers release the most radon from the water, so likely the 3rd floor residents are taking more showers. Radon comes from nuclear decay of radium .
What are sources of radon?
Building materials, the water supply, and natural gas can all be sources of radon in the home. Basements allow more opportunity for soil gas entry than slab-on-grade foundations. Showering and cooking can release radon into the air by aerosolizing household water (from a well) and burning natural gas.
Does radon gas rise or sink?
Radon and other gases rise through the soil and get trapped under the building. The trapped gases build up pressure. Air pressure inside homes is usually lower than the pressure in the soil. Therefore, the higher pressure under the building forces gases though floors and walls and into the building.
Why does radon rise?
In addition to year of construction, North American design factors that correlate with increased radon exposure include: larger building surface areas (i.e. ‘square footage’, footprint of the building in contact with bedrock and/or soil), taller main/ground floor ceilings, fewer storeys (i.e. bungalow design), basement …
Does running HVAC reduce radon?
Based on the results it was concluded that an active ventilation system successfully reduces radon. For this particular house, it was also concluded that the presence of rain increases radon concentration levels.
Does 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.
What time of year is radon highest?
winter
Radon levels can vary by season, with the highest levels typically occurring during the months that we heat our homes. That means that even if your home’s radon was below the EPA’s suggested action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter of air during the warmer months, it could be above that level during the winter.
Do ceiling fans reduce radon?
Ceiling fans can reduce radon levels by 50%. 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.
Are radon detectors reliable?
There is no known level of radon exposure that is considered safe, so it’s important to protect yourself and your household by using a reliable, high-quality radon test kit that will give you an accurate picture of the radon levels in your home.
Does rain make radon worse?
Certain types of weather can have a greater impact on your home’s radon levels. Wind and rain storms create the largest variables of radon levels when testing for radon gas. Rainier days tend to result in noticeably higher radon levels. This is because rainy days are often coupled with lower barometric pressure.
What causes false radon readings?
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.
What are symptoms 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.
