What is the best way to mitigate radon?

Other Ways to Reduce Radon

  1. Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air. …
  2. Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.




What does a radon mitigation system do?

Radon mitigation is any process or system used to reduce radon concentrations in buildings. The goal of the radon mitigation system is to reduce the indoor radon level as low as reasonably achievable. All systems should reduce radon below the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L (picocuries of radon per liter of air).

Can you install radon mitigation system yourself?

In most cases, pros charge about $1,500 to install a radon mitigation system, but you can do it yourself for only about $500 in materials. So if you’re fairly handy and have some carpentry, plumbing and electrical skills, you can install your own system in a weekend and save yourself a thousand bucks!

Why is radon higher in some areas?

The higher the uranium level is in an area, the greater the chances are that houses in the area have high levels of indoor radon. But some houses in areas with lots of uranium in the soil have low levels of indoor radon, and other houses on uranium-poor soils have high levels of indoor radon.

Where is radon most prevalent?





Alaska has the highest radon levels of 10.7 pCi/L.
Here are the 10 states with the highest Radon levels:

  • Alaska (10.7)
  • South Dakota (9.6)
  • Pennsylvania (8.6)
  • Ohio (7.8)
  • Washington (7.5)
  • Kentucky (7.4)
  • Montana (7.4)
  • Idaho (7.3)

What is radon and where does it come from?

Radon is a radioactive noble gas that comes from the decay of radium in the soil. Radium is also a daughter or progeny nuclide of Uranium (Uranium decay). Radon is a colorless, odorless, invisible gas that can only be detected through the use of proper equipment and protocols.

Does radon mitigation reduce humidity?

The answer is, yes. Though, radon mitigation systems are designed to effectively reduce in home radon levels, there is a great byproduct of mitigation radon. One of the primary byproducts of a radon mitigation system is its ability to reduce moisture in your basement and/or overall humidity throughout your home.

Where should radon pipe be placed?

EPA’s Radon Mitigation Standards require vent discharge points to be above the roofline, and no less than 10 feet sideways or 2 feet above any windows or vents.

What is radon affected area?



What does it actually mean to have a house in a radon affected area? High levels of radon gas are influenced by the underlying geology in the area, as well as other factors including the way in which a building has been constructed and the habits of the occupants – heating and ventilation for example.

How does radon affect the environment?

Environmental effects of radon

Some of the radon that is located in the soil will move to the surface and enter the air through vaporization. In the air, radon compounds will attach to dust and other particles. Radon can also move downwards in the soil and enter the groundwater.

How does radon get into the atmosphere?



Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.

Where does radon accumulate in a house?

Radon can enter and collect inside almost any home or other building through dirt floors, hollow block walls, cracks in the foundation floor and walls, sump pumps, openings around floor drains, joints and foundation openings for pipes, sewers and other utility connections.

Where is the best place to put a radon test?

Place a radon detector in the breathing zone, 2-6 feet above the floor, and away from drafts, exterior walls, sumps, drains, windows or doors. Radon may enter a building through cracks in the foundation or through sumps or drains and will usually be higher near these entry points.

What causes radon leak?

It’s produced when uranium, thorium, and radium break down in soil, rock, and water. It’s then released into the air. Radon is odorless, tasteless, and invisible. Radon can accumulate in some places where ventilation is inadequate, such as in an underground mine.

Where is radon found and how does it affect human health?



When you breathe in radon, it gets into the lining of your lungs and gives off radiation. Over a long time, that can damage the cells there and lead to lung cancer. Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.

What increases radon?

The negative pressure caused by the wind and closing the home is ideal for raising the levels inside. According to the EPA, “rain, snow, and sleet” can capture radon in the air and pull it to the ground. This action causes the radon levels in the soil to increase. Increased soil levels can seep into your home.

Why is radon in basements?

Radon can pass from the soil to the air in a gaseous form and enter your home. Because your basement is below ground, it’s the first room that radon gas will reach as it rises from the soil to the air. Therefore, the concentration of radon gas in your basement will likely be higher than in any other room of your house.

Why does radon 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 home radon detectors accurate?



Based on the requirements of these two programs, one could generalize that short-term or long-term radon detectors that have passed one of these performance tests have an accuracy of about 25% or possibly better.