What is radon?

Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Radon typically moves from the ground through an entry point(s) in your home and into the air you breath. Radon is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas. As a known carcinogen, radon damages your lungs through alpha decay radiation.

How do i know if i have radon?

The only way to find out if your home has high levels of radon is to run a test. A radon monitor is placed in the lowest livable space within the home. After at least 48 hours the monitor will give an hourly reading with a 2 day average. Mitigation is required for any home that tests above 4.0 Pci/L.

What can be done for homes with high radon?

If your home has been tested and the results come back with high radon levels the next step is mitigation. The most common type of mitigation is an active soil depressurization system. A very simple lists of the steps are:

A 3” or 4” circular hole is drilled through the slab of the home.

PVC piping is then installed to the exterior of home or to the attic. A radon fan is then added to the PVC piping. After the fan is installed, exhaust vent piping must be ran to above the roof eave. All cracks and holes are sealed to prevent any possible radon entry points that can be seen including the hole drilled through the slab. The fan that runs continuously provides a negative pressure underneath the slab which pulls the radon out of the home.

Once the mitigation has been completed the home should be tested again after 1-30 days in the same general location of the first test.

All homes are different and codes vary accordingly. The above steps are very rudimentary and may not be specific to your home.