What is Radon?
*It is a gas
*Undetectable by human senses (You can’t smell, taste, or see it)
*It is naturally produced by the earth. It originates from the breakdown of Uranium.
*It can be found anywhere in the United States
*Nearly 1 in 15 homes located in the United States is estimated to have elevated Radon levels
*It is cancer-causing and radio-active: Breathing in Radon can cause cancer. Radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer
*Testing should be performed on every home. Testing is simple and could save your life.
Mitigation process:
*The mitigation system is designed to re-direct Radon gas before it enters your home or business.
*Radon enters through cracks in the floor, joints where basement concrete and foundation walls meet, around plumbing & heating ducts and pipes, wall cavities, and the water supply
*Sub-Slab Depressurization is used to mitigate high radon levels
*Proper placement of a Radon system pipe is important to determine the most efficient and effective performance. It is important to consider footing placement, bedroom location, and venting location.
*One placement is determined, a hole is drilled into the concrete floor. Soil is then excavated and this site now becomes the Radon gas collection chamber.
*A 3-4” schedule 40 PVC pipe is then run either to the exterior of the home or through an existing flu chase, garage, and through the roof.
*Radon fans are placed outside of the home or in the attic space of the home (Fans are located in non- conditioned space)
*Power is run to within 6’ of the Radon fan
*It is recommended that all accessible joints, cracks, and protrusions in the concrete slab are sealed with a Polyurethane sealant.
Radon Testing:
There are generally two types of Radon testing:
Short term: This period of time can be 2-90 days, depending on the type of testing performed. Charcoal canisters and continuous monitors are more commonly used. This type of testing is most commonly used in real estate transactions due to the quick turn around.
Long term: This period of time is generally 90+ days, using an Alpha Track or Electret detectors. This testing will show year round averages.
The average indoor radon level is estimated to be 1.3 pCi/L and the average outdoor level is estimated to be .4 pCi/L according to the EPA website.
It is recommended that levels 4.0 pCi/L or higher be mitigated, however, the EPA believes that any Radon exposure carries some risk.