Radon gas can have serious negative health consequences if there’s a leak into your home and not removed correctly.
I’ll be discussing this and what to do about it if you do have high radon levels in your home…
What is Radon?
First of all, what is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs when the uranium in soil and rock breaks down.
What are the Health Effects of Radon?
If it’s released from the soil into the outside air, it’s diluted and is harmless.
It can leak in through a foundation, however…
When radon builds up to high enough levels in a home, it can be dangerous. So what health effects can it have?
The major health effect is a higher risk of lung cancer.
When the radiation enters the lungs, it can damage the cells, which can lead to cancer.
In fact, it’s the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
With it being Winter, at least in a large part of the world now, and most of us not being able to open our windows, it’s important to do what we can to keep the air quality in our homes the best it can be.
So what can you do outside of testing?
There’s radon remediation or mitigation, which I’ll talk about too.
Testing Radon Levels
You can certainly test radon levels yourself by ordering a kit or have a professional do it.
Call a Radon Testing company.
I, personally, would get a professional to deal with the radon, if the levels are too high…
If you do the test yourself, the levels should be below 200 Bq/m3.
The DIY test costs around $10-$30 and for a pro inspection, $144 and $738, with the average price being $436.
Seems like a pretty fair price for peace of mind…
What is Radon Mitigation or Remediation?
If you’re hiring a mitigation professional, please check that they’re a certified and trusted company like Indianapolis Radon Mitigation.
So, how does mitigation work?
The most common method is sub-soil depressurization. This sucks the air and gas out of your home and vents it outside with a pipe and fans.
This should be done by a professional, since it may sound simple, but it would be a major job and could be dangerous if not done correctly.
How much does this usually cost? The average cost is around $2000-$4000.
There are also pressurized systems that are highly effective. They can remove up to 99% of radon.
The potential drawback to these systems is that you need to keep the doors and windows in the lower levels of your home closed and sealed.
If you have mobility issues, this may not matter, but if you have kids that like to play downstairs, laundry room, or in office space, this wouldn’t work. At least long term…
The cost is around $1000-$2500 for this type of radon mitigation system.
Of course, you could do this yourself and save money if you have the skills, knowledge, and right tools.
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