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Other radon reduction techniques that can be used in any type of home include: sealing, house or room pressurization, heat recovery ventilation and natural ventilation. Sealing cracks and other openings in the foundation is a basic part of most approaches to radon reduction.
What do you do if your radon level is high?
If a radon test reveals high levels—anything above 4 pCi/L—ask for a walk-through with an EPA-licensed radon remediation specialist. You can find one through your state radon office. Most will provide a free remediation estimate, and, if the work is done, guarantee that radon levels will be acceptable.
Will running a fan reduce radon?
In some cases, radon levels can be lowered by ventilating the crawlspace passively, or actively, with the use of a fan. Crawlspace ventilation may lower indoor radon levels both by reducing the home’s suction on the soil and by diluting the radon beneath the home.
What time of year is radon highest?
The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.
Should you walk away from a house with radon?
Should you walk away from the deal? Consumer Reports says you don’t have to. Radon-related deaths are due to exposure over the course of a lifetime. “You should definitely take it seriously but you really don’t need to walk away from the home.
What neutralizes 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.
Does opening a window reduce radon?
Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Opening basement windows helps reduce negative air pressure, diluting radon with clean outdoor air.
Does a dehumidifier reduce radon?
No, buying a dehumidifier will not make radon go away. Radon must be removed by a remediation method like active soil depressurization (ASD), which ironically has been shown to be even more effective at removing humidity from a home than a dehumidifier in the same EPA study.
Does running HVAC reduce radon?
Based on the results it was concluded that an active ventilation system successfully reduces radon.
Where should I put my radon detector?
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 to spike?
Radon gas is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas found in the soil. 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. Essentially, weather events can cause your radon levels levels to either rise or fall.
How long does it take for radon to affect you?
Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop. Early signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: persistent cough.
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.
Does radon give you a headache?
The only known health effect of radon is an increased risk of lung cancer. Radon does not cause any warning symptoms like headaches, nausea, fatigue, or skin rashes.
How can you reduce radon without mitigation?
Other Ways to Reduce Radon Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air. Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
Can radon go through concrete?
Radon, soil gasses, and water vapor will easily pass through any openings, cracks, gaps, drains, or thin concrete (rat slabs) in the basement.
Do radon sealers work?
Certain types of sealers, like sodium silicate densifiers, can reduce the flow of Radon through pores, but they won’t be able to stop Radon completely. The only way to get Radon out of your basement is with a Radon mitigation system.
Can you run ceiling fan during radon test?
Turn off all air moving devices during the test. This would include ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, regular fans, HEPA or any other kind of filtering device that moves air. Do not operate fireplaces or heating stoves during the test unless they are your main source of heat.
Does an HRV remove radon?
To me, this is by far the simplest solution when it comes to radon mitigation. It works in new builds and existing homes, and only requires you have a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV). This exhausts the old air containing radon, replacing it with fresh air from the outdoors.
Can you vent radon out the side of my house?
The vent pipe discharge point is under the overhang and approximately 3 feet from the window. 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.
