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Do radon mitigation systems really work?
Radon reduction systems work. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99 percent. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs. Hundreds of thousands of people have reduced radon levels in their homes.
What is involved in radon mitigation?
The most common method of radon mitigation is a “sub-slab depressurization” (SSD) system, which uses a fan and PVC pipe to draw air from below the basement floor or slab on grade and then vent it harmlessly above the roof, where it dissipates very quickly.
What is the best way to mitigate radon?
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.
Is radon a deal breaker?
So what is radon gas? You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, but radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, the presence of radon in your home doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.
What causes radon in a house?
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. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems.
How long does it take to mitigate a house with radon?
A typical radon mitigation system is installed within a day, depending on various factors. Occasionally, more complex installations may take 2 or more days.
Where is radon most commonly found?
Radon levels are usually higher in basements, cellars and living spaces in contact with the ground. However, considerable radon concentration can also be found above the ground floor. Radon concentrations vary considerably between adjacent buildings, as well as within a building from day to day and from hour to hour.
Can a sump pit be used for radon mitigation?
Drawing and mitigating radon gas from a sump crock is a highly effective solution to successfully mitigating radon from your home. The glaring issue seems to be that most sump crock pits are located in the front corner of the home. This presents a problem of aesthetics and threatens to tarnish your home’s curb appeal.
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.
Does air conditioning reduce radon?
A decrease in the mean value of radon and its attached progeny was found when AC was working. The mean value of radon equilibrium factor F was also lower when AC was working (0.49) than when it was off (0.61).
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.
How common is it to find radon in homes?
It’s common: About 1 in every 15 homes has what’s considered an elevated radon level. The gas is odorless and invisible, says the EPA, and it causes no immediate symptoms, so the only way to know if your home is affected is by testing your individual residence.
Should I buy a home that tested positive for radon?
EPA RECOMMENDS: If you are buying or selling a home, have it tested for radon. For a new home, ask if radon-resistant construction features were used and if the home has been tested. Fix the home if the radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.
Do Dehumidifiers help with 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.
How quickly can radon 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.
What does radon smell like?
Radon gas does not have a smell. It is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and invisible to the human eye. If you have high levels of radon in your home, you won’t notice any immediate adverse effects.
What are 5 facts about radon?
Here are a few facts about radon, and what you can do to help keep your family healthy and safe. Radon is radioactive. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. Radon causes cancer. No immediate symptoms. You must test for radon. Radon is present indoors and outdoors. Radon can build up in any building.
Are radon levels higher at night?
During the day, the sun beats down and heats up the house from the outside in, but at night, there is a rapid cooldown. This results in slightly higher radon levels during the day, rather than at night.
Does a radon system have to have a fan?
A passive radon system is a radon system without the radon exhaust fan. A passive system typically runs from the basement sump crock or drain tile and exhausts through the roof, without the use of an active radon exhaust fan. Passive radon systems rely on what’s referred to as a “stack effect”.
