1. What is Radon gas?
In this this post, we will tell you how you can fix your home with high radon level. Radon is odorless radioactive gas produced naturally in the earth. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer for the general population. 10% of all lung cancers worldwide are related to radon exposure.
Radon gas is heavier than air which makes it to settle in lower parts of house (basement) as well as less ventilated areas. Radon may enter directly into your home from the soil through the cracks in foundation, walls, gaps around pipes, etc.
2. Perform test
First step is to perform test to find out whether there is a problem with radon level in your home.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that a home should have no more than 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or 148 becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m³). Conversion rate: 1 pCi/L = 37 Bq/m³.
Also, the EPA encourages that homeowners should act at radon level as low as 74 Bq/m3 (2 pCi/L)
To find out how much radon is in your home, you can buy a radon detector device such as an Accu-Star available from most local Hardware stores for $25-$100. Place the tester in the lowest level of your home (basement). There are two types of test. A short-term test that requires time from 2 to 90 days and a long-term test that requires time more than 90 days to remain in your home.
3. Choose right mitigation method
There are various methods to reduce radon level in your home. The cost for fixing radon level ranges between $300 and $3,000 and depends on the system you choose.
4. Seal the cracks in your basement foundation
If your home’s radon levels are higher than 2 but less than 4 picocuries per liter, sealing cracks in your basement foundation might be sufficient.
4. Improve the ventilation
Improving the ventilation in your house will help to avoid moving of radon from the basement into the main level and bedrooms. Increased ventilation system should help reduce radon levels, however, its effectiveness depends on how high the radon level is and on the features of your home.
5. Install sub-slab depressurization system
If the test showed the Radon level above 4 picocuries per liter, the most effective radon reduction technique would be sub-slab depressurization, sometimes referred to as active soil depressurization. With this method, a pipe is installed through the basement sub-flooring to an outside wall or up through to the roof line with a small fan attached which draws the radon from below the house to the outside before it can enter your home. This type of system can significantly decrease the radon level in a home.
6. Install sub-membrane suction system for crawlspace
If your home has crawlspace, an effective method to decrease radon levels, is to cover the crawlspace earth surface with plastic sheets. In addition, install a ventilation pipe and a fan to draw the gas out. This form of soil suction also known as sub-membrane suction, is very effective to reduce radon levels in homes with crawlspace.