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Radon forms naturally. Uranium in soil or rock breaks down to form radium, which then turns into radon gas. Once formed, radon enters a home through cracks in walls, basement floors, foundations and other openings. As radon decays, it releases radioactive byproducts that are inhaled and can cause lung cancer. Because radon comes from rock and soil, it can be found anywhere. Exposure to limited concentrations, like those found outdoors, is impossible to avoid. However, when radon gets trapped indoors, it may exist in dangerous concentrations. Less frequently, radon may enter buildings from water used in bathroom showers and faucets. Concerns have also been raised about the radon released indoors from building materials, such as granite countertops or tiles. However, these sources have rarely proven to be a problem by themselves. 2, 3 Concerns have also recently emerged about radon in natural gas extracted by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. 4 Follow-up resear...

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium in soil and rock. It occurs naturally in the environment and is typically found in the air and water.  The average outdoor radon level is 0.4 pCi/L, but in higher concentrations of 4 pCi/L or more, exposure to it can be very dangerous. No matter if your home is in Louisville, Nicholasville, Lexington or Richmond, there is some amount of radon in your home.

Homeowners frequently ask us if we put a cover on the top of the radon mitigation piping, and it’s a good question. It does seem like it would be a good idea when you look and see a pipe open to the elements. However, as we will explain in this post, not only is it not necessary for the system to be effective and to protect the fan, pipe covers can actually reduce the effectiveness of the system itself and cause big issues in the winter time. Lets first go over the main questions we hear from homeowners when they see the opening in the top of the pipe. Won't rain get into the piping and negatively affect the system? The radon mitigation fans that we use are designed to handle water coming through the piping, and if water does come down into the pipe when it rains, the water will simply drain back into your drain tile underneath your home to be pumped out again from your sump pump. In our 21 years of business, we have never encountered a water issue from rain trickling...

1. Cracks in solid floors 2. Construction joints 3. Cracks in walls 4. Gaps in suspended floors 5. Gaps around service pipes 6. Cavities inside walls 7. The water supply Procrastination can be more than just a bad habit; it can be downright dangerous if it means you're stalling radon testing for your home. Radon is a tasteless, odorless invisible gas—which comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water—that can seep into homes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon contamination causes nearly 20,000 deaths a year. Thing is, you can test for and "fix" this very serious problem quite easily. Here's what you do. All homes should test for radon, regardless of geographic location; homes with elevated radon levels have been identified across the country. If you haven't checked for radon in the past two years, or if you've done some remodeling since the last time you did, pick up an Accu-Star certified radon t...

Many homeowners in the Lexington area are unaware of the health problems that poor  indoor air quality  can introduce in their homes. Poor air quality makes your home host to all kinds of contaminants that pose serious health and safety risks to you and your family. Radon is one such contaminant that is frequently found in this area. That’s why we at Synergy Home are now offering radon mitigation services to help Kentucky homeowners make their homes safer for their families. What Is Radon? Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium in soil and rock. It occurs naturally in the environment and is typically found in the air and water.  The average outdoor radon level is 0.4 pCi/L, but in higher concentrations of 4 pCi/L or more, exposure to it can be very dangerous. No matter if your home is in Louisville, Nicholasville, Lexington or Richmond, there is some amount of radon in your home. What Makes Radon So Dangerous? ...

Radon isn't often talked about or though about, but it is a threat for homeowners and residents. If you haven't yet tested for radon, you should do so immediately. Based on the results of said test, consider looking into radon mitigation systems. The purpose of a radon mitigation system is to decrease the amount of radon in the home. Radon is a gas that is odorless and tasteless, created from decomposing uranium found in water, soil, and rocks. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. This makes having a proper radon mitigation system important. Many people labor under the false belief that an air conditioning system may help with radon, but conditioned or cooled air is not necessarily decontaminated air. This article will go over various types of radon mitigation systems that could be installed in your home. 1. Active Suction Radon mitigation systems that use active suction are often limited to homes that have a concrete slab basement or basements on ...

First, don’t panic! Radon is everywhere and fixing a radon problem is very straight-forward. Second… … if you have performed only a single test, the US EPA recommends a follow-up test before fixing your home. Radon levels fluctuate naturally and it is important to know if the initial test was an accurate assessment of your home’s average radon level or whether the high levels could have been caused by unusual weather. How To Follow-Up Your First Test If your first test has a result between 4 and 8 pCi/L, you have the choice of testing again. If results are needed quickly, you can re-test with a short-term (2-7 days) device. For a better understanding of your home’s year-round average, you can test with a long-term (3-12 months) device. If the results of your first test are higher than 8 pCi/L, then it is recommended that you test again using another short-term test device. The higher the radon concentration above 8 pCi/L, the sooner you should conduct a retest. ...

Radon is naturally occurring radioactive soil gas that is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Radon comes from the breakdown of uranium and radium, elements often found underground in the limestone throughout Tennessee.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. If you smoke and live in a home with high radon levels, you increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Having your home tested is the only effective way to determine whether you and your family are at risk of high radon exposure. Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil, and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in the air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes. Because radon comes naturally from the earth, people are always exposed to it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General’s office estimate radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. Over time, these radioactive particles increase the ...

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. If you smoke and live in a home with high radon levels, you increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Having your home tested is the only effective way to determine whether you and your family are at risk of high radon exposure.

Radon Radon is an odorless, radioactive gas formed by the breakdown of uranium found in soil, rocks beneath and around building foundations, groundwater wells, and some building materials. In 2011, NCHH’s Rebecca Morley visited the  Dr. Oz  show to talk about radon in the home. She provided tips on testing and remediating homes for radon. Explore the resources below to learn more about the dangers of radon and how to protect yourself and your family.  You can also check out the clips from the Dr. Oz show here  or read an article about  radon in your home. Health Impacts Though it does not elicit immediate symptoms, exposure to radon in homes can increase the risk of lung cancer. The  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  estimates that radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, responsible for as many as 21,000 cancer deaths each year. The combination of smoking and the presence of radon in the home can significant...