Radon Mitigation


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Install a Radon Mitigation System in a New Home

Image
To suck air from under a slab, the slab must be airtight In the United States, the Surgeon General has warned radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon can be found all across the US, and can get into any type of building. As awareness of this hazard continues to spread, more and more homes, offices and schools are installing radon mitigation systems. As a member of National Radon Defense, we will take you through one of our standard installations. Please note this is not the same as testing for radon measurements. This is a look at how to install the system which helps reduce the levels of radon in an environment which may have high levels and be at risk. The testing aspect would come before these steps. In this example, it’s important to note the radon mitigation system was installed in a new home, and so there were a few steps which are required for installation that we did not need to complete. Mainly, there was already a PVC pipe installed a...
Read more

How to Reduce Radon Levels in Your Home

Image
When the radon levels in your home exceed Tennessee guidelines, stating 200 becquerels/m3, it’s time to seek professional help in reducing radon levels to an acceptable measure. The higher the radon levels, the more urgent it is to remediate. According to a National Research Council report for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), eliminating radon gas entirely from your indoor living environment is not possible. The report explained that a third of lung cancer cases caused by radon exposure could be prevented if homes met the Canadian guideline. The following are tips to help you reduce radon levels in your home so that they’re at safe and acceptable levels: Increase the ventilation in your home to allow the air to properly circulate. You might want to try increasing mechanical ventilation through a heat recovery system (HRV) to permit air exchange. Seal all cracks, holes, or openings (water, sewer, electricity, etc.) in the foundation walls and floors (basement). Al...
Read more

How Does Radon Enter a Home or Building?

Image
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...
Read more