subject: Removing Radon From Your Home [print this page] About one in every fifteen homes in the United States contains dangerous levels of radon, a carcinogenic radioactive gas that kills around 21,000 people a year. The good news is that radon-related deaths are preventable with testing and remediation.
Radon is formed by the breakdown of uranium in the soil and seeps into homes through holes and cracks in the foundation. It is colorless and odorless and is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. For smokers, the presence of radon considerably increases the risk of cancer. Smokers aren't the only ones who need to worry, however; concentrations of 3.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air in the home can increase a non-smoking person's risk from eleven percent to twenty-one percent over an extended period of time.
While the government does not stipulate that all home owners must test for the presence of radon, the gas exists in every state with potential for higher levels in the Midwest and Northeast. Fortunately, any home can be cleared of the gas. To first detect and measure the radon levels in your house, you can purchase a home test kit for about twenty dollars. Some states and counties offer kits at a discount or even for free. Place the sampling container in the lowest level of your home, usually the basement, for the number of days specified on the package. Short-term tests run for up to a week, while long-term tests can last for three months. After the testing period, seal the container, and send it to the lab for analysis. You'll receive a report in the mail or electronically within the next few days.
If a radon test was performed when you bought your house, you probably don't need to perform another one unless you've done some significant remodeling: additions to the home or changes to heating or cooling systems, windows and doors, exhaust systems, or any other aspect of the house's ventilation may have allowed more radon to enter the structure. If you live somewhere cold, it's better to test in the winter with the windows closed, since that will restrict the exchange of air.
In the event that the test results show high radon levels in your home, you will need to hire a certified radon mitigation contractor. He or she will reduce the gas levels by sealing cracks in the foundation, changing the ventilation of the basement, and/or installing a suction system to remove the gas from the home. The work will typically cost just over $1,000, but it's a small price to pay to prevent the possible death of you or your family from lung cancer.
