Tag: radon mitigation

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Radon Reduction…Not a DIY Fix!

Radon Reduction…Not a DIY Fix!

Radon, a colorless, odorless and tasteless Class A carcinogen sourced from the natural breakdown of uranium in rock and soil, has been proven to cause lung cancer with prolonged exposure of elevated levels. Radon builds up in homes and buildings because it becomes trapped. The only way to know if your home, school or workplace has elevated levels is to test.

Elevated levels should be addressed professionally by a certified radon mitigator. A radon mitigation system is designed to reduce the indoor radon levels in a home or building. The benefit of reducing radon levels is a reduced risk of developing lung cancer.  Radon mitigation systems are effective within 24-48 hours of installation and will maintain reduced radon levels as long as the fan is operating and properly maintained. The fan should be operating 24/7 for maximum results.  It is highly recommended to re-test for radon levels 24-48 hours post system installation and every 2+/- years thereafter. Testing every 2+/- years is to assess the system’s integrity and the fan’s functionality. 

Professional radon mitigators are skilled in the general construction of a building and this is imperative so proper placement of a sub-slab depressurization system is most effective. There is a time and a place for DIY projects and in this case, go with the pros for the safety of your family. A poor or ineffective installation by a homeowner with limited knowledge of the process can be dangerous to one’s health. Why take the chance!

A radon mitigation system is one of the least expensive home improvement projects with the maximum results/benefits. To find an NRPP-AARST professional, go to the source: http://aarst-nrpp.com/wp/certification/database-search/

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!

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Is My Radon Mitigation System Working?

Is My Radon Mitigation System Working?

Your home was tested for radioactive radon gas and the levels are elevated.  OK, you now have a health issue to contend with in your home yet you know it can be fixed. You have been proactive interviewing recommended radon mitigators and identified who will fix your house with a radon mitigation system. Now what? How do I know if the system is working once installed? How do I know if my house is safe?

After 24-48  hours of the newly installed radon mitigation system running, the house should be re-tested to identify if the radon concentrations have been adequately reduced and brought into a safe range. If the levels are still elevated, an additional suction point may be necessary.

All radon mitigation systems should have an identifying manometer on the PVC piping in clear view which will show if the fan is actively pulling. A manometer is a U-shaped tube used as an instrument for measuring the pressure acting on a column of fluid. The colored liquid will be slightly uneven when the fan is actively pulling and drawing radon out from beneath a basement slab. If the colored liquid is ever completely even across, the fan is most likely not actively drawing. That’s when the mitigator should return to examine the system fan to make sure it is intact and functioning. Before calling the mitigator back to your home, check to make sure the system is plugged into electricity.

The marks on the side of the manometer are NOT the radon concentrations. The only way to identify what the radon concentrations are is by testing. Make sure to take a peek at the manometer weekly to check that the colored liquid is uneven and remember to have your radon concentrations tested every 2+/- years.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!

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Should I Buy a Home With Elevated Radon Levels?

Should I Buy a Home With Elevated Radon Levels?

RADIOACTIVE!

Should I buy a home with elevated radon levels is a question frequently asked and the answer is yes. Go ahead and buy your dream home with the understanding that the home needs to be “fixed”and this should be done prior to taking occupancy. “Fixed” means installing a radon mitigation system by a professional mitigator based on the construction of the home for maximum results. After the system is installed and running a minimum of 24-48 hours, the home should be re-tested to determine if the system is drawing enough radon out of the house to be deemed safe. Testing is the ONLY way to know!

New construction homes are frequently built with a passive system in place. If the home is tested and the radon levels come back elevated, the appropriate size fan can be added to the passive system to activate it. Testing post fan installation is imperative to identify if the home has had the radon levels reduced adequately for the home to be deemed safe for occupancy.

EPA action level is 4.0pCi/L however the EPA has concern between 2.0pCi/L and 4.0 pCi/L. If the seller of your dream home refuses to install a radon mitigation system, buy the home anyway and install one after you close then re-test. A radon mitigation system is one of the least expensive home improvement projects and by far, one of the most beneficial.

Test Your Home…Protect Your Family!