Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is derived from the breakdown of uranium within the earths soil.  You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, you’re at an even higher risk for developing lung cancer. 

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All homes have radon and because it is present in outside air, there is no getting rid of it 100%.  The good news is that radon levels can be reduced considerably in homes by means of radon mitigation.  As a certified radon mitigation professional I can evaluate the home, perform diagnostics on a slab and come up with the best plan to bring the radon levels down below the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter.  The cost of radon mitigation can vary depending on the scope of work that is involved and that is why a site visit is recommended prior to any quotes or system plans.

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So let me explain how the radon enters the home...Radon emanates through the soil beneath the home and because every home creates a natural suction on the soil, it draws the gas into the home through cracks, openings and seams in the concrete floors and foundations. Think about every time that your boiler or furnace runs...You are exhausting air out of the home through chimney and make up air is needed.  This creates a negative pressure within the home which basically forms the suction for make up air.  The same applies for running bathroom fans, kitchen exhaust systems or even just typical stack effect within the home.  Other factors come into play such as storms or winds that pressurize the soil and force more radon into the home. We find that newly constructed homes are very tight and can be worse because there is less natural air exchange in the home thus creating a greater draw on the soil.

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The most common method for radon mitigation is the installation of a sub-slab depressurization system.  This is a system that draws air from beneath the slab and exhausts that air to the exterior of the home.  There are other methods such as sub-membrane depressurization systems that involve encapsulating crawlspaces and drawing the air from beneath the sealed membrane. 

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Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about radon in your home. I am always happy to help people gain a better understanding of radon, the heath effects and the mitigation process.  Every home can be fixed and a professionally installed radon mitigation system can provide you with peace of mind for you and your family.

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Refer to photographs below for examples of radon mitigation system installations.

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