03.07.09

Take a closer look at Radon Gas in your home

Posted in General, home life at 7:48 pm by Administrator

During the last few weeks we have been caught up in the event that is as big as it gets in St. George Utah. Yes the Southern Utah Home Builders Parade of Homes. During the event I became aware of what seems to be an apathy about radon gas. There is a lot of information available on the web about radon gas. I want to ad my voice that we should not be apathetic about testing our homes for radon. It is a simple and inexpensive test ($6 for Utah residents at Drhomeair.com) and yet radon gas has been designated as the most dangerous of indoor air pollutants.

“The federal EPA now declares that radon gas represents the most dangerous indoor air pollutant and they estimate that between 5,000 and 20,000 people die of lung cancer each year due to their exposure to high levels of radon gas.” (Radon and the Environment, 1988 p 367)

Radon is unpredictable, your home may have high levels of radon and the home just around the corner may not. Every home should be tested. A test can be as little as 6 dollars. Even high levels of Radon is fairly simple to remove with an attic fan and vent system to remove gas below concrete slabs and some sealing of cracks and such. The cost generally is less than 2,000 dollars for a residential home. Fantech provides such fans and some technical info on mitigation can be found on their site (fantech). Architectural Design and Cabinet carries Fantech radon mitigation fans.

Right up front the following info is taken from the State of Utah http://www.radon.utah.gov
call it plagiarism, but It is in the public interest and worth worth repeating.

Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. You can’t see radon. And you can’t smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That’s because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

Radon can be found all over the U.S.

Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building - homes, offices, and schools - and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.

You should test for radon.

Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. EPA also recommends testing in schools. Testing is inexpensive and easy - it should only take a few minutes of your time.
Special rate for Utah Residents on test kits online ($6 test kit including lab work) https://secure.flipmedia.com/apalab_secure/drha_order_utdw6.html

You can fix a radon problem.

Radon reduction systems work and they are not too costly. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.

How Does Radon Get Into Your Home?

Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.

Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems. Sometimes radon enters the home through well water (see “Radon in Water” below). In a small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon, too. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves.

Radon gets in through:
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

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