Monday, January 25, 2016

By John Voket Breathing Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA says most homes with high levels of radon gas can be fixed, however, so let's take a quick look at indoor air venting solutions that are proven, practical, and cost-effective to install if high radon levels are found.

If you have tested your home for radon and confirmed that you have elevated radon levels, 4 picocuries per liter in air (pCi/L) or higher, the EPA says your local Health Agency or radon contact may help you:



Select a qualified radon mitigation contractor to reduce the radon levels in your home. EPA recommends that you use a state certified and/or qualified radon mitigation contractor trained to fix radon problems.

Determine an appropriate radon reduction method.

Maintain your radon reduction system.
Radon reduction systems work, some mitigating radon levels by up to 99 percent. The cost of a contractor fixing a home generally ranges from $800 to $2500, and most types of radon reduction systems cause some loss of heated or air conditioned air, which could increase utility bills.

How much utility bills increase will depend on the climate you live in, what kind of reduction system you select, and how your house is built. Systems that use fans are more effective in reducing radon levels; however, they will slightly increase your electric bill.

EPA generally recommends methods which prevent the entry of radon. Soil suction, for example, prevents radon from entering your home by drawing the radon from below the house and venting it through a pipe, or pipes, to the air above the house where it is quickly diluted.

In houses that have a basement or a slab-on-grade foundation, radon is usually reduced by one of four types of soil suction: subslab suction, drain tile suction, sump hole suction, or block wall suction.

An effective method to reduce radon levels in crawlspace houses involves covering the earth floor with a high-density plastic sheet. A vent pipe and fan are used to draw the radon from under the sheet and vent it to the outdoors. This form of soil suction is called sub-membrane suction, and when properly applied is the most effective way to reduce radon levels in crawlspace houses.

Other radon reduction techniques that can be used in any type of house include: sealing, house/room pressurization, heat recovery ventilation, and natural ventilation.

Homeowners can get assistance by calling 1.800.SOS.RADON, or visiting epa.gov/radon/.

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