What is Radon?
Radon is a chemical element with symbol Rn and atomic number 86. It is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless noble gas. Exposure to this gas is very dangerous, causing 14,000 deaths annually from lung cancer. There is a high chance of you getting lung cancer mainly because your house could be exposed to radon right now.
How does Radon get in your home? How do you protect your home?
Air pressure inside your home is usually lower than the air pressure in the soil around your home’s foundation. Because of this difference in pressure, your house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through the foundation cracks and other openings. Your home then traps the radon inside, where it can build up.
Preventing your home from radon exposure is very important and should be taken care of right away. First, you need to seal and caulk all cracks in your foundation and walls. Not only will this help prevent entry of radon, but it’ll add to the energy efficiency of your home. Next, run a 3 to 4-inch gas-tight pipe from the first layer or crawl space to the roof. This will safely vent gases from the soil to the outside.
What are the symptoms of Radon in your home?
Some symptoms you may have if radon is in your home include:
- persistent coughing
- hoarseness
- wheezing
- shortness of breath
- coughing up blood
- chest pain
- frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- fatigue
Please call a doctor if you are having these symptoms.
How do you protect yourself from Radon?
First and foremost, do not smoke in your home! If you have family members that smoke please discourage them from smoking. Smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer from radon. Second, crack a few windows. Opening windows and turning on fans help circulate the air. Natural ventilation in any type of house is only a temporary strategy to reduce radon. Third, seal the deal! Seal cracks in floors and walls with, caulk, or other materials (such as Flex Tape®) designed for this purpose. Last, but not least, if you are buying a new home, ask about radon-resistant techniques. It is always cheaper and easier to build these features into new homes than to add them later.
How long does it take to get rid of radon?
Radon mitigation systems are used to get rid of radon from your home. mitigation systems are any process used to reduce radon gas concentrations in the breathing zones of occupied buildings, or radon from water supplies. Treatment systems using aeration or activated charcoal are available to remove radon from domestic water supplies. The radon removal process can be completed in one day. The typical amount of time to install a mitigation system is anywhere from 3-5 hours. The time will vary depending on the layout of the home and the difficulty of the job.
Sources
- https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to-test-and-get-rid-radon/Welcome to Radon Testing Lab/ January 16, 2019
- https://www.nationalradondefense.com/radon-information/radon-symptoms.html/NRD Hub Site/National Radon Defense Admin/January 16, 2019
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radon_mitigation/Wikipedia/Radon mitigation/December 23, 2018/January 16, 2019
- https://www.cdc.gov/features/protect-home-radon/index.html/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/CDC Features/January 07, 2019/January 16, 2019
Good job!