“Radon is a health hazard with an easy cure,” according to the EPA. Home purchasers won’t have to worry about the quality of the air in the house once radon mitigation measures are in place. If a home you’re interested in tests positive for high levels of radon, it’s probable that other homes in the neighborhood do as well. Your family will be safe in a home with a radon reduction system since removing radon is relatively simple.
What is the approximate cost to mitigate a home with radon?
The cost of a radon mitigation system varies greatly based on the home’s construction. The cost of a radon system can range from $750 to $5,000 per property. Installing a radon mitigation system in a single-family home costs between $1,100 and $2,500 on average, with $1,400 being the average.
Can you mitigate radon yourself?
Professionals often charge over $1,500 to install a radon mitigation system, but you can do it yourself for under $500 in materials. So, if you’re handy and know how to do carpentry, plumbing, and electricity, you can install your own system in a weekend and save a thousand dollars!
Is radon covered by home warranty?
While radon testing and treatment aren’t usually covered by home warranties.
Radon is a cancer-causing, odorless, radioactive gas that can be found in every home, regardless of how well-kept it is. It can get into your home through foundation fractures or well water. This means that radon levels are usually unrelated to the operation of your home’s systems and appliances.
It is suggested that you have your home tested for radon on a regular basis. While radon-infested homes can be treated, it’s unlikely that your home warranty will cover the cost.
Is it OK to live in a house with radon?
After cigarette smoking, radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer. You raise your risk of lung cancer if you smoke and reside in a home with high radon levels. The only way to find out if you and your family are at risk of significant radon exposure is to have your house tested.
Radon is a radioactive gas that is produced naturally when radioactive metals such as uranium, thorium, and radium break down in rocks, soil, and groundwater. People are generally exposed to radon through air that enters through cracks and crevices in buildings and residences. Because radon is a naturally occurring gas, individuals are constantly exposed to it.
According to the EPA and the Surgeon General’s office, radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. Radioactive particles from radon gas can become stuck in your lungs when you breathe it in. These radioactive particles raise the risk of lung cancer over time. It could take years for health issues to manifest.
Lung cancer is more likely to develop in those who smoke and are exposed to radon. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends taking steps to decrease radon in houses with radon levels of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or above (a “picocurie” is a typical unit for measuring the amount of radioactivity).
- How much radon do you have in your homethe place where you spend the majority of your time? (e.g., the main living and sleeping areas)
- Whether you burn wood, coal, or other particles-inducing chemicals in your home,
If your home has high radon levels and you smoke or burn fuels that produce more indoor particles, you’re more likely to develop lung cancer.
Is radon a deal breaker?
Purchasing a new home may be both exhilarating and stressful. Aside from finding a home that fits your budget and lifestyle, you’ll want to make sure it’s in good structural shape and free of hidden dangers like excessive radon levels. What exactly is radon gas?
According to the National Cancer Institute, radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer since it can’t be seen, smelled, or tasted. The presence of radon in your home, on the other hand, does not have to be a deal breaker.
How long does it take a radon mitigation system to work?
- Will additional testing be required following the installation of a radon mitigation system?
- Radon Mitigation System Inspection Checklist from the American Society of Home Inspectors
What is a radon mitigation system?
A radon mitigation system is any method or set of measures designed to lower radon levels in a building’s indoor air.
If your radon test result is 4 pCi/L or greater, the EPA recommends that you take steps to minimize your home’s indoor radon levels.
What are the benefits of radon mitigation?
The main advantage is that it lowers the risk of lung cancer. Standard radon reduction devices normally work within 24 hours and keep radon levels low as long as the fan is running. Another advantage of these systems is that they limit the entry of damp soil air with radon, potentially lowering the humidity level in the basement. Before making final preparations to sell a property, homeowners should consider addressing a radon problem. This gives you more time to deal with the issue and discover the best cost-effective solution. Furthermore, not only the buyer’s tenants, but all present occupants, will benefit from the lower risk.
What can be done to reduce radon in a home?
The type of radon reduction system that will work best for you is determined by the type of home you have. The design of a house’s foundation is used to categorize it. Basement, slab-on-grade (concrete laid at ground level), or crawlspace are examples (a shallow unfinished space under the first floor). More than one foundation design feature can be present in some homes. For example, having a basement beneath part of the home and a slab-on-grade or crawlspace under the rest of the house is popular. To bring radon levels below 4 pCi/L in these cases, a combination of radon reduction strategies may be required.
A contractor can utilize a variety of techniques to reduce radon levels in your house. Some methods prevent radon from entering your house, while others lower radon levels once they have. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) generally advises radon prevention strategies.
In many cases, radon may be reduced using basic systems that include subterranean pipes and an exhaust fan. These devices are known as “sub-slab depressurization,” and they don’t require any big housing modifications. These systems prevent radon gas from entering the property by removing it from beneath the concrete floor and foundation. Crawl space houses can also benefit from similar solutions. Other procedures used by radon contractors may also work in your house. The best system is determined by your home’s design and other considerations.
Most radon mitigation strategies include sealing cracks and other holes in the floors and walls. Sealing accomplishes two goals: it lowers the loss of conditioned air and inhibits the flow of radon into your home, making other radon reduction procedures more successful and cost-effective. Because sealing has not been proved to reduce radon levels significantly or consistently, the EPA does not suggest using it alone to control radon. It’s difficult to locate and properly shut the entry points for radon. Your house’s normal settling opens new entrance channels and closes old ones.
Any information you have about your home’s construction could aid your contractor in selecting the optimal system. Your contractor will conduct a visual evaluation of your home before designing an appropriate system. If this examination is insufficient, the contractor will need to conduct diagnostic testing in order to develop the optimal radon reduction system for your property. The contractor’s experience with similar houses and similar radon test results will determine whether diagnostic tests are required. Details specific to your house, such as the foundation design, what kind of material is under your house, and the contractor’s experience with similar houses and similar radon test results will determine whether diagnostic tests are required.
How much does it cost to reduce radon in an existing home?
The cost of radon mitigation repairs is determined by the size and architecture of your property, as well as other considerations. Most homes may be fixed for less than the expense of other popular home repairs, such as painting or installing a new hot water heater. The average cost of hiring a contractor to reduce radon levels in a home is around $1,200, although this can range from $800 to $2,000. The cost of radon mitigation will vary depending on the size and style of your property, as well as the treatments used.
Who should I hire to correct a radon problem?
Technical expertise and unique abilities are required to reduce excessive radon levels. You should use a contractor who has been trained to deal with radon issues.
On October 1, 1998, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shut down the National Radon Proficiency Program (RPP). This program was created to test radon contractors and provide quality assurance. Today, radon professionals are certified by two major organizations.
- Find nationally qualified radon measurement and mitigation providers in your area through the National Radon Proficiency Program.
- Find nationally certified radon measurement and mitigation professionals in your area through the National Radon Safety Board.
Many states require radon contractors to be certified or licensed. For information on qualified service providers in your state, contact your state’s radon office.
If you want to remedy the problem yourself, call your state’s radon agency or the Radon Fix-It line (1 (800) 644-6999) for further information. It is strongly advised that each system be designed and installed by a qualified specialist.
Will any more testing be needed after a radon mitigation system has been installed?
The majority of radon reduction systems come with a monitor that will notify you if the device needs to be serviced. Regardless of who resolves the issue, you should test your house to ensure that radon levels have been reduced. This test should be performed no sooner than 24 hours and no later than 30 days after the mitigation system has been completed and activated (s). Using an independent tester can help you avoid a potential conflict of interest.
It’s also a good idea to retest your home in the future to ensure that radon levels stay low. Testing should be done every two years, or as mandated or suggested by the state or local government. If the structure is significantly altered, retesting is also recommended.
Are funds available to reduce high radon levels in rental housing?
There are certain federal programs that may be used to help low-income families purchase radon mitigation in their houses. Generally, these initiatives provide funding to local agencies or NGOs, who subsequently support the job. Here are a few examples:
- The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides funding for affordable housing rehabilitation and repair. Call the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at (202) 708-3587 for more information.
- The “203k” program provides funds for single-family home restoration and repair. HUD can be reached at (202) 708-2121 for more information.
- Environmental Justice Grantssupports community-based organizations and tribal governments that address environmental issues affecting people of color and low-income people. Call the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice at (800) 962-6215 for further information.
Government programs in some states might give financing for radon mitigation work in low-income residences. To pay for radon mitigation in low-income houses, some community groups are gathering cash from commercial firms and charities.
Owners and residents should contact their state radon office to learn more about federal and state initiatives, as well as how community groups have formed local projects to address radon issues.
How long does it take to install radon mitigation?
The only way to minimize radon gas concentrations in a home is to have a licensed professional install a Radon Mitigation system.
A radon removal system is used to drastically lower radon levels in a home. The radon is pulled from beneath the house’s foundation and vented to the outside.
Mitigation systems come in a variety of shapes and sizes. “What is the Difference Between a Passive and Active Radon Mitigation System?” is the title of our blog entry.
The procedure of radon removal can be accomplished in a single day. Installing a mitigation system takes about 3-5 hours on average. The amount of time it takes will depend on the layout of the house and the difficulty of the task.
Because a mitigation system can be placed in a variety of methods, there are some issues that can lengthen the installation process, such as:
How do I reduce radon in my basement?
Sealing, house or room pressurization, heat recovery ventilation, and natural ventilation are other radon reduction measures that can be employed in any style of home. Most radon reduction strategies include sealing cracks and other gaps in the foundation.
Does opening windows reduce radon?
The natural breakdown of uranium in soil and the earth produces radon, a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. The radioactive gas is the second most common cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Radon escapes the soil and dissipates in the open air, where it is harmless. Unfortunately, radon gets into homes through foundations as well. When radon is trapped within a home, it can build up to deadly levels. Radon can be found in any home, anywhere in the United States.
Commercially accessible radon tests are simple to use. Test findings of more than 4 picocuries per liter are extremely harmful. Even at levels lower than 4 pCi/L, there is still a risk, especially if you smoke.
The most effective way to control radon levels is to install a radon reduction system. However, you can reduce radon levels temporarily by simply opening windows.
Opening windows enhances air circulation and ventilation, which aids in the removal of radon from the home and the mixing of radon-free outdoor air with inside air.
Make sure all of the windows in your basement are open. As a result of the lower air pressure in homes compared to their surroundings, radon is drawn into the basement. Opening basement windows reduces negative air pressure, allowing clean external air to dilute radon.
When a window fan is turned on in a basement window, radon levels are reduced, but only if the fan is blowing air into the basement. The negative pressure created by a fan moving air out of the basement can actually raise radon levels.
While natural ventilation is an efficient way to minimize radon, opening windows is only a temporary remedy. Within 12 hours of closing windows, radon levels return to former levels, and most individuals are forced to close their windows.
As the temperature drops in the winter, it becomes impossible to open windows. At the very least, your heating cost would soar to unfathomable heights, not to mention the risk of burst pipes and other cold-related damage.
Security is also a major concern. As you may imagine, leaving your basement windows open 24 hours a day, seven days a week is an open invitation to burglars.
Opening windows to minimize radon levels isn’t a viable long-term strategy. Open windows, on the other hand, minimize radon in the short term, allowing you to stay in your home safely until you can build a permanent remedy.