“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.
Do I really need a radon mitigation system?
If one long-term test or the average of two short-term tests reveal radon levels of 4 pCi/L or greater, the EPA recommends that you remediate your house. Radon levels in most homes may be decreased to 2 pCi/L or below with today’s technology. If the level is between 2 and 4 pCi/L, you may want to consider correcting.
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 high radon exposure is to have your home 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.
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 home, homeowners should consider correcting 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 found 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 can be reduced with simple systems that include underground 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 factors.
Most radon reduction strategies include sealing cracks and other openings in the floors and walls. Sealing accomplishes two goals: it reduces the loss of conditioned air and limits the flow of radon into your home, making other radon reduction techniques more effective 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 best 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 design of your home, as well as the methods 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 qualified radon measurement and mitigation providers in your region 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 required or recommended 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 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.
Where is radon most common?
Radon is a gas that exists in small concentrations in the natural world. It’s made when uranium in soil and rocks breaks down. Homes built on soil with natural uranium deposits can sometimes have high concentrations of it. It can get into a structure through fractures in the floors or walls, structural joints, or foundation gaps around pipes, wires, or pumps. The basement or crawl space normally has the greatest radon levels.
When someone inhales radon gas, it enters their lungs and exposes them to low levels of radiation. This could harm the cells in the lungs’ lining, increasing the risk of lung cancer. Those who have lived in a radon-contaminated home for a long time are at a higher risk.
When radon gas and cigarette smoke are combined, the risk of lung cancer is higher than when each element is present alone.
How common is radon in homes?
Radon is a radioactive gas that is odorless, colorless, and occurs naturally. According to Douglas Arenberg, MD, a professor in the pulmonary diseases and critical care departments at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, it is inhaled into the lungs, where it can damage DNA, thereby raising cancer risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, radon gas is formed when uranium, thorium, or radium break down in water, rocks, or soil, releasing radon gas into the dirt beneath your home (CDC). Radon can infiltrate your home through foundation cracks and holes, well water, and building materials, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
It’s rather common: about 1 in every 15 homes has a radon level that is deemed high. According to the EPA, the gas is odorless and invisible, and it causes no apparent symptoms, so the only way to tell if your home is contaminated is to test it.
Is radon testing worth it?
When you breathe radon-contaminated air, you raise your chances of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer is especially likely if you smoke and your home has high radon levels. Radon should be tested. The only way to determine your home’s radon levels is to test it.