Well, folks, we’re back to the periodic table this week, talking about radon. Radon, abbreviated Rn, is similar to carbon monoxide in its level of sneakiness in entering your home. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that emanates from the ground around your home.
Let me tell you my personal story about radon. My husband and I bought our starter home in 2013. We didn’t test for radon when we bought it because, hey, were young-ish and dumb-ish and no one told us (or we didn’t listen if they did).
We lived there for seven years, and our daughter lived there for four years. Sure enough, when we sold that house the buyer’s inspection showed high levels of radon. Now sometimes when I can’t sleep at night, I wonder what damage we did to ourselves because we didn’t know what we didn’t know.
So What’s the Big Deal?
Exposure to high amounts of radon has been causally linked to lung cancer; in fact, it is the second-leading cause after cigarettes. Scientists estimate that about 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year are related to radon.
Radon can get trapped in your home, exposing your lungs to this cancer-inducing substance over long periods of time. The tricky part is, you won’t know what is happening until much further down the line. Like carbon monoxide, it is imperative that you take steps to proactively detect this gas in the air.
What Is Radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of the soil, rock and water around a home. It moves up through the ground and into the air above, seeping into your home through any foundation cracks or holes. It can also enter your home through well water.
According to the EPA, nearly one in 15 homes in the U.S. has an elevated radon level of 4 pCi/L or higher. Any type of home can have a radon problem, even those without basements.
I once heard a home inspector tell a client “There’s nothing really to look for to see if a house has high radon. One house can have high levels of radon while the one next door is fine. It’s completely dependent on what’s going on in that specific house and the dirt around it.”
Dabs, You’re Scaring Me. What do I do?
Contact our regional radon office to find out more about radon levels in your area or check out the Michigan information page and map. Even if your home is in a low level zone, you should still get your home tested. My starter home was in a low level zone, and it nevertheless tested high.
Testing for Radon
Testing for radon is very straightforward. There’s a device that you place in the home, usually 24 inches above the floor that you then just leave the heck alone to do its job. Because of the way radon enters the home, through the soil around the house, testing usually focuses on your basement, crawl space or main floor.
You can purchase devices to test for radon yourself or you can hire a qualified radon tester to come to your home. Some devices may be more appropriate for your needs and testing conditions. Make sure you are getting a reliable testing device.
After reading about a million reviews, I purchased a testing device for our home online, and I periodically move it between my main floor and my basement so I can keep a watchful eye on the levels.
Types of Testing
Passive devices – Don’t require a power source and are exposed to the air in your home for a specified period of time and then sent to a lab for analysis. Some devices are better at resisting test interference or disturbances. Includes charcoal canisters, alpha-track detectors, charcoal liquid scintillation devices, electret ion chamber devices.
Active devices – Require power and measure and record the amount of radon or its decay products in the air. Many can provide a report and also indicate if there are any swings in radon levels during the test period. Some also have anti-interference features. These active devices cost more than the passive ones and include continuous radon monitors and continuous working level monitors.
Short-term testing is typically from a minimum of 48 hours to 90 days. This type of testing may be something that a home buyer may request before purchasing a home, or if there are other time restraints rather than a real estate transaction.
Long-term testing typically lasts more than 90 days, and will usually provide a year-round average radon level.
No matter what type of testing you conduct, it’s important for family members to follow directions carefully and to keep any interference to a minimum so you can get reliable results.
Remediating High Radon Levels
The EPA recommends taking remediating action if your home levels are between 2 and 4 pCi/L or more. The average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCi/L.
It is not overly complicated to address the presence of radon. It can usually be done without making major changes to your home, and the cost can be comparable to other home repairs.
High levels can be reduced in several ways, including sealing cracks or installing venting pipes and fans or sub slab suction. Get recommendations and estimates from experienced radon mitigation contractors. They can determine the most appropriate system for your home.
Radon and Home Renovation
Before you embark on any major home renovation, check your indoor radon levels. This is especially true if you are renovating a basement or lower level room in your home. it is better and less expensive to install a radon-reduction system during your renovations than afterward. Test your radon levels again after you have completed any work, since levels can change.
Reach out if you have any questions about radon testing, especially if you are thinking of selling in the near future. For more information on radon, visit the EPA’s website.
