Radon is a rogue. It comes into an unsuspecting family’s home and wreaks havoc. It’s also quite good at going unnoticed. In fact, radon isn’t detectable by human senses. So no one could just enter a home and “sense” that something was different. Unfortunately, this is why so many homeowners have no idea their homes are under attack. What does radon mean to you? Well, here’s some background information to help create a better understanding of radon and what can be done to protect you and your family from its harmful effects.
Why Radon is in Your Home
Well, it’s far from a gentleman. It won’t knock; it’ll just barge in and make your home its home.
It comes from the uranium that’s found in most soil around the world. Of course this means that radon is everywhere, but it becomes a hazard when it finds its way beneath your home and enters the environment. This is when it collects and your home develops high concentrations of this harmful gas.
Radon can enter through the soil if your basement or crawl space is made of dirt. It can also enter through cracks, holes and other foundation issues. Not only is radon found in the air, but also in the water. Yes, there can be radon in drinking water.
How Much is Too Much?
It’s not just the high amounts, but even the low amounts that are causing problems for homeowners everywhere.
But, how much is too much?! Everyone wants to know if their radon issue is worth worrying about, or even checking. The truth is, most radon levels aren’t exactly the safest. No radon is the best level, but that’s quite difficult to achieve.
Regardless of how high the radon levels in your home, with the right radon reduction system, your home can be safe again. The best practice is to maintain the lowest possible amount of radon in your home.
At the very least, your home should not have amounts at or above 4.0 pCi/L. This is the amount of Picocuries per liter that’s been designated by the government as the high warning level. They recommend such a level to be reduced immediately.
The government also has set a long-term goal of having each home’s radon levels equal to the estimated outdoor levels of about 0.4 pCi/L. However, the average amount is about 1.3 pCi/L and may be pretty difficult to reduce in all homes.
But, if a homeowner can hire a radon mitigation expert to reduce the levels to about 2.0 pCi/L or below, then the homeowner is in good shape! Your home will be safe!
Do I Hire A Professional?
No homeowner is ever forced to hire a professional and you don’t have to hire a professional radon mitigation expert. There are short term and long term tests you can purchase and conduct on your own.
However, with such a highly sensitive subject as radon, it might be worth the investment to have the expertise of someone who works in the field and mitigates homes all the time. Some mitigation reduction systems can reduce radon by 99 percent. So, it’s well-worth the expense. They can also perform checkups to verify proper maintenance of low and healthy radon levels in your home.