What is Radon?
Radon (like carbon monoxide) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. It forms when uranium, a naturally radioactive element found in the rocks, water, and soil of different geological environments, breaks down. This radioactive gas can seep into a home through the floorboards and foundation and remain undetected for prolonged periods. Because it’s odorless and invisible, radon can become the root cause of many ailments, and the average homeowner may never know about it.
How is Radon Harmful?
Radon is specified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Surgeon General as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon kills around 21,000 unsuspecting people each year. Because exposure to this invisible gas can have such serious consequences, homeowners must protect their families and loved ones with radon abatement.
How Do You Measure Radon?
Radon is measured by pCi/L, which means “picocuries per liter.” One curie is equal to the amount of radioactivity contained in one gram of radium. The EPA suggests that homes with tested radon levels of more than 4.0 pCi/L be treated as quickly as possible because delaying radon remediation increases your exposure risks. Research indicates that elevated radon levels can be reduced to 4 pCi/L or less 95% of the time, and 2 pCi/L can be achieved around 70% of the time once your home is thoroughly tested and treated.
What Can AdvantaClean Do for Me?
At AdvantaClean, our highly-trained staff and radon mitigation specialists provide comprehensive radon removal services with minimal disruption, significantly reducing the health risks associated with radon exposure. Because of the gravity of the situation, our professionals work quickly and efficiently to complete the job correctly the first time so that you can safely get back to your life as soon as possible.
Forms of Radon Mitigation
Our radon specialists perform radon testing to accurately detect any preexisting radon levels on a property. Testing generally takes just a few minutes. If the results are higher than the specified 4.0pCi/L, AdvantaClean will discuss the methods to help mitigate your radon gas exposure.
- Ventilation – It’s essential to have your home well-ventilated regardless of radon level, as ventilation helps rid the house of stale air and harmful gases. The first step toward regulating the amount of radon you inhale is appropriately ventilating your home.
In the short term, you can do this by opening doors and windows, allowing fresh air to circulate in the structure. Though this is not a viable long-term solution, it is a way to temporarily reduce radon levels in the home until you can take further action. In the long term, proper ventilation may require the installation of vents, fans, or other devices.
- Home Pressurization– This method uses fans blowing from the lower part of your home, such as the basement, to the higher levels, like the upstairs or attic. The pressure created from the fans serves as a vacuum that prevents radon gas from gaining entry into the home.
- Home Depressurization – This process is usually conducted beneath the slab of the house. It helps prevent radon gas from seeping in. Our contractors work to remove the gas, and once the home is sealed, radon can no longer infiltrate.
- Sealing – One popular way of preventing radon from entering the property is the process of sealing. After concluding the pressurization and depressurization procedures to remove the existing gas, any cracks and openings in the walls and foundation are sealed to prevent any gas from infiltrating further.
