What are the symptoms of radon in your home?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.
- Persistent cough.
- Hoarseness.
- Wheezing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Coughing up blood.
- Chest pain.
- Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Loss of appetite.
Should I worry about radon gas?
If we breath in high levels of radon over long periods of time this exposure can lead to damage to the sensitive cells of our lungs which increases the risk of lung cancer. Radon causes about 1,000 lung cancer deaths in the UK every year.
Does finishing a basement reduce radon?
Radon levels must be reduced even if you are not finishing your basement. Because it comes from the ground, radon levels are usually highest in basements.
What does radon poisoning feel like?
Possible symptoms include shortness of breath (difficulty breathing), a new or worsening cough, pain or tightness in the chest, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing. If you smoke and you know you’ve been exposed to high levels of radon, it’s very important to quit smoking.
Where is Radon most common?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and comes from the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of uranium. It is usually found in igneous rock and soil, but in some cases, well water may also be a source of radon.
Do all homes have some radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more). Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state.
What percentage of homes have radon?
It’s common: About 1 in every 15 homes has what’s considered an elevated radon level. The gas is odorless and invisible, says the EPA, and it causes no immediate symptoms, so the only way to know if your home is affected is by testing your individual residence.
How long do you have to be exposed to radon?
Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop.
Does opening a window reduce radon?
Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Opening basement windows helps reduce negative air pressure, diluting radon with clean outdoor air.
Is a radon level of 14 dangerous?
Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L.
Is radon a deal breaker?
Radioactive gas doesn’t have to derail a home sale. Radon is a radioactive gas that emanates naturally from soil and rock. Radon has a nickname that could easily scare away any potential home buyer: “The Silent Killer.” But there’s no need for radon to be a deal-breaker in any real estate transaction.
Is it OK to live in a house with radon?
There are no safe levels of radon, and there’s no way to eradicate it. In homes where there are smokers present and smoking indoors (instead of outside), the risk of developing lung cancer will be much higher. Levels above 4 pCi/L are considered actionable, so those are in the dangerous levels of radon for indoors.
Should you not buy a house with radon?
Radon can seep into any home that is in contact with the ground. It is undetectable unless you perform a radon test. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer and according to the EPA and CDC, it kills more than 20,000 annually. It is not something you want in the home you are buying.
How do you get rid of radon in your home?
In some cases, radon levels can be lowered by ventilating the crawlspace passively (without the use of a fan) or actively (with the use of a fan). Crawlspace ventilation may lower indoor radon levels both by reducing the home’s suction on the soil and by diluting the radon beneath the house.
Do air purifiers help with radon?
Yes, air purifiers help with radon gas reduction to some extent. The air purifiers with activated carbon filter technology are highly effective in trapping radon gas.
How much does it cost to reduce radon in home?
The cost of a mitigation system may vary according to the home’s design, size, foundation, construction materials and the local climate. Radon reduction systems average costs nationally are $1,200 with a range from $800 to $1500 common depending on house and market conditions.
How much radon is safe?
According to the EPA, the maximum “acceptable” level of radon is 4.0 pCi/L, but even that level is not “safe”, per se. The EPA strongly recommends you consider radon mitigation between levels 2.0 and 4.0.
Is radon worse in summer or winter?
To answer that question, yes, radon levels in a home tend to be higher during the winter. And those higher levels of radon gas can lead to an increased chance of lung cancer. While indoor radon gas levels are generally higher during winter, sometimes the summer can have higher indoor radon levels.
Is a radon level of 5 bad?
Safe radon levels The best radon level measurement would be zero. The average global outdoor radon level varies between 5-15 Bq/m3, equal to 0.135-0.405 pCi/L. For every 99.9 Bq/m3, or every 2.7 pCI/L increase in long term radon exposure, lung cancer risk rises 16%4.
Does humidity affect radon levels?
Test has been conducted for the response of electret radon dosimeters with varying levels of humidity. At a constant value of radon concentration, measured values have been found to increase linearly with increasing humidity, from 30% RH up to a value of ∼85% RH.
Do dehumidifiers reduce radon?
No, buying a dehumidifier will not make radon go away. Radon must be removed by a remediation method like active soil depressurization (ASD), which ironically has been shown to be even more effective at removing humidity from a home than a dehumidifier in the same EPA study.
Can you trick a radon test?
Realtors, radon contractors and most home owners are also aware that is is not too difficult to cheat or effect the radon test results in their favor by opening windows or doors or by other means after the inspector or tester leaves the home. Most home inspections, about 90% will include a radon test.
Do Ceiling fans reduce radon?
One of the most effective systems for reducing the concentration of radon gas is a ceiling fan. For a fifty-percent reduction of radon gas, a ceiling fan can be used alone without the positive ion generator.
Is radon a scare tactic?
This data shows how low-dose radiation actually has a protective heath effect, similar to the immune response caused by vaccines. The radon scare was set off because of lung cancer in early uranium miners. Over 150,000 smokers die annually of lung cancer. Residential radon is harmless.
How do I make sure my house passes a radon test?
How To Pass A Radon Test: Tips For Reducing Radon In Your Home
- Open windows. By opening the windows, you increase fresh air circulation and reduce the concentration of radon in the home.
- Install basement vents. This also helps to increase air circulation and reduce radon concentration in the basement.
- Use fans.
- Create exits.
- Mitigation.