How to Prevent Radon Gas

The majority of radon gas infiltration in the home originates from the basement .

Radon, a radioactive gas, is caused by the disintegration of uranium in soil and rock. Because the air pressure in your home is lower than air pressure in the soil around a foundation, radon can be drawn into your home foundation, through cracks and holes in the foundation walls. With radon being the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., it's important to eliminate radon infiltration, particularly if levels of radon higher than 4 picocuries per liter are detected in your home.

Things You'll Need

• Sub-slab pressurization system
• Concrete crack filler
• Heat recovery ventilator
• Two-way window fans

Instructions

1. Install a sub-slab pressurization system. This is essentially a vent pipe, placed underneath your home's foundation, which directs radon gas out of the basement interior and away from the house. The cost for installation of a sub-slab pressurization system ranges from $800 to $2,500 as of 2010, depending on the size of the home.

2. Seal cracks and holes in your foundation walls via a process known as cement injection. This limits radon infiltration from the soil surrounding the foundation. While this technique alone will not suffice in eliminating the presence of radon, it's radon-reducing effects are considered an important part of a comprehensive plan.

3. Install a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) in your basement. This increases ventilation in your home by bringing in outdoor air and using air exhausted from the interior to warm or cool any incoming air. An increase in basement ventilation quality will bring about a measurable reduction in interior radon levels.

4. Place two-way window fans in all lower floor windows. The exhaust fan of a two-way window fan will blow some of the radon gases outward, while the intake fan will bring in fresh air. This is the most affordable technique for preventing radon infiltration, but it is also the least effective, because it is the most temporary. Radon gas presence will return to its previous levels within 12 hours of shutting any ventilating windows.