How to Pass a Radon Inspection
Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that causes approximately 21,000 deaths in the United States each year according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Nearly one in four U.S. homes is estimated to have this cancer-causing gas. Fortunately, homes can be tested for radon, and if radon is detected, it is possible to lower radon levels inside your house. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Testing and Protecting Your Home
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There are four basic kinds of radon tests. A short-term radon test will show you the radon level in your home in 90 days or less, while a long-term radon test will require at least 90 days to get an accurate reading. A passive radon test does not need electricity to work, while an active radon test does. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that of these choices, the short-term and passive tests are generally cheaper, while the long-term and active tests are more accurate.
You can leave testing to professionals by calling a radon inspector to test your home. If you decide on a radon inspector, it's wise to hire a certified one, often known as a qualified radon tester. Ask for an ID number to prove their status.
If your radon test of choice tells you the levels in your home are 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter of air) or higher, your home has dangerous levels of radon.
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Open your windows and let air into your home if your radon test reports elevated levels of radon in your house. This is a short-term solution, because the minute you shut your windows radon will begin building again. However, while making more extensive repairs to your house, you can use open windows as a temporary measure.
Install an HRV (heat recovery ventilator) for better, more permanent ventilation. Put it in your basement for the best results, as that's where most radon gas enters from. (See References 4, "Other Types of Radon Reduction Methods")
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Radon can enter homes through holes in the foundation. Seal cracks and install a "sub-slab depressurization system" of pipes and fans below the foundation concrete to ensure that radon can't sneak in from the outside soil.
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Most radon gets into houses through the ground, but it can also enter through your water system. Install a GAC (granular activated carbon) filter or an aeration system to protect against this. The GAC filter is cheaper but trickier to throw away; because radon is a radioactive gas, radioactivity might build up in the filter over time. It would then need to be specially disposed of.
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After renovating your home, testing for radon every two years will help to ensure your continued safety. A test result of 2 pCi/L or lower means that your home has passed.
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Tips & Warnings
When buying a new home, checking that a radon-reduction system is in place before you buy can save a lot of money. Installing a system into a new house will rarely cost over $500 and can be under $100, while making repairs to an older home usually takes $800 to $2500 according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Once you know your home has high levels of radon gas, open your windows. While testing is in progress, however, keep them shut; opening them can affect test results.
