Radon is an odorless, invisible radioactive gas that can be found throughout the world. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks, and water, which then is released into the air you breathe. Although it is harmless outdoors, indoor spaces are where levels may reach dangerous concentrations leading to serious health risks. As a homeowner or tenant, being aware of radon and taking steps to prevent its entry into your home is critical for protecting yourself and loved ones from potential exposure-related illnesses such as lung cancer. This article discusses ways you can prevent poisonous radon from entering your home so that you can ensure a safe environment for everyone inside.
- Regularly Use Proper Ventilation
Radon is a dangerous chemical element that can seep into your home through cracks and openings, causing serious health problems if present at high levels. To help prevent this, it is important to ensure your home has an adequate amount of regular ventilation. Ventilation helps get rid of excess radon particles and keeps the air free from contaminants.
Ways radon gas enters a house, and how to prevent it
Additionally, proper ventilation can reduce moisture in areas like basements where radon levels are highest and prevent dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide or formaldehyde from lingering in the air. Taking these steps to create a healthier indoor environment will go a long way in reducing potential radon exposure and improving the quality of life for everyone living in the home.
⦁ Install Fans To Allow Air Flow
Radon can be a dangerous and insidious home invader, but installing fans to direct airflow outside the home is an inexpensive and effective way to prevent radon from entering. Fans draw atmospheric pressure away from the foundation and keep the building envelope pressurized, which creates negative indoor pressure and helps push out any infiltration of radon that may occur. While radon tests can detect dangerous levels of radon gas inside a home, installing ventilation fans for airflow helps ensure that it never gets the chance to enter in the first place. Make sure your home is adequately protected from this hazardous intruder with the installation of fans to allow proper airflow.
⦁ Seal Up Any Cracks
Keeping your home safe from radon can be a lot easier if you simply seal up any cracks that might let poisonous gases in. Not only will sealing up potential entry points help prevent radon from getting into your home, but it can also help keep other toxins and allergens away as well. Make sure to check window wells and other openings around the exterior of your house for openings that could lead to the inside, then use caulk or expanding foam to close them off. For an extra layer of protection, use radon-resistant construction techniques such as installing a partial sub-slab depressurization system when adding new rooms or remodeling large portions of your house. Taking these simple steps can make your home safer from microscopic danger.
⦁ Install a Radon Mitigation System
The installation of a radon mitigation system is an important step to help keep your home safe from the potentially dangerous levels of radon gas. Radon can enter homes through cracks in foundation walls, crawlspaces and other openings. If left untreated, high levels of radon can be hazardous. Radon testing and a professional inspection can reveal if your home has high concentrations of radon and whether or not a mitigation system needs to be installed. The system works by creating a suction effect within the home that draws away any airborne particles released into the atmosphere from nearby soil before they have a chance to enter your breathing zone. Not only does this process reduce the number of harmful particles entering indoors, but it also removes any lingering odors caused by excess radon fumes. Investing in a radon mitigation system can provide you with peace of mind now, as well as better health outcomes down the road.
Radon is a naturally occurring toxic gas that can have detrimental effects on your health, especially when it accumulates in your home. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that homeowners test their homes for radon regularly and take steps to prevent radon from entering the house if concentrations of radon are found to be high. Radon testing is convenient and often inexpensive, but it is important to check with a qualified contractor or an accredited laboratory for professional assistance. Making simple improvements like increasing ventilation and sealing off access points around the perimeter of your home can reduce radon levels significantly, thus keeping your family safe. Protect yourself today by getting your home tested for radon to reduce the risk of long-term exposure to this potentially dangerous gas.
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