How Can You Be Sure Your House Is Radon-Free?
Is your home your sanctuary? A place of protection? A gathering place for people and pets?
Did you know a home can also be a silent killer? Two deadly gases, undetectable by smell or sight, can be found in homes. Carbon monoxide wreaks havoc quickly, causing death in a matter of minutes.
Radon gas takes its toll over time. Cause and effect are so disconnected that few people pay attention.
Please pay attention! Lung cancer from radon is preventable – for you, your family, and your pet.
Why Worry About Radon?
Radon is an odorless, invisible, radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils. As uranium breaks down it turns into radioactive gas that can move thru soil and become airborne.
Exposure to radon gas is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. It’s the number two cause of lung cancer in smokers.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 1 in 15 homes in the U.S. have high levels of radon. The EPA radon zones map of the U.S. below provides an overview of radon at a macro level.
While you may be inclined to dismiss the map if you find yourself living in an orange or yellow area, its best to check your state EPA Map of Radon Zones to get a clearer picture of risk.
Homes in “the red,” or Zone 1, are at greatest risk for radon. Living in the red zone, however, doesn't automatically mean your house has radon. Only testing can determine your risk.
Homes in Zones 2 and 3 are at lower risk but should still be tested. Radon gas has been found in homes in Zones 2 and 3.
Every type of home – single family, apartments, condos, town homes - can be at risk, including homes with basements or crawlspaces and homes built on concrete slabs.
Several factors determine how much radon gas moves from the soil and into a home.
The first has to do with the different routes that enable radon gas to enter a home. Radon can seep in through cracks and gaps in foundation walls and slabs, gaps at floor and wall joints, exposed soils in a sump or crawl space, pipe penetrations, building materials and so on.
Most homes are under “negative air pressure.” The air pressure inside a home is often lower than outside. As a result, radon gas can be pulled into a home through the different routes mentioned above.
test your home to understand risk
Test your home when it’s easy to keep windows and doors closed for the duration of the test. Winter heating and summer air conditioning seasons are perfect times to test.
Do-it-yourself radon test kits can be found through various sources.
state or tribal department of health online sites (many offer discounted kits to residents)
online retailer
home improvement store
Follow the package directions for proper placement of the test kit and where to send it after you’ve completed the testing.
If you want greater confidence in test results, hire a radon measurement professional. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website has a link to state radon offices where you can find lists of qualified radon testers.
Your Home’s Radon Level is Measured in Picocuries per Liter
The ideal radon level in any home is 0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). Few homes will be at that level.
Test results less than 2 pCi/L generally indicate a very low risk of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Test results between 2 pCi/L to 4 pCi/L generally indicate a moderate potential for risk in non-smokers. If you get test results between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L it is suggested you do a second test or perform a long-term test to get a better picture of radon levels in your home over time.
You may want to consider installing a radon “mitigation” system to protect against fluctuations in radon levels that occur during different seasons. (Radon mitigation is a construction practice that helps to reduce radon gas levels in a home.)
Radon levels measured at or above 4 pCi/L indicate the highest potential for radon exposure and long-term harm in non-smokers. Houses at this level should have a radon mitigation system installed.
Remember, ALL smokers run a greater risk of lung cancer when exposed to any level of radon, even levels below 2 pCi/L. If you smoke, you may want to install a radon mitigation system to lessen your risk of cancer from non-tobacco influences.
reducing radon levels in your home
You can hire a certified radon professional to install a radon mitigation system or do it yourself if you’re handy.
Before you consider installing a radon mitigation system yourself, check your local library for instruction manuals provided by state agencies. You will need general construction prowess as well as knowledge in concrete work, pipe fitting, and roof repair. You may need to take out building, electrical and/or mechanical permits to do the work.
Many state health agencies provide training and certification programs for professionals. Use the internet to go directly to your state department of health’s radon webpage or link to the EPA state radon offices webpage to find your state.
Whether you do the work yourself or hire someone else, always test after the work is complete. You or the professional will have done a proper job when radon levels have fallen to a low-risk level below 2 pCi/L.
paying for radon mitigation
Radon mitigation, whether you do it yourself or hire it out, will require a financial investment. How much, you ask? That depends on the level of radon measured, the size and design of your home, and general construction rates in your area.
During my fifteen-year remodeling and design career, radon mitigation systems installed by professionals in the Midwest averaged $1,200 to $1,500.
Many city and county housing agencies offer programs, such as low interest loans or grants, to help low-income homeowners with basic home improvements that impact safety, habitability, energy efficiency or accessibility.
Use the internet to find your state or tribal department of health’s radon webpage or link to the EPA state radon offices webpage. When you get to your state or tribal health page, search for “financial assistance for radon.”
improving your home's energy efficiency?
The primary way of reducing energy costs in a home is to control the loss of heated or cooled air through the building envelope (walls, doors, windows, roof, and foundation). Adding insulation and sealing air leaks are two methods to reduce monthly energy costs.
Energy improvements, however, can negatively impact radon levels. That is why most energy improvements should not be conducted until radon risk is evaluated. If the risk starts out high, a radon mitigation system may need to be installed alongside the energy improvements.
Radon levels should always be tested at the end of any home improvement project that impacts the building envelope. There’s no way to predict whether a home that starts out with low levels of radon risk will remain at low levels after remodeling.
radon and pets
If you’re like me, you actively seek ways to extend your pet’s lifespan in order to maximize time together. Just look at the many products, medicines, magazines, books, blogs and social media posts dedicated to pet health and longevity. I know I’m not alone in how I feel!
One thing you won’t find in literature and on the internet is research directly linking radon to pet health. In fact, lung cancer in dogs and cats is pretty rare.
Why worry about radon if we don’t know how it affects our pets?
Human lung cancer from radon IS a preventable disease. Why risk shortening your own life, your families or your pet’s?
Get your home evaluated for radon. Mitigate risk, if necessary. Do what you can to keep yourself, your family and your pets healthy.
Cheers to a long life with your pets!
(Blog feature image above by Milada Vigerova from Pixabay)