About Radon Gas Agawam MA

Believe it or not, a killer may be lurking your home. No, we’re not talking about Freddie Krueger or the latest horror flick murderer. We’re talking about a real life intruder that, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), can actually kill you or members of your family: Radon gas.

What is Radon Gas?

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas. It is not poisonous. Radon occurs naturally from the breakdown of deposits of radium and uranium that are present in virtually all soils everywhere in the US and throughout the world. Normally, the radon gas disperses harmlessly into the air; but, it can get into homes, and since you can't see it or smell it, you can't tell if it’s there.

Radon is a "noble" or "inert" gas, which means it doesn't combine readily with other elements. Radon is the heaviest known gas, 9 times denser than air, and it consists of one, tiny, single atom—so it can penetrate most common building materials like sheet rock, mortar, wood, most insulation, even concrete.

Should I Be Worried About Radon Gas?

Radon can be a problem in homes of all types. Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built are among the factors that can affect radon levels in homes. High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do vary from area to area, but the only way to know your radon level is to test. The EPA has developed a map of radon zones for all states based on geology, soil permeability, radon testing data, and other factors.

Levels of concentration and duration of exposure are the main factors in determining how hazardous radon actually is. The EPA suggests that a radon gas concentration level above 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) is dangerous, and if your home has a higher concentration you should take steps to mitigate radon levels. As a point of reference, in the United States, outdoor air radon levels average 0.45 pCi/L., while the "average" house measures about 1.4 pCi/L.

Statistics link prolonged exposure to radon gas to lung cancer, and the US Surgeon General warns that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The EPA estimates that breathing radon gas causes thousands of deaths each year. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

How Does Radon Get Into a House?

Radon usually enters a house through air or water migration.

Air Migration. In air migration, the radon gas moves through the disturbed, permeable soil surrounding a house's foundation and seeps in through cracks or gaps in floors, walls, around pipes, and construction joints.

The gas molecules are so small, radon can even get in through solid concrete. As concrete cures, the water that was originally part of the concrete mix migrates to the surface and evaporates, leaving behind tiny capillaries, or tubes. These tubes are thinner than a human hair, but large enough for the tiny radon gas molecules to pass through.

Construction methods also help draw radon into a house. A house literally acts as a chimney, and, as the warmer air in a house rises, it tends to draw the radon gas in behind it into the basement. Since radon is so much heavier than air, it accumulates and concentrates in the lower levels of a house. However, radon isn't restricted to lower levels, and will permeate throughout a house in the same way the scent of coffee brewing spreads throughout a house. 

Some studies have shown that modern, energy-efficient houses are so well-constructed they minimize or eliminate air exchange between the inside and outside, and as a result, tend to have elevated radon levels.

Water Migration. Radon is water-soluble and can also get into a house through water migration. Well-water supplies can become contaminated as groundwater moves through radon contaminated soils. When the water is used in the house, for example, in a shower, radon in the steam is released when the steam dries.

Radon gas is rarely present in municipal water supplies since the standard aeration of water dissipates the gas.

Radon can also enter through a damp basement. The dissolved radon in water is literally carried into the house as the groundwater seeps in through capillary action. Once inside, the water evaporates, releasing the dissolved gas.

What Can I Do About Radon?

If you are concerned that radon may be in your home, your first step should be to test for its presence.

Different types of test kits are available at hardware stores, home stores, on the Internet, even from some local health departments. Testing your home for the presence of radon is straightforward and relatively inexpensive.

In general, there are two different kinds of tests, short-term tests and long term tests. The short-term kits cost in the range of $10-20, while the long-term kits cost approximately $25-50.

Short-term test kits stay in your home for anywhere from a few days up to 90 days. They will give you a relatively quick "snapshot" of the radon level present when the test is done. The obvious drawback to the short-term test is the result only indicates the amount of radon at the time the test was done. There is no indication of your average annual exposure. The major advantage is relatively quick results. If you are concerned with the outcome, you can always do a second short-term test. If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher take a follow-up test to be sure.

Long-term tests by definition stay in your home longer, usually from 90 days up to a year, and have the advantage of providing a more accurate indicator of the average radon level within your home.

You may want to contact your state radon office about obtaining a list of qualified testers. You can also contact a private radon proficiency program for lists of privately certified radon professionals serving your area.

What Your Test Results Mean

As stated earlier, according to the EPA, the average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L, and about 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air. Since there is no known safe level of radon, there can always be some risk. But the risk can be reduced by lowering the radon level in your home.

According to the EPA, you should fix your home if your long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or more. The higher your short-term results, the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher.

Fixing a Radon Problem

If you are considering fixing your home's radon problem yourself, you may want to contact your state radon office for guidance and assistance. There are several proven methods to reduce radon in your home. Increased ventilation and sealing of cracks and joints in the foundation can lower concentration levels. If that doesn't reduce the concentration to acceptable levels it is possible to install vent pipes below your foundation to vent the radon to the outside prior to it entering your house. Typically this venting procedure costs in the area of $1,000. Other methods also may work in your home. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors.

Lowering high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills, and you should consider using a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems. A qualified contractor can study the radon problem in your home and help you pick the right treatment method.

You should also test your home again after it is fixed to be sure that radon levels have been reduced. In addition, it's a good idea to retest your home every two years to be sure radon levels remain low.

Get a free subscription to Homeminders’ home management system (no credit card required)