Radon mitigation is any method employed to lower radon concentrations in homes or radon in water sources. Radon is an essential contributor to outdoor radioactivity. It is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil, rocks, and water. The concentration of this gas increases as time passes because the atmosphere continually renews its decaying organic matter, such as carbon dioxide. Radon can enter a home through cracks in floor and wall tiles, a faulty pump at the heating or cooling unit, and unvented storage areas for garbage. It is essential to have the proper equipment installed to contain radon to keep it from compromising your health effectively.
There are many radon mitigation methods, including air conditioners, heating and cooling systems, and mechanical ventilation. In addition to decreasing the concentration of radon inside your home, air conditioning and heating systems will improve the indoor humidity of the area. Mechanical ventilation will rid the air in a room of pollutants and particulates. The use of an air conditioner in your home will dehumidify the air inside your home. This will prevent you from becoming subjected to irritating odors from cooking and will eliminate uncomfortable indoor humidity levels.
It is very important to maintain a good ventilation system, and high levels of ventilation will prevent you from becoming exposed to dangerous radioactive gas. If you find that you have a radon problem in your home, you should consider getting a radon mitigation system. An air conditioner will not be able to do much to solve the problem, and an HVAC system may be necessary.
Before installing a radon mitigation system in your home, you need to find out where the problem is located. It’s usually located in your basement. This can be accomplished in one of two ways. You can perform a back drafting analysis to find where the problem is or dig a test hole and place soil and foundation samples. Back drafting analysis requires professional equipment to accurately measure the amount of radon present in your home. A soil gas sample can also be taken and then tested to determine if you have high levels of radon present in your home.
Once you have determined where to find the radon, you can begin the process of installing a radon mitigation system to remove the hazardous gases from your home. Usually, the radon is emitted during the digging of the foundations for new homes. To reduce radon in your home, you will need to make sure that the soil is well drained. Homes built with clay, concrete slab, and stone can all contain high levels of radioactive gas. Radon will settle to the bottom, so you will want to keep the soil in your yard well drained to minimize the amount of radioactive gas that escapes into the atmosphere.
A radon mitigation contractor will seal all basements with a plastic membrane, which is effective in reducing the amount of airborne particles that reach the ground. In basements that are sealed, you should keep flammable items away from the area. Keep in mind that this process will not be effective if the floor drains are clogged. A radon mitigation contractor can assess the effectiveness of your sealing plan and recommend an upgrade. Sometimes it’s necessary to replace the plastic membrane after the first installation, as the gases from decaying organic material may escape and settle in your basement.
After sealing your basement, you will need to learn how to do the Radon Reduction yourself. The Radon Reduction template message instructs homeowners to make sure they follow the recommendations in the template message and perform all the necessary steps to properly reduce radon gas in their homes. A Radon Reduction Checklist is typically included with the Radon Mitigation Checklist. Reading through the checklist can help you learn how to properly perform the required tasks.
Another advantage of sealing your basement is that it protects your personal belongings from becoming contaminated with Radon gas. There are different kits available that have sensors that are used to determine Radon levels in homes. When sealing your homes, seal any cracks and openings, particularly around window and door openings. When sealing concrete, gaps should be closed using a crack sealer.
