| Radon is responsible for at least 15,000 to | | | | the attic eaves, so that a radon fan can be |
| 20,000 getting lung cancer deaths each year | | | | easily added at a later date if needed. |
| in the U.S. In fact, radon exposure is the | | | | |
| second-leading cause of lung cancer in the | | | | • If a sump pump is not required for |
| United States. This tragedy is compounded by | | | | the basement or if the construction is slab |
| the fact that both radon testing and radon | | | | on grade, have drain tile looped around the |
| mitigation are simple and inexpensive. While | | | | perimeter of the inside of the foundation and |
| nationally 1 in 15 homes may show dangerous | | | | have it terminate with a 3 inch PVC "rough |
| levels of radon, the average levels in many | | | | in." A 3" PVC vent pipe is sufficient for |
| parts of the mid-Atlantic may be two to three | | | | spaces that are less than 2,000 square feet. |
| times higher than this. There are no | | | | Use a 4" PVC "rough in" and a 4" PVC vent |
| immediate symptoms of radon exposure and you | | | | pipe for spaces larger than 2,000 square |
| cannot see, taste, feel, or smell radon. | | | | feet. |
| Cancer can show up five to 25 years after | | | | |
| exposure and about 12% of lung cancer | | | | How to Measure Radon |
| diagnoses are caused by radon. | | | | |
| | | | Homeowners can test for radon themselves. |
| Where Radon Comes From | | | | Order a radon test kit and when finished, |
| | | | make sure to return the radon test to the |
| Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs | | | | laboratory with all the required information |
| naturally in the soil. It is a byproduct of | | | | filled out. Be sure to follow the test kit |
| uranium decay. Radon can be found in-new | | | | instructions to the letter. One of the most |
| homes, older homes, homes in need of repair, | | | | common mistakes is over or under exposing the |
| homes without basements; there is no pattern. | | | | devices. A radon test result of 4 picocuries |
| Your neighbor's home might be radon-free, | | | | (a picocurie is one trillionth of a curie and |
| while your home has dangerous levels. Radon | | | | measures radioactivity) per liter or higher |
| can come from the ground beneath a home, well | | | | is considered to be a high radon level. The |
| water, and various building materials. The | | | | average radon level in homes is 1.3pCi/L and |
| only way to know is to test your home, which | | | | .4pCi/L outdoors. The 1.3 pCi/l national |
| can be done for less than $30 with a simple | | | | average includes homes in many regions that |
| kit available at most hardware stores. | | | | do not have radon issues. Keep in mind that |
| | | | the 4.0 pCi/l standard was established as a |
| Before Buying a Home: | | | | matter of practicality, not safety. EPA |
| | | | officials at the time were unsure whether the |
| • Ask the seller for a copy of the | | | | technology and methods employed in 1984 were |
| home's radon test results. If the home has | | | | capable of reducing radon levels further. |
| not been tested, ask your home inspector to | | | | Recent studies show a significant risk of |
| include a radon test in his report. | | | | lung cancer when exposed at levels between 2 |
| | | | and 4 pCi/l. EPA recommends reducing radon |
| • Make sure that the Radon Testing | | | | levels to below 2pCi/l if possible. |
| Checklist items were met. | | | | |
| | | | If your home does have Radon |
| • Make sure that the last test was | | | | |
| recent, at least within the past 2 years. | | | | Costs to hire a radon removal professional to |
| | | | lower radon levels average about $800 to |
| • Make sure that the seller has | | | | $1,200. Homes with crawl spaces or without |
| performed the test in the lowest, livable | | | | gravel under the slab cost more. Many radon |
| level of the house. This usually means the | | | | removal configurations exist and include sub |
| basement, but if the home has no basement, | | | | slab depressurization (SSD), SSD with a crawl |
| test in the lowest level of the house. | | | | space, and air exchangers. The work required |
| | | | for a successful radon mitigation are beyond |
| • Ask that the home be tested again if | | | | the skills of most untrained homeowners. |
| any changes have been made to the home's | | | | |
| heating, ventilation, and air conditioning | | | | What to Consider When Hiring a Radon |
| system since the last test was done. | | | | Abatement or Mitigation Firm |
| | | | |
| • Should you decide to renovate an | | | | • Ask to see proof of their |
| unfinished part of the home, test for radon | | | | certifications from National Environmental |
| before work begins. It is much easier to | | | | Health Association (NEHA) and/or the National |
| install a radon system in an unfinished room. | | | | Radon Safety Board (NRSB). |
| If your test results are close to the EPA | | | | |
| action level (4.0 pCi/l), test the space | | | | • Contractors must also be licensed as |
| again after work is completed. | | | | home-improvement contactors in each state |
| | | | they wish to work. The District of Columbia |
| When renovating an unfinished part of a home | | | | is an exception in the case of radon work. |
| or building a new home, look to minimize | | | | |
| radon presence. | | | | • Make sure the contractor is fully |
| | | | insured. |
| To Minimize Radon When Building a New Home: | | | | |
| | | | • Have them describe all of the work |
| • The integrity of the slab should be | | | | they will be doing. |
| maintained at all times. | | | | |
| | | | • Sign a contract and see that it |
| • Sump pits need to be installed with a | | | | includes all promises that were made |
| sealed cover. | | | | verbally. |
| | | | |
| • Use a gas tight radon drain for all | | | | • Don't pay for work until it is |
| floor drains. | | | | complete. Down payments are rarely required. |
| | | | |
| • When framing, run a radon vent pipe | | | | • Ask for at least a 20-year |
| from the basement to the high part of the | | | | transferable warranty. |
| attic. This pipe should not be to close to | | | | |