Radon: What It Is, and How to Fix It

Radon gas occurs naturally in the earth. Unfortunately, it is also a radioactive substance. Produced by the decay of uranium, radon gas can be found almost anywhere. Most often, radon is trapped in soil and rocks, which once broken down, releases radon gas into the air or nearby water supplies.

Radon gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and chemically non-reactive. Unless tested, one would not even know it's there. But to breathe it in or drink it could be fatal.

Testing for radon levels is especially important if one is looking to sell or buy a home. For buyers, knowing that the home has low or non-measurable levels of radon allows them to feel safer about the purchase. On the other hand, if there's a radon problem, the sellers are going to have to fix it- and the sooner the better.

Most home inspections today will contain a radon test for an additional cost. This is something a buyer should not pass over. The home inspector will leave radon cans in the basement of a home. These cans will be picked up two days later and mailed to a lab that will test the amount of radon found. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if the radon level is pegged at four picoCuries per liter or higher, there is a problem that needs to be tended to immediately.

Radon gas enters homes through openings in the ground such as cracks in a home's foundation. It does not matter if a home is old or new. Any home can have a potential radon problem.

Homes right next to each other can have different radon levels. Don’t assume that your neighbor’s house, which might have tested high, automatically indicates that you will also have a radon problem. But if you hear that your neighbors do have a radon problem, you should  test your home just to be safe.

Exposure to radon gas over a long period of time can be extremely harmful. A known carcinogen, lung cancer has been definitively linked to radon gas and usually occurs five to 25 years following exposure. Smokers exposed to radon gas are at even higher risk of developing lung cancer. The EPA indicates that radon poisoning contributes to an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year and approximately 12 percent of lung cancer cases.

If you have a private water supply such as well water, have those waters tested for radon gas levels. Radon gas in water could mean additional problems because it presents an ingestion and inhalation risk.

Although radon gas, if untreated, can be extremely harmful, it is an issue that can be resolved quite effectively. A number of radon-resistant features and technologies can be built into an existing home. These features include installing a gas permeable layer, which is placed beneath the flooring system, enabling radon gas to move freely. In addition, there is plastic sheeting which is laid on top of the gas permeable layer to prevent radon from entering the home.

Contractors can also install a vent pipe. This 3" or 4" pipe runs from the gas permeable layer through the entire house and up to the roof. It safely vents radon gas to the outside.

Should you find that you have a radon problem in your home, choosing the right contractor is extremely important. Get more than one estimate, check references and make sure you choose a qualified expert.