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What does a RadonAway do?

Radon Mitigation Services At RadonAway, our main objective is to make sure that homes and businesses across the country are not at risk for high levels of radon. Through our Find a Radon Professional Tool, homeowners and others can quickly reach a radon contractor or radon mitigation system installer in their area.

Does a radon mitigation system really work?

Radon reduction systems work. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99 percent. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs. Your costs may vary depending on the size and design of your home and which radon reduction methods are needed.

How do I get rid of radon naturally?

Other Ways to Reduce RadonIncrease air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air. ... Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.

How long do radon fans last?

five yearsFans may last for five years or more (manufacturer warranties tend not to exceed five years) and may then need to be repaired or replaced. Replacing a fan will cost around $200 - $350 including parts and labor. It is a good idea to retest your home at least every two years to be sure radon levels remain low.

Where is radon most commonly found?

Radon levels are usually higher in basements, cellars and living spaces in contact with the ground. However, considerable radon concentration can also be found above the ground floor. Radon concentrations vary considerably between adjacent buildings, as well as within a building from day to day and from hour to hour.

Is radon a deal breaker?

You can't see it, smell it, or taste it, but radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, the presence of radon in your home doesn't have to be a deal breaker.

Is there an air purifier that removes radon?

The Breathe EZ Air Cleaner is a very effective radon mitigation solution. Due to its ability to filter very small particles (. 007 microns) it will filter radon decay products. These radon decay products are the source for radon induced lung cancer.

How long does it take to get radon poisoning?

Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop. Early signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: persistent cough.

How does radon affect the body?

When someone breathes in radon gas, it goes into their lungs, exposing them to small amounts of radiation. This may damage the cells in the lining of the lungs and increase a person's risk of lung cancer. The risk is higher in those who have lived for many years in a radon-contaminated house.

Should my radon fan run constantly?

Your radon fan should never be turned off. It should constantly be running in your home to ensure that the system is working properly. After a radon system installation, a post-mitigation test for radon should be performed within 30 days of install.

Where should a radon fan be placed?

Radon mitigation systems use a fan to continuously pull air from the soil and vent it outdoors through a pipe that ends above the edge of the roof. The pipe can either run inside or outside the home and vents outside, away from windows and openings. In addition, cracks and openings in the foundation are sealed.

What happens if I turn off radon fan?

If you turn a radon fan off, the radon levels will return to the pre-mitigation levels within a few hours. In addition, ground moisture will begin to enter the bearings and motor, causing a pre-mature failure of the fan so it is best to keep the fan running even if you go on an extended vacation.

How long is long term exposure to radon?

Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop. Early signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: persistent cough.

Should I install a radon fan?

A radon vent fan should be installed when the test result is 4 pCi/L (the EPA action level) or more.

Is a radon fan necessary?

Is a radon fan necessary? A radon fan isn't necessarily required for a system to work properly and to get the radon levels down to a safe level. Some newly constructed homes do come with a passive radon system pre-installed to help vent gasses out of the house.

Does a radon mitigation system reduce humidity?

The answer is, yes. Though, radon mitigation systems are designed to effectively reduce in home radon levels, there is a great byproduct of mitigation radon. One of the primary byproducts of a radon mitigation system is its ability to reduce moisture in your basement and/or overall humidity throughout your home.

What is radon?

Radon is an odorless, colorless and tasteless naturally occurring radioactive gas that is in the air you breathe and the water you use for drinking, bathing and cooking. At high levels it is a serious health hazard.

How does radon get into my home?

Radon gas can seep into your home from the soil beneath it through dirt crawlspaces, cracks in the foundation and walls, floor drains, pipes and sump pumps. If you get your drinking water from a well, it can also be a source of radon in your home.

I don't live in an area with high radon, so am I safe?

Not necessarily. Even homes in areas considered at low risk for radon can have high radon levels. About 15 percent of homes in the U.S. have radon levels above the 4.0 pCi/L, the level at which the EPA recommends fixing your home.

I have a new home with no cracks or other openings, so why should I test for radon?

As a gas, radon can seep through tiny cracks that you might not even see. It can get into finished or unfinished basements, and into new homes as well as old. You won’t know if it’s in your home unless you conduct radon testing.

If radon is a health hazard, what are the symptoms?

Radon is a sneaky gas. Just as you can’t see it, smell it or taste it, it also gives you no warning that it is harming your health. There’s no rash or headache or fever. Radon causes lung cancer, which often presents no symptoms until it is advanced.

Is there really any proof that radon causes lung cancer?

As with most illnesses, cause and effect can not be 100 percent proved. If you have high blood pressure and suffer a stroke, studies indicate that your high blood pressure is the most likely cause.

How can radon in my well water enter my home?

When you run your water – for drinking, cooking, bathing or when running your dishwasher or washing machine – radon gas escapes from the water into to the air, adding to the radon level of the air you breathe.

Why is radon radioactive?

Radon itself is radioactive because it also decays to form the element polonium. Polonium is also radioactive - it is this element, which is produced by radon in the air and in people's lungs, that can hurt lung tissue and cause lung cancer. Radon is ubiquitous (usually in small amounts) in rock and soil and can be carried in water, air, ...

Where is radon found in drinking water?

Tests of 75 private drinking water wells in Lycoming County, in north-central Pennsylvania, found water from most of the sampled wells contained concentrations of radon that exceeded a proposed, nonbinding health standard for drinking water.

How many wells were radon tested?

Ground-water samples collected from 267 wells were analyzed for radon as part of a water-quality reconnaissance of subunits of the Lower Susquehanna and Potomac River Basins conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program. Radon is a product of the radioactive decay of...

Where is radon found in the ground?

Radon in Blue Ridge Ground Water Among Highest In Nation. Radon concentrations in ground water from homeowners’ wells in the Blue Ridge area of the New River watershed, in parts of North Carolina and Virginia, were among the highest measured in the nation in a new report from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Is radionuclide water safe in Pennsylvania?

Naturally occurring radionuclides in the ground water of southeastern Pennsylvania may pose a health hazard to some residents, especially those drinking water from wells drilled in the Chickies Quartzite. Water from 46 percent of wells sampled in the Chickies Quartzite and 7 percent of wells sampled in other geologic formations exceeded the U.S....

Is radon found in groundwater?

As of the late 1990s, USGS research on radon has mostly been limited to its presence in groundwater. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the best starting point for information about air quality and radon in buildings.

How many people die from radon?

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. You can take steps to reduce and control the amount of radon in your home.

How does radon gas get trapped in a building?

Radon gas becomes trapped indoors after it enters buildings through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Indoor radon can be controlled and managed with proven, cost-effective techniques. Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer.

Is radon dangerous?

Radon gas is inert, colorless and odorless. Radon is naturally in the atmosphere in trace amounts. Outdoors, radon disperses rapidly and, generally, is not a health issue.

How to reduce radon in house?

There are several proven methods to reduce radon in your home (called radon mitigation), but the one most used has a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. This system, known as a soil suction radon reduction system, does not require major changes to your home.

Where is radon released?

Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally released in the air from rocks and soil. It can be found in the air outside and can get inside buildings and homes, where it can build up. There is no known safe level of radon. Aiming for the lowest radon level you can achieve in your home will reduce your risk of harmful health effects, including lung cancer.

Who can fix radon in my home?

You should use a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems. A qualified contractor can identify the radon problem in your home and recommend the right radon reduction method. Check with your state radon office. for names of qualified or state certified radon contractors in your area.

How many people die from radon?

About 21,000 people die each year from lung cancer related to radon. Some research has linked radon to other kinds of cancer, like childhood leukemia, but the evidence for that isn’t as clear.

How Does Radon Affect Your Health?

When you breathe in radon, it gets into the lining of your lungs and gives off radiation. Over a long time, that can damage the cells there and lead to lung cancer.

What Are the Symptoms of Radon Exposure?

You won’t have symptoms of radon poisoning right away. Instead, health problems from the exposure, such as lung cancer, show up after many years.

How Are You Exposed to Radon?

Buildings, like your home, school, or office, are built into the ground. If there are cracks in floors or walls, or small openings for pipes or wires that aren't fully sealed, radon can escape the soil and get indoors. Though it can get trapped in any enclosed area, radon levels are often highest in basements and crawl spaces because they're closest to the ground. Experts say that nearly 1 out of 15 houses in the U.S. has elevated levels of radon.

How many people die from lung cancer from radon?

If you breathe a lot of radon and smoke, your chance of getting lung cancer is very high. About 21,000 people die each year from lung cancer related to radon. Some research has linked radon to other kinds of cancer, like childhood leukemia, but the evidence for that isn’t as clear.

How long does it take to test for radon in your home?

You can test your home or office with a radon kit. Some will measure levels for a few days, and others can gather the data for at least 3 months. You leave a small measuring device in a room, and then send it to a lab. You can also hire a professional to test your home or workplace for you. The Environmental Protection Agency website has a list of approved contractors in each state.

What happens when radium breaks down?

When radium breaks down, it becomes radon. Radon gas leaves the soil and becomes part of the air and water. It can be in the air around you, but it’s usually in very small amounts that aren't harmful. Large amounts of radon cause health problems.

What to do if your water has radon?

If high radon levels are found and the home has a private well, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 for information on testing your water.

Why is it important to test for radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas and exposure to it causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year—only smoking causes more. Because you can't see, smell or taste radon, it’s important to periodically test the air in your home. Believing you live in a region not affected by radon is just one of the myths about this deadly gas. Here are the EPA’s top 10.

What are the factors that affect radon levels in homes?

Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built are among the factors that can affect radon levels in homes. Myth 5: Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country. Fact: High radon levels have been found in every state.

How long does it take to test for radon?

In Consumer Reports tests of radon kits, we found that long-term tests, which take readings for at least 90 days , are more accurate than short-term kits.

Does radon affect homes?

Myth 4: Radon affects only certain kinds of homes. Fact: Radon can be a problem in homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements, and homes without basements. Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built are among the factors that can affect radon levels in homes.

What is radon used for?from rsc.org

Small amounts of radon are sometimes used by hospitals to treat some forms of cancer. Radon fluoride (RnF) is the only confirmed compound of radon.

How long does radon stay in water?from en.wikipedia.org

The effects of radon if ingested are unknown, although studies have found that its biological half-life ranges from 30 to 70 minutes, with 90% removal at 100 minutes. In 1999, the US National Research Council investigated the issue of radon in drinking water. The risk associated with ingestion was considered almost negligible. Water from underground sources may contain significant amounts of radon depending on the surrounding rock and soil conditions, whereas surface sources generally do not.

What is the radioactive gas that was detected in 1899?from rsc.org

In 1899, Ernest Rutherford and Robert B. Owens detected a radioactive gas being released by thorium. That same year, Pierre and Marie Curie detected a radioactive gas emanating from radium. In1900, Friedrich Ernst Dorn at Halle, Germany, noted that a gas was accumulating inside ampoules of radium. They were observing radon. That from radium was the longer-lived isotope radon-222 which has a half-life 3.8 days, and was the same isotope which the Curies has observed. The radon that Rutherford detected was radon-220 with a half-life of 56 seconds.

Why is radon bad for you?from rsc.org

Why then should we worry about radon levels in our homes? The problem is, when breathed in, it can decay to form other, longer-lasting, solid radioactive species, which can coat the lungs, leading to continual exposure. These so-called 'radon daughters' include polonium-214, polonium-218 and lead-214 - not family members you'd wish to spend a lot of time with. Prolonged radon exposure is believed to be the second most frequent cause of lung cancer after smoking. The unfortunate gentleman with the basement full of radon had a risk of consequentially developing lung cancer equivalent to smoking 135 packs of cigarettes every day!

What is the half life of radon?from rsc.org

They were observing radon. That from radium was the longer-lived isotope radon-222 which has a half-life 3.8 days, and was the same isotope which the Curies has observed. The radon that Rutherford detected was radon-220 with a half-life of 56 seconds.

What color is radon?from pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

At ordinary temperatures radon is a colorless gas; when cooled below the freezing point, radon exhibits a brilliant phosphorescence which becomes yellow as the temperature is lowered and orange-red at the temperature of liquid air. It has been reported that fluorine reacts with radon, forming a fluoride.

What causes radon to seep into houses?from pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Radon seeps into houses as a result of the decay of radium, thorium or uranium ores underground and varies greatly from location to location. On average, the earth's atmosphere is 0.0000000000000000001% radon. When cooled to its solid state, radon glows yellow. The glow becomes orange-red as the temperature is lowered.

What is radon gas?

Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes. ( www.cdc.gov)

WHAT IMPACT COULD RADON HAVE ON MY FAMILY AND I?

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General’s office estimate radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. Over time, these radioactive particles increase the risk of lung cancer . It may take years before health problems appear. EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon in homes that have a radon level at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air (a “picocurie” is a common unit for measuring the amount of radioactivity). The chances of getting lung cancer are higher if your home has elevated radon levels and you smoke or burn fuels that increase indoor particles. ( www.cdc.gov)