More homes have issues with radon gas than you might think, In fact, about 1 in 15 homes in the United States are estimated to have radon levels at or above the EPA action level. if testing for radon reveals high enough levels of the gas in your home, than you do need to take action with radon mitigation and abatement services because the consequences of ignoring the issue can potentially be severe. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. To keep radon out of your home, there are several things that you can do and that’s what this article will be taking a look at.
- Place a Vapor Barrier in Your Home’s Crawl Space: One way to keep radon out of your home if testing for radon detects its presence is to place a vapor barrier in your home’s crawl space. As a gas, radon is always attempting to move up towards the surface, and as most crawl spaces have a bare earth floor, this can provide the perfect means of entry. By placing a vapor barrier, made with multiple layers of plastic, in this space, the radon gas can be blocked out and prevented from getting into the house.
- Seal All Cracks in the Foundation Slab: Another way to keep radon out of your home is to have all cracks in the foundation slab sealed and closed. Even if it’s a very small crack, radon gas can still slip through, so if testing for radon reveals high levels in your basement, the foundation slab should be inspected to see if there are cracks letting the gas through.
- Place a Layer of Gravel Underneath the Foundation: And finally, a third way to keep radon out of your home is to place a layer of gravel underneath the foundation itself. This can be done in one of two ways: you can have the gravel placed down as the foundation is being built, or a hollow can be created under an existing foundation and filled with gravel. The idea is to give the gas a place to spread out and settle instead of continuing to move towards the surface.
In conclusion, there are several ways to keep radon out of your home if testing for radon detects its presence. These ways include, but are not limited to: placing a vapor barrier in your home’s crawl space, sealing all cracks in the foundation slab, and placing a layer of gravel underneath the foundation. These are just a few of the ways to keep your home safe from radon gas.
