Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is produced by the decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It is odorless, tasteless, and invisible, making it difficult to detect without specialized testing. Radon can seep into homes and buildings through cracks in the foundation or other openings, and when it accumulates to high levels indoors, it poses a serious health risk. Long-term exposure to elevated radon levels is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking, which makes radon testing and mitigation crucial for maintaining safe indoor air quality.

Radon is highly dangerous when present at elevated levels indoors, as it is a leading cause of lung cancer. It is the second most common cause of lung cancer in the United States, after smoking, and is responsible for about 21,000 deaths annually. The risk of lung cancer increases with prolonged exposure to high radon levels, especially for smokers. Since radon is invisible, odorless, and tasteless, it can go undetected without proper testing, making it a significant health hazard in homes and buildings where it accumulates. Testing and mitigation are essential to reduce this risk and protect occupants.

The cost of radon mitigation typically ranges from $800 to $2,500, depending on several factors such as the home's size, foundation type, and the complexity of the installation. For a standard system, most homeowners can expect to pay around $1,800 to $2,000. Factors like crawlspace encapsulation, additional sealing, or more advanced ventilation systems can increase the cost.

The first step would be getting your home tested to make sure you need a mitigation system. We offer testing services if you'd like a digital certified test or often have free radon tests available. Call us for more info!

The EPA recommends that indoor radon levels be below 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). If testing reveals radon levels at or above this threshold, the EPA advises taking action to reduce those levels. However, even levels below 4.0 pCi/L can pose some risk, so the EPA suggests considering mitigation for homes with radon levels between 2.0 and 4.0 pCi/L as well.

You can identify if your home has a passive radon system by looking for specific features typically installed during construction. A passive system usually includes a PVC pipe running vertically from the foundation (often through a basement or crawlspace) and venting out above the roofline. A good indicatior that a pipe is a passive radon system is if that pipe doesn't have a clean out valve at the bottom. This pipe collects radon gas from beneath the foundation and vents it outside without the aid of a mechanical fan. If there is no fan installed along the piping, and no radon-specific electrical components nearby, the system is passive. To determine if it's effectively reducing radon levels, it's essential to test the home's radon concentration.

Feel free to give us a call at 208-626-9852. We love to talk radon!