Practical Tips for Long-Term Radon Risk Management

Radon is an odorless, invisible gas that can be harmful when present at elevated levels inside your home. However, many homeowners remain unaware of its risks or how to manage them effectively.

Luckily, understanding and implementing practical tips for long-term radon risk management can help you protect your home and loved ones. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from understanding radon fluctuations to testing, mitigation, and lifestyle adjustments that can maintain safe radon levels in your home.

Understand How Radon Levels Fluctuate

Radon levels aren’t static; they can vary throughout the year due to several factors, including:

• Weather and precipitation changes: Heavy rainfall and snowmelt can increase radon levels by forcing the gas into your home due to humidity changes in the soil. Similarly, freezing conditions can trap radon under frozen ground, making it seep into homes instead of dissipating in the air.
• Outdoor temperatures: Seasonal shifts in temperature can also impact radon levels. During cold weather, when you’re reliant on heating systems, temp changes can create what’s known as the stack effect. This effect leads to a pressure difference that can draw more radon inside.
• Ventilation habits: Many of us keep our doors and windows sealed for more efficient heating and cooling during the winter and summer, but this habit can restrict airflow and allow radon gas to accumulate inside.

By understanding these patterns, you can time your radon tests and mitigation actions for the most accurate, effective results.

Test Your Home Regularly

The most important step in managing radon is regular testing. Whether you’re a new homeowner or have been living in your house for years, you must proactively and regularly test. It’s the only way to know whether your home has a radon problem. Here’s when to test your home for radon:

• After major home renovations: Renovations, such as building an addition or finishing a basement, can alter your home’s foundation and increase its susceptibility to radon intrusion.
• If you’ve never tested before: If you’ve never conducted a radon test in your home, you may unknowingly be living with elevated radon levels. That said, it’s never too late to test, even if you’ve lived in your home for decades.
• Annually, if you have a mitigation system: Even if you have a mitigation system installed, annual radon testing ensures that the system is functioning correctly and maintaining safe levels.
• Before selling your home: Testing for radon and mitigating elevated levels can add value to your property and prevent surprises during a buyer’s inspection.

Choose the Right Radon Test

Once you’ve determined the need for radon testing, it’s time to select a type of test. To test for radon, you have these options:

1. Short-term testing: These tests typically last for two to seven days and provide quick insights into your home’s radon levels. They’re ideal for initial screenings and are available at hardware stores and online for around $20.
2. Long-term testing: Long-term tests monitor radon for a period of three months to a year, giving you an average reading of radon levels over time. To get the most accurate results, you’ll need to keep doors and windows closed as much as possible. These tests are also available at hardware stores and online and typically cost less than $50.
3. Continuous radon monitoring: Plug-and-play devices provide you with a radon reading in minutes. For less than $150, you can track radon fluctuations in your home over the course of weeks, months, and years.
4. Professional radon testing: For the most accurate results, you can hire a certified radon professional to test your home. These experts use high-quality equipment and can provide detailed analyses and recommendations. However, professional testing is the most expensive option and can cost $150 or more.

Know How To Interpret Radon Test Results

If you go the DIY testing route, it’s best to complete two tests. Here’s how to interpret the test results and decide the next step.

First Test Results: The Short-Term Test

• If the result is less than 2 pCi/L (picocuries per liter), you can retest in a year.
• If it’s between 2 and 8 pCi/L, follow up with a long-term test. This test will provide a clearer picture of the average radon level in your home.
• If it’s 8 pCi/L or higher, conduct a second short-term test to verify the readings.

Second Test Results

• If you completed two short-term tests, calculate the average of the two results.
• If your second test was a long-term test, follow that second result.

Next Steps

• If the radon levels are up to 1.9 pCi/L, this is a low level of radon that’s considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• If it’s up to 3.9 pCi/L, you should consider installing a mitigation system.
• When the reading is 4 pCi/L or higher, a mitigation system is highly recommended.

Invest in a Radon Mitigation System

If your tests indicate elevated radon levels, purchasing a mitigation system is a smart decision. These systems are designed to reduce radon levels in your home. Here are some common types:

1. Active sub-slab depressurization: This system uses a fan and a pathway of pipes anchored with mounting brackets for PVC pipes to draw radon from beneath your home’s foundation and vent it safely outside.
2. Passive sub-slab depressurization: This method of depressurization is essentially the same as an active system, just without a fan. This system relies on natural air movement, which is why it’s typically better for homes with low radon levels.
3. Crawl space encapsulation: For homes with crawl spaces, sealing the dirt floor with a plastic barrier and venting it outside can effectively reduce radon.
4. Block wall suction: This method uses the open space within block foundation walls to prevent radon from entering the home.

Improve Airflow in Your Home

Another way to manage radon levels is by improving overall air circulation. Here are a few effective ways to boost airflow:

• Open doors and windows: While this isn’t a long-term solution, opening doors and windows can temporarily lower radon levels in your home. By introducing fresh air, you dilute the concentration of radon indoors.
• Use fans: Strategically placing fans around your home can circulate air more evenly and prevent radon from accumulating.
• Install a ventilation system: Whole-house ventilation systems can continuously bring fresh outdoor air into your home, keeping radon levels at bay.

Enhanced airflow prevents radon buildup and improves overall indoor air quality, another plus for your family’s health and well-being.

Quit Smoking

If you or anyone in your household smokes cigarettes, quitting is one of the most impactful ways to reduce the risk of radon-related lung cancer. Smoking amplifies radon’s harmful effects, creating a much higher likelihood of developing lung cancer compared to nonsmokers. By eliminating smoking in your home, you can significantly reduce this risk.

Protecting Your Loved Ones From Radon

Managing radon levels doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. By testing your home regularly, investing in effective mitigation, and making lifestyle changes, you can create a safer environment for you and your family.

If you’re looking for more support, consider reaching out to a radon mitigation professional. They can help you implement these practical tips for long-term radon risk management. Don’t wait; take proactive steps today to protect your home and loved ones.