Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that occurs naturally beneath the earth’s surface. Unfortunately Radon can also seep into the cracks of basement walls and floors, joints, drains and sump pumps. It can go unnoticed for years and if buying a home, you won’t know it is there until you test for it. It is a dangerous carcinogen that can cause serious health problems if found in the home and make your home un-sellable. If you already found that you have Radon in your home, these steps will help keep Radon from entering your home.
First, call your local county health department or town hall and ask them if they supply free testing kits for Radon. Although the kits are not expensive, your local offices might sell them at a discounted rate. The kit you need is called an Alpha-Emission test. This will be a short-term test kit, which measures Radon in 3 to 4 days. If after testing you find that the results are high, you will need to get a long-term kit and retest. The most accurate tests are 3 months and 6 months since Radon fluctuates over time and a short test can be misleading.
Make sure all your windows and doors are shut 12 hours prior to the day of the test. Do not use air-conditioning, fireplaces, exhaust fans or oil or gas furnaces prior while testing. Make sure the day of testing is a clear day outside and there are no storms or high winds since these conditions can affect your testing results. Open the lead shield on the kit; place the container in your basement or low lying area of your home, at least 30 inches above the floor, making sure not to place it around other appliances, exterior walls or drafts. After the prescribed time has elapsed, take the kit and place it in the original packaging, seal it and mail it to the address on the label for analysis. You can also check your water for Radon by taking a sample to your health department. You can purchase water filter systems for your water faucets and a purifying central system for your home.
A level of 20 to 200 picocuries will be notification that it is time to take “definite action.” If you have a basement in your home, buy some tubes of water resistant sealant and a caulking gun. Caulk all the cracks and crevices between the cinder blocks on your walls and any cracks and crevices in your floor. If you have a sump pump, buy a cover for it that will seal off the sump pump. You can find one of these in your local home improvement store. If you have floor drains in the floor of your basement, seal them off with a drain cover that has a trap and rubber collar.
If you find that after taking these precautionary measures and re-testing that you still have
Picocuries over the 20 reading, you will want to have a professional install a sub-slab ventilator. This must be installed by a professional only.
