Home Love

Does Your House Have Radon?

Picture this: you’re relaxing at home, binging your favorite show, sipping tea, and feeling like you’ve got life totally under control. But there might be something sneaky lurking in the background (cue dramatic music): radon. It’s a sneaky gas that could be affecting your health. Let’s chat about it.

What is Radon, Anyway?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil, rock, and water under your home. It’s colorless, odorless, and tasteless, which makes it basically impossible to detect if you’re not looking for it. Radon seeps into your home through cracks in the foundation, gaps around pipes, and even through your well water. Basically, radon’s motto is: "Where there’s a will, there’s a way."

Why Should You Care?

Here’s the not-so-fun part: radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. More than a home invader—it’s also a health hazard. Breathing in radon over time can damage your lungs, even if you’ve never touched a cigarette. And while it sounds like all doom and gloom, the good news is that it’s a problem that you can do something to fix.

How Do You Know If Your Home Has Radon?

As we’ve already noted, radon is completely undetectable by human senses, which means that you need the right tools to uncover it. Luckily, radon test kits are readily available at hardware stores or online. They’re affordable, easy to use, and come in two types: short-term and long-term tests.

Short-term tests take about 2-7 days, while long-term tests give a more accurate picture over several months. For the science experts out there, you’re measuring radon levels in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). If your test comes back at 4 pCi/L or higher, it’s time to take action.

Radon Found? Don’t Panic, Do This:

Your test results are in, and radon is officially present in your home. Don’t freak out—you have options:

Call in the Pros:

Hire a certified radon mitigation specialist. These folks know how to install systems that vent radon safely out of your home. Think of them as the ghostbusters of the radon world.

Seal It Up:

While not a complete solution, sealing cracks and gaps in your home’s foundation can reduce radon levels.

Improve Ventilation:

Increasing airflow in your home can help dilute radon concentrations. Consider venting crawl spaces and using fans to circulate air.

Retest:

After mitigation measures, test your home again to make sure radon levels are under control.

Prevention is Key

If you’re building a new home, ask about radon-resistant construction techniques. These include things like gas-permeable layers under the foundation, plastic sheeting, and vent pipes. Starting off radon-free is always the way to go!