Why Should You Test For Radon in Colorado?
What is Radon?
According to Radon Saftey LLC located in Lakewood , CO, Radon is a gas that is produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. It occurs naturally outdoors. When a home is built on soil with natural uranium deposits, the gas may find its way into a home. It can enter building structures through cracks in walls or floors, gaps in foundations around wiring, pipes, and pumps. It is common to find the highest radon levels in basements and crawl spaces. Radon is odorless, colorless and very hard to detect without professional testing. It can potentially lead to many different illnesses, but the most common illness to come from radon is lung cancer.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has named radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer. It is common for homes that contain high levels of radon to be high enough to increase the occupants’ risk of developing lung cancer.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment states that Colorado home owners specifically should be aware of radon gas in their homes, as levels of radon in Colorado are the seventh highest in the nation. Geographically, soil has different levels of uranium, but the makeup of mineral content in Colorado’s soil is particularly uranium dense.
How do I get rid of it?
When buying or building a home, it can be important to test for radon before inhabiting the home. If the home is a new build, it’s best to test for radon after all construction in the home is done. You can easily lower the levels of radon in your home by installing a radon mitigation system. There may still be small amounts of radon in your home after installing a radon mitigation system, as the goal of having a mitigation system is to reduce the amount of the gas and get the radon level as low as possible. The home’s foundation type will help determine the best mitigation system for the specific property.
Active and Passive Mitigation Systems
There are two different kinds of radon mitigation: active radon mitigation systems use a fan to move the gaseous air out of the home, while a passive radon mitigation system is instead designed to do the same thing without a fan. Part of this process is also making sure that any cracks or openings in the foundation are sealed. Passive systems are most commonly used in new construction, but not necessarily the best option if the home has high radon levels. Passive systems can usually be updated to an active system in the future if needed. More information on specific systems can be found at National Radon Defense.
Testing a home for Radon can be an important step in confirming that the home is healthy and livable. Along with a home inspection, this is one of the things you can do to protect yourself in the purchasing of a property. Testing for radon should be done by a experienced professional to guarantee accurate results.