Admin Table of Contents
Is 15 a high radon level?
Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L.
What should basement radon level be?
What constitutes an acceptable or safe radon level? According to the EPA, the maximum “acceptable” level of radon is 4.0 pCi/L, but even that level is not “safe”, per se. The EPA strongly recommends you consider radon mitigation between levels 2.0 and 4.0.
How do you lower radon levels in a basement?
In some cases, radon levels can be lowered by ventilating the crawlspace passively, or actively, with the use of a fan. Crawlspace ventilation may lower indoor radon levels both by reducing the home’s suction on the soil and by diluting the radon beneath the home.
What level of radon requires remediation?
EPA recommends fixing your home if the results of one long- term test or the average of two short- term tests show radon levels of 4 pCi/L or higher. With today’s technology, radon levels in most homes can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below. You also may want to consider fixing if the level is between 2 and 4 pCi/L.
How do you read radon levels?
Interpreting Your Radon Test Results
- Greater than or Equal to 4.0 pCi/L. Above 4.0 pCi/L, you are putting yourself at unusually high risk for lung damage and cancer.
- Between 2.7 and 4.0 pCi/L.
- Less than 2.7 pCi/L.
Should I walk away from a house with radon?
If a potential buyer conducts a radon test and those levels come back high, the buyer has the right to walk away from the sale (nearly all do) and you’ll be obligated to disclose the radon to future buyers, reducing your appeal.
How bad is a radon level of 10?
Radon Risk If You Smoke
| Radon Level | If 1,000 people who smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*… |
|---|---|
| 20 pCi/L | About 260 people could get lung cancer |
| 10 pCi/L | About 150 people could get lung cancer |
| 8 pCi/L | About 120 people could get lung cancer |
| 4 pCi/L | About 62 people could get lung cancer |
What time of year is radon highest?
winter
The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.
Does finishing a basement reduce radon?
Again, the only way to ensure you are removing radon from your home is with a mitigation system. Sealing the basement floor can help, but just sealing the cracks is unlikely to reduce your radon levels in the long term. Sealing all cracks and applying non-porous, thick epoxy coatings would be a better step.
WHO recommended radon levels?
Based on recently completed research, the World Health Organization is recommending that homeowners take action to remediate the radon level in their home if it exceeds 100 becquerels (Bq), which corresponds to 2.7 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
Are radon levels higher in the basement?
Also, once the windows, doors, or vents are closed, the radon concentration returns to the previous level within hours according to EPA studies. FACT: Its concentration is usually the highest in basements, simply because it emanates out of the soil through the basement.
How far should a Radon vent be from a window?
The location of radon exhaust vents can follow the Building Code requirements for venting combustion appliances, which is to keep them 3 feet from operable windows. Keep it further away if you can, but there is enough dilution of air over just a few feet to prevent any noticeable amount of radon from re-entering the home.
What is a good radon level for a house?
*The level of 500 Bq m -3 is an approximate guide. An active radon sump, fitted with a fan, is the most effective way to reduce indoor radon levels. Sumps work best under solid floors and under suspended floors if the ground is covered with concrete or a membrane.
How do you test for radon in your home?
Get Initial Radon Reading The first step to mitigating the radon in your home is to understand where radon levels are high in your home and how high they are. To do this, you need a radon detector. The detector you buy depends on your budget, but we recommend a long-term detector.
Can radon levels be reduced by DIY?
This can be used when natural under-floor ventilation is inadequate to reduce radon level. Guidance on how to reduce radon levels in cellars and basements. Costs depend on many factors including the complexity of the building and whether any of the work can be done by DIY.