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Protecting Your Home from Radon
Radon is a naturally occuring, odorless gas which is a byproduct of the breakdown of uranium in rock. Radon rises through the subsurface in pores and fractures.
Radon passes into a home through its foundation and in high concentrations, is dangerous. Radon is known to be a leading cause of lung cancer. The occurence of radon
is quite common in Illinois, the midwest and most other states as well. It is important to protect your family by testing for the presence of radon and mitigating
if present.
Testing for radon is a simple process. There are many quality contractors who specialize in Radon testing and mitigiation. You can also perform the test yourself
with a kit available at most home supply stores.
A kit is composed of a "collector", seal and a mailing container. Conducting the test is easy: just position the collector in a draft free location in the lowest level of the house for several days,
seal it up and then mail it to the lab. The manufacturer of the kit will specify the lab for their product.
The lab will test the sample and send a report showing the concentration of radon. If the concentration is above 4 picocuries, further testing is warranted. A subsequent test usually involves using a kit
with a collector that is in place for 90 days. If this test confirms the concentration above 4 picocuries (10 times the concentration in air), mitigation is necessary.
There are a number of steps the reduce or eliminate the presence of radon.
1. Mount a small fan in a window to draw air in and open and oppose window to let the air escape.
2. Use caulk in any foundation cracks and around pipe inlets.
3. Apply caulk in the seam between the floor and walls.
4. Install a thick acrylic cover over the sump pump well. Use caulk to make it air tight.
Once steps have been taken, the radon concentration must be retested. If it is still high, a professional radon abatement technician can pinpoint
the pathway through which the radon is entering and emply methods to stop it.
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