Radon Gas | Monday Minute January 18, 2021

One of things that home buyers are recommended to often test for is Radon. Especially in our area of the DMV where Radon is quite prevalent.So, what is Radon?Well, Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible radioactive gas that you can’t smell, taste or feel. And in large doses, it can be harmful. The thing is that Radon gases are all around us outside, but the gases are not trapped around us like they are in the house, they are being dissipated in the air.Due to the tectonic plates in the earth constantly shifting and underground streams, stones like limestone cracks and release uranium and radium. These gases are traveling through the ground and trying to escape through the surface of the earth. The problem is when these gases find themselves looking for a vent to the earth's surface in the form of a crack or piping in the foundation of our homes, which can result in the gases being trapped inside exposing you to the gases.But don’t panic. The risks from Radon are cumulative, in that, the negative effects are typically a result from exposure to high levels for a long period of time. So this means if you find radon in your house, it doesn't mean that you need to immediately vacate before correcting the issue.Testing for Radon is pretty easy. There are kits available to purchase or you could hire a professional, like a home inspector to run a test. On this test we are looking for the radon levels to be below 4 pico curies per liter of air (which is the EPA recommended action level for Radon).If the test comes back over that 4 pico curies, then remediation is recommended. The recommendation for reducing Radon levels include:- Caulking the foundation cracks or open joints due to construction- Installing an air tight cover on your sump pump- Covering and sealing the soil in any crawl spaces.- And for maximum effectiveness, a radon remediation system, which will suck the radon gasses passively or actively with the use of a fan to vent the gasses outside, where it dissipates harmlessly into the atmosphere.