If the radon levels in your house are tested high, you need to install a radon mitigation system to lower them. Once a new mitigation system is installed, it is important to run a radon retest to see if the radon levels are lowered. But you need to wait for a certain time to do this retest.
You must wait for at least 24 hours to run a retest for radon levels after radon mitigation. After 24 hours, you should do this retest within 30 days of the new mitigation system’s installation. Retesting helps to measure how effective the new radon mitigation is.
Reducing radon in homes that have high levels of it helps to fight lung cancer. Being exposed to a combination of cigarette smoke and radon gas increase the chances of getting lung cancer compared to exposure to one of the factors alone. Most radon-related cancer deaths happen among smokers. Despite this, over 10% of radon-related cancers still happen among non-smokers.
What is radon anyway?
Radon is a gas that naturally occurs outdoors in amounts that tend to be harmless. This gas occurs as a result of the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soils. If your home is built on soil that has uranium deposits, radon will get concentrated there.
The problem is that radon can enter the building through construction joints, cracks in walls, or gaps in pumps, wires, and foundations around pipes. When you breathe in radon gas, it will go straight into the lungs and expose them to slight radiations.
This is dangerous because its constant exposure can damage cells in the lining of your lungs which puts you at a higher risk of getting cancer. Living in a home with a high concentration of radon gas can be dangerous not only to you but to your family as well.
What is the need for retesting radon levels?
A radon mitigation system helps to reduce the radon levels in your home. The radon levels should stay below 4.0 pCi/L according to EPA. Without retesting for radon levels, there is no way to detect if the radon system is doing its job and if the house has safe radon levels.
It may not be appropriate for your radon contractor to do their test as the EPA warns against a mitigation contractor to test their work. Please look for a 3rd-party radon contractor to do this retest.
It’s also crucial to do retesting after radon mitigation to stay with peace of mind knowing that everyone is safe. EPA also recommends that after retesting, you should test your home again after two years as a radon system can fail like any other system.
It is also recommended to use continuous radon monitoring systems like a Corentium radon detector since various factors can change your house’s radon levels. Continuous monitoring systems continuously monitor the radon levels in a home and alert the user if they exceed safe limits.
Should you be buying a new home with a mitigation system that hasn’t been tested for the last two years, consider hiring a professional to perform a radon test. While it is not mandatory to test for radon to sell a home, many local authorities mandate it. It is safer for the buyer to run a professional test before agreeing to purchase.
Radon levels after mitigation
After finding your home radon levels are high, you installed a mitigation system that is now working tirelessly to reduce radon. All is good, and now you are ready to retest the levels. But what should be the result after testing, what should radon levels be after mitigation?
The radon levels should be below 2.0 pCi/L after radon mitigation. If the levels are above this, the mitigation system should be adjusted until the levels are lower. The radon concentration in an average American household is 1.3 pCi/L, and that of outdoor air is 0.4 pCi/L. Realistically a radon mitigation system can reduce the levels as low as 1 pCi/L.
How long does it take a radon mitigation system to work
There are different types of radon mitigation systems, therefore it will take different times to achieve safe radon levels. But it is normal to wonder how long it takes for your mitigation system to work.
On average, it takes one to three days for radon mitigation system to work ie, to lower the radon concentration to safe levels. This time span depends on the initial concentration of radon in the house and the type of mitigation system installed.
Also, keep in mind that you will need to ventilate the house after installing the mitigation system. Radon mitigation systems do not remove radon from inside the home, rather they prevent radon from entering. So one has to ventilate the house to remove the existing radon gas in the house.
4 things radon mitigation systems should have
After installing your radon mitigation system, consult the mitigation contractor to make sure that it has these four things. It is also crucial to ask the contractor about any warranties or guarantees of the radon mitigation system.
Below are some crucial things you must know about the radon mitigation system.
- Any mitigation system needs to have more visible labels. This is crucial to prevent future construction or home renovation from interfering with the mitigation system accidentally.
- Any mitigation system should ensure that the exhaust vent is installed 10 feet away from windows and door openings. It should also be above the roof.
- Any radon mitigation system needs to have a visual indicator so that when the system stops working, it alerts the occupants.
- If a mitigation system has a fan, it’s crucial for it to always remain on all the time. The low airflow is vital to maintaining low radon levels in your home.
Testing radon in your home
It is so unfortunate that you cannot see or smell radon. That’s why the only way to detect its presence is through testing it. Otherwise, you will be exposed to it for a long time and get long-term side effects.
For this reason, you have two options of eliminating radon from your home. You can either test it yourself with a testing kit or get a professional to try it for you.
Where can you get a radon test kit?
If you chose to do radon mitigation by yourself, you might wonder where to get a radon test kit. You can get discounted test kits from the Kansas State University National Radon Program Services online. It is also possible to find radon test kits online from many other websites of your choice or at a home improvement store. Here are some good radon test kits.
You can get more directions on how to use the radon test kit on the packaging. It is also crucial to observe how to store the equipment properly and place the device after testing your radon level.
Reach out to your state radon program so that they can direct you on how to get a radon test kit at a lower price.
What should you do when radon levels are high?
If you test radon levels and realize that they are high, consider taking steps to lower them. You need to install a radon mitigation system as soon as possible. With this, you will be able to pull radon from under the house and get it outside.
Radon can as well get into your home through the water supply. This is less harmful compared to radon that enters through the soil. This means that if there’s a private well in your home, you can as well test it.
Should you find out that the radon levels in water are high, consider treating the water supply to remove the radon before it gets into your home. If the water is coming from a public water supply, it would be wise to contact the water supplier.
What should you do if you suspect you have been exposed to radon?
Sometimes you might get a little scared of getting lung cancer after finding out the presence of radon in your home. What should you do in such a case?
There are no medical tests that can determine if you have been exposed to radon. It’s essential to consult a doctor about whether you need to get tests and regular checkups to look for lung cancer signs. The most common lung cancer symptoms are difficulty in breathing, hoarseness, difficulty in swallowing, and a worsening cough.
Wrapping it up
Radon is a hazardous gas that you can hardly detect. The only solution is to take precautions so that you may not be exposed to it. That’s why you need to retest radon levels after installing a radon mitigation system. As mentioned above, a radon retest should be done within 30 days of its installation but only after running the system for 24 hours
