Radon in the Home

How Radon Enters Your Home

As a hazardous, odorless gas that cannot be detected through sight or smell, it’s impossible to discover radon in the home without professional radon testing. In fact, if radon lingers in the home for an excessive period of time, you can potentially put yourself in harm’s way which is why radon mitigation in the home is vital.

Radon enters the home through the following areas:

• Crawlspaces
• Cracks in the foundation & walls
• Floor drains
• Pipes
• Sump pumps

Radon gas can enter both old and new homes, regardless if there are visible cracks or not. In fact, your neighbor’s brand new home could have radon levels exceeding 4pCi/L while yours is 2.7pCi/L or vice versa. Homes which sit side-by-side can have completely different radon levels, so it’s critical to test for radon.

Radon in Well Water

Not as common as radon in air, radon can also enter the home through the use of well water. Areas that have high levels of uranium in the underlying granite or shale are prone to allowing radon to enter the groundwater. When high levels of radon are found in your private well, you can potentially be exposed to radon poisoning by inhaling the water vapor when showering, washing dishes or doing the laundry. While the risk of lung cancer from breathing in radon in the air is much higher, it’s crucial to test your well water.

The most common methods of removing radon from your water are granular activated carbon (GAC) and aeration, which has been designated by the U.S. EPA as “the best available technology.”  When you use our Find a Radon Professional form to get in touch with a radon contractor in your area, he or she will discuss which option is best for you. As leading manufacturers of radon mitigation systems, radon fans, and radon testing systems, at Radonaway we are committed to helping to reduce radon in your home.

View Radon Zone Maps produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to see the radon potential in counties throughout the country.

*Please note, EPA Radon Zone designations are guidelines and radon can be found in any home, While  Zone 1 does indicate the highest potential for radon, this does not necessarily mean there is a radon problem, and Zone 3, which has the lowest radon potential, still can include homes with high radon levels. 

Find a Radon Professional in Your Area

If you have recently discovered elevated levels of radon in your home, would like to know what your radon level is, or would like to know whether your existing radon system is functioning properly, fill out our quick form below and a qualified RadonAway Authorized Radon Professional who is certified in radon mitigation or radon testing, will contact you directly.