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What is the main cause of radon problems in the home?
CAUSES OF RADON IN YOUR HOME: CRACKS AND GAPS Coupled with any cracks in the foundation and gaps in your flooring and around pipes, and radon has easy access to your home. A DIY solution is filling in every crack and gap with caulk to limit radon’s access to your living space.
How radon would most likely enter the house?
The primary way that radon enters a house is through the foundation (crawl space, basement) by a variety of paths:
- cracks in basement floors.
- drains.
- sump pumps.
- exposed soil.
- construction joints (mortar, floor-wall)
- loose fitting pipes.
What gives off radon in a home?
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes.
Where does radon go in a house?
Radon can enter and collect inside almost any home or other building through dirt floors, hollow block walls, cracks in the foundation floor and walls, sump pumps, openings around floor drains, joints and foundation openings for pipes, sewers and other utility connections.
Does radon go through floors?
Radon can enter through cracks in the concrete, or through floor-to-wall joints or control joints. Since many Illinois homes use their basements as living space, exposure to radon can be further increased.
Does opening window reduce radon?
Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open. Opening basement windows helps reduce negative air pressure, diluting radon with clean outdoor air.
How do I get rid of radon in a basement?
You can Seal and caulk foundation cracks and openings to help reduce the amount of radon that can enter. Install a soil suction radon reduction system, also known as vent pipe and fan system. Create a gas-permeable layer beneath the slab or flooring. Install plastic sheeting.
Is radon really a problem?
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.
Is there really radon in soil?
Radon does not naturally occur in soil in measurable quantities, but comes from the breakdown of uranium, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Almost all types of soil contain some radon.
Where does radon come from?
Radon comes from the breakdown of naturally-occurring radioactive elements (such as uranium and thorium) in soils and rocks.