At got mold™, we are committed to raising radon awareness and reducing the amount of this radon gas in homes like yours through radon mitigation. If you would like your home tested for radon, or need assistance in reducing the levels of radon in your home, use the form to the right to contact us and we will get back to you within 24 hrs.
The below information is courtesy of Health Canada and will help you learn more about this dangerous gas.
What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that is formed naturally by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. As a gas, radon is slowly released from the ground, water, and some building materials that contain very small amounts of uranium, such as concrete, bricks, tiles and gyproc. Radon gas breaks down further to form additional radioactive particles called radon daughters, or “progeny” that can be breathed into the lungs.
Radon cannot be detected by the senses, i.e., it is colourless, odourless and tasteless; however, it can be detected with special instruments. When radon is released from the ground outside it mixes with fresh air and gets diluted resulting in concentrations too low to be of concern. However, when radon enters an enclosed space, such as a house or basement, it can accumulate to high concentrations and become a health risk.
Radon concentrations fluctuate seasonally, but are usually higher in winter than in summer, and are usually higher at night than during the day. This is because the sealing of buildings (to conserve energy) and the closing of doors and windows (at bedtime), reduce the intake of outdoor air and allow the build-up of radon.
How can radon affect my health?
Radon gas and radon progeny in the air can be breathed into the lungs where they breakdown further and emit “alpha particles”. Alpha particles release small bursts of energy which are absorbed by nearby lung tissue. This results in lung cell death or damage. When lung cells are damaged, they have the potential to result in cancer when they reproduce.
The only known health risk associated with exposure to high levels of radon in indoor air is an increased lifetime risk of developing lung cancer. The risk from radon exposure is long term and depends on the level of radon, how long a person is exposed and their smoking habits. If you are a smoker and are exposed to elevated levels of radon your risk of developing lung cancer increases significantly.
On average, 16% of lung cancer deaths are attributable to radon exposure in Canada. In 2006, an estimated 1,900 lung cancer deaths in Canada were due to radon exposure. Radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking.
Other than lung cancer, there is no evidence that radon exposure causes other harmful health effects such as any other form of cancer, respiratory diseases such as asthma, or symptoms such as persistent coughing or headaches.
How can I reduce the amount of radon in my house?
The most common and effective radon reduction method is Active Soil Depressurisation (ASD); a method where a hole is drilled in your basement floor and a pipe is installed with a fan that draws the radon gas from under your house and pushes it outside. ASD is typically performed by a contractor. Please contact us if you require radon reduction.
I don’t have a basement. Do I still need to test my house for radon?
Radon can get into a house from anywhere that the house is in contact with the ground, regardless or whether your house has a basement, a crawl space or is built slab-on grade.
My house is new/old so it shouldn’t have a problem, right?
The age of a house is not factor when it comes to whether high levels of radon are present in the dwelling.
I am extending my house. Is there anything I can do to prevent radon entry into the extension?
Yes, using the new radon protection codes under the 2010 National Building codes.
How much will it cost to mitigate my house?
The cost of reducing radon in your house depends on how your home was built and the extent of the radon problem. The average radon remediation process, typically done using a contractor, will cost between $1500 – $3500, but could be lower or higher. The cost is much less if a passive system was installed during construction.
We have put together a blog post that will help you learn even more about Radon Gas:
If you want to test your home or business for radon or your in need of radon mitigation, fill out the form to the right or call the number at the top of this page.