Radon is a dangerous but naturally occurring radioactive gas. Some amounts of radon are always present in the air. WHO reports say that the outside radon level is somewhere between 5 Bq/m3 to 15 Bq/m3. But radon concentration tends to be higher inside homes/offices. Why? Radon levels can increase without ventilation and trapped air inside these enclosed places.
Many U.S. cities are more prone to high radon levels. The US government publishes official maps to determine all the affected areas. If you do come under this zone, it is best to get your house tested and install a radon mitigation system. Many people think that they can do radon mitigation on their own. This is a wrong concept. Radon is a very harmful gas that only experts can work with.
You need proper training and certification to do a proper job at mitigation. If you do it yourself, it may work, or it may not. But can you leave this up to chance? Let us find out more about this.
Getting your home checked for radon levels on your own
When your house is near a radon-affected zone, get it checked. Radon is undetectable without tests. An ideal radon test should be year-long. This helps the experts see the radon levels in each weather condition. If you can not do this, it is best to check it in the winter months. Why? Winter causes low pressure in the air and better detects the radon level. Radon levels tend to increase in the winter months and help you get a clear picture.
There are some DIY kits available in the market for radon tests. But these are short-term tests that show results in a few days or weeks. You can probably use this as an initial step. After you see the results on teh DIY detection kit, call the professionals. They will conduct tests and also provide you with analytical reports from experts. They will also provide you with a comprehensive plan for mitigation.
Why is radon gas dangerous?
WHO data says that 3 – 14% of lung cancer cases are due to radon gas. It is a natural gas; hence stopping its production is beyond humans. But it is extremely dangerous and hence needs controlling. WebMD says that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. This affects children and smokers even worse than other people.
Research says that radon gas exposure creates a lot of lung damage. This can lead to lung cancer if you stay in contact with it for a long time. Radon gas is not detectable without tests. So, some might not even know that their house is radon affected. It tends to go undetected for ages in some cases. This puts the residents at risk for a lifetime.
Should you follow a DIY process for radon mitigation?
We mentioned the facts above for a reason. When you lack expertise in building a radon mitigation system, it will take time. Hence, the longer you take to do this, the longer exposure you have to the gas. In an attempt to mitigate radon from the house, you may endanger yourself.
What can go wrong with DIY radon mitigation systems?
A lot can go wrong in a DIY radon mitigation process. Let us find out what and how this happens.
- Huge exposure to radon
A trained radon mitigation service provider knows the ways to reduce exposure. If you are following a DIY process, you will have more exposure. It will take you a long time to figure out the process and let the gas affect you. Whereas a professional service takes 3 – 5 hours to complete the whole process. Also, the longer it takes, the longer your family is also open to radon inhalation.
- Backdrafting
If you do not know where to put the radon mitigation system or how to build it, it can cause backdrafting. It can accidentally pull large amounts of toxic carbon monoxide. This can cause various health hazards. Instead of solving the in-hand crisis, a faulty system can add to the problem.
Do not take this risk. Call a professional service
When you lack expertise, you may not know which cracks and ducts need sealing. If the place where you place the system is dirty, it will not work. There are many small details that only experts can take care of. So, why follow a DIY process and risk your family’s health? Call the Atlantic Radon Mitigation professional team to get the best mitigation solution.
