Around 21,000 deaths per year in the United States are attributed to radon gas. Why? Because prolonged exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, just behind smoking. Even more, a person who smokes is at even higher risk for lung cancer when exposed to radon.
Utah Basements and Radon - Radon is the natural byproduct of uranium in soil, rock, and water. This radioactive gas can be found anywhere uranium is present and can rise into pretty much any building through construction joints, plumbing, and even the smallest cracks and pores in the foundation. The greatest risk for prolonged radon exposure is in your home due to the sheer amount of time spent there. Additionally, radon levels will be highest in your basement (or lowest level of the home) due to the proximity to the soil. Even if you don’t use your basement, it is imperative to test your home for radon as air rises and circulates.
If your home has a crawl space, that means that radon isn’t just finding small ways in, it’s coming straight from the soil in your home. Houses with crawl spaces are at a much higher risk of having high radon levels. The good news is that radon mitigation systems can be installed to dramatically reduce the radon levels in a home with a crawl space!
The first step is to test your home for radon gas, which is the only way to determine if your home has high radon levels. Utah Radon Services offers free radon tests for every home in Utah. Simply fill out the form on this page to request a free test.
If you have discovered or are worried about a radon problem in your home, you may be looking into methods to reduce radon. There are several radon reduction techniques available to you, but we should first review why radon reduction is important. What Is radon gas and why is it dangerous? As uranium in soil […]
Radon is a radioactive gas that cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled. In the United States, exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers and the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) have strong stances about radon […]
Radon mitigation systems can be installed in a house to reduce radon levels, but what about condos and townhomes? Before we get into the details, let’s first understand what radon is and how it enters a home. What Is Radon? Radon gas is a naturally-occurring, radioactive gas that occurs when uranium in soil decays. This […]
