Understanding and mitigating radon in your basement: a homeowner's guide

There's a hidden danger lurking in many basements that homeowners should be aware of: radon gas. In this guide, you'll discover everything you need to know about radon gas in basements – from its origins and how it infiltrates your home to methods for its detection and strategies for its mitigation. Understanding the science behind radon and managing it effectively is crucial for your health and safety, and Sunradon’s devices are your primary allies in keeping your home safe.

Why radon is a concern?

Radon forms from natural Uranium and through the radioactive decay process radon has a half-life of 3.8 days. Radon is not something to take lightly as it can accumulate in your home's air. Prolonged exposure to radon gas can damage the lungs and potentially lead to lung cancer. In fact, among non-smokers, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer. The dangers of radon are compounded by the fact that it is invisible and odorless, making it hard to detect without proper equipment. Smokers have an even greater risk of lung cancer when exposed to radon gas.

How radon enters into basements

Whether you have a daylight or walkout basement with doors and windows or a full underground cellar like a basement, construction puts floors and walls in direct contact with soil and water. Soil expands and contracts when wet or dry depending on seasonal conditio
ns outside. This expansion-contraction creates pressure on basement walls introducing foundation cracks and bowing walls. Those cracks become the suction point that draws radon gas into the home, effectively making our homes act like a vacuum. The most common entry points for radon include porous concrete, cracks in foundations, leaking walls, uneven floor and wall gaps, and gaps around plumbing or sump pump areas.

Why are radon levels high especially in the basement?

Radon's entry into the home is facilitated by the natural rise of this gas from the earth. Unlike lightweight Helium or Hydrogen that rise high into the Earth's atmosphere, Radon gas is heavier and therefore remains closer to the surface and is influenced by air movement and pressure. It can easily become trapped indoors, accumulating in the basement first as the lowest living level of the home.

Basements today remain cooler even on the warmest days, that combination along with improper airflow can introduce radon gas as the direct entry to the home. Basements are also often not utilized as much as other parts of the home and may contain more dust which radon particles can easily attach and be breathed in.

How to check radon levels in basement

Testing for radon involves measuring its concentration in the air, expressed in PicoCurie per liter (pCi/L). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends action if radon levels exceed 4 pCi/L.
There are two primary types of radon tests:

Short-Term Radon Tests: Radon testing is often conducted during real estate transactions and may be done by a home inspector or radon testing company. Short-term tests are required to be a minimum of 48 hours. They provide a snapshot of the current radon levels but might not accurately reflect long-term or seasonal variations and daily activity. Charcoal test kits and Continuous Radon Monitors like SunRADON’s Model 1028-XP are a popular form of testing. A Continuous radon monitor is placed in the lowest livable part of the home or (basement) and will provide a radon level result from the device after the 2-day test. Charcoal test kits will be packaged and mailed back to an environmental radon laboratory for analysis. That can add days of processing before getting the result.

Long-Term Radon Monitoring: Long-term radon monitoring exceeds 90 days or longer. Continuous or long-term monitoring is necessary to ensure that basement radon levels remain as low as reasonably achievable, especially after home improvements or changes in the surrounding environment. Factors like home deterioration or nearby construction projects can affect your radon levels over time. Long-term continuous home monitors like SunRADON’s Lüft is plugged into a standard wall outlet. This inexpensive Continuous Home Radon Detector will operate for 4-5 years and report radon levels via a mobile app. It also has a red, yellow, and green LED light that indicates levels have changed based on tailored thresholds.

How to prevent radon from entering the basement

Professional radon mitigation companies usually undertake this process, which involves:

• Sealing cracks and potential radon entry points.

• Installing piping under the home.

• Optionally adding a motorized fan to remove air pressure under the foundation (active sub-slab depressurization).

• Exhausting radon safely out above the roofline.

If the basement is finished, contractors will consider the aesthetics and functionality of the space when installing mitigation systems.

By implementing these measures, you can significantly mitigate the risk of radon in your basement. Mitigating high radon levels typically costs between $1,000 and $3,500, depending on your home's size, region, and existing conditions.

Regular Checks and Continuous Monitoring

After installing a radon mitigation system, it's vital to check its effectiveness regularly. Homeowners should retest radon levels every few years. Additionally, installing a long-term, continuous radon monitor can provide ongoing reassurance that the mitigation system is functioning correctly and maintaining radon levels below the EPA's action threshold.

Final thoughts

Radon gas is harmful but can be easily fixed. The financial burden of measuring and mitigating radon gas from your basement and home, in general, is far less costly than the effects radon can have on your lung health. Initial lung cancer treatment can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars versus a few thousand dollars for a professional continuous radon monitor and the invaluable feeling of safety.