How Radon Gets Into Your Home And What To Do About It
Radon is a radioactive gas that results when uranium breaks down. Uranium can be found in water, rocks, and the soil. Once it breaks down, the radon gets into the air above and then gets into your home. Below are some ways radon can get in, how this affects you, and how to get rid of radon.
How Radon Gets In
Once the radon is in the area, it can easily get in your home through any type of cracks or other openings. In many cases, this is through cracks in your foundation. Radon can also get in through cracks and pores in concrete blocks and mortar joints. If you use a sump pump that has exposed soil, radon can get in through this also. Radon can also get in through well water.
Radon can also get in through motor joints, floor and wall joints, open tops of block walls, exposed soil in the crawl space, and much more.
If you think you have any of these things, hire a contractor to inspect your home. They can then take steps to repair these openings. This work may include a concrete contractor, plumber, and more.
How Radon Affects You
It can be hard to detect if your home has radon as it is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. Because of this, you need to learn the symptoms of having radon.
Some of these symptoms include:
- Pain in your chest
- Loss of appetite
- Cough that won't go away
- Shortness of breath with no activity
- Hoarseness in your throat
- Persistent fatigue
- Weight loss for no reason
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor. Other medical issues can cause these problems but if you have most of these symptoms, it is likely radon.
How to Remove Radon
The best way to get rid of radon in your home is to hire a radon mitigation company. They will first do a test to determine how much radon there is.
Radon mitigation companies use industrial ventilation systems in different areas, such as in the crawl space, under concrete floor slabs, and more. The mitigation company will also set up a vent pipe system and a fan to pull radon from beneath your house and then vent it outside. These professionals also do a procedure known as soil sucking to remove radon out of the soil.
When the mitigation company is finished, they will do another test to ensure all radon is removed from your home. If the test shows any more, they will start the process over of removing it.
Talk with a radon mitigation company that can give you much more information about radon.