Kelly's Healthy Home

Let’s dive into a conversation about radon, a radioactive gas, and emphasize the significance of assessing your home for radon. Additionally, I’ll explain effective methods for mitigating unsafe radon levels if detected.

So why is it so important to test our homes for radon?

According to the DEP, radon is responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths nationwide each year, making it the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless gas that is naturally released from rocks, soil and water. It can enter homes and buildings through cracks, holes and buildup in the air. So basically, you don’t know if you have it unless you test for it!

I’ve read that the winter months are a great time to test due to the colder weather. Did you know that many things can affect radon levels such as; shifting climatic conditions, temperature, atmospheric pressure, precipitation and even construction or reconstruction. That is why it’s good to test every few years.

Locally, across Pennsylvania, all 67 counties have experienced exposure to radon, with some areas more affected by the gas than others. The DEP says central Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley and counties surrounding Pittsburgh are the most severely affected, with the Lehigh Valley in particular having the highest radon level in the world. Yikes! Personally, I see high levels and mitigation systems in probably over half the homes I sell each year in the Philadelphia area.

Radon is measured by picocuries per liter of air – referred to as pCi/L – which measures the speed of decay in radon. In other words, it measures its level of radioactivity, with a higher pCi/L being more dangerous to health.

If you test and have over 4 pCi/L, don’t worry. It can be mitigated fairly easily.

Check out this list of state-certified testers and mitigators..

The photo to the left shows a simple diagram of the process to mitigate. This is a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. Sealing foundation cracks and other openings makes this
kind of system more effective and cost-efficient. This is what I mostly see in our area.

The EPA has a great brochure outlining more information about radon, how to test and how to find professionals: A citizens guide to radon.pdf

Make it a priority this month to either hire a professional to test or buy a test from the local hardware store. Doing a simple radon test is part of making your home a happy and healthy place.