Radon Levels in Winter: A Potentially Harmful Scenario PT.2

As we mentioned in part one of this dual blog post, there are a lot of weather and seasonal related issues that occur with the colder weather. This last part of our blog post will focus on the air circulation that can have a negative effect involving radon gas. Read on to learn more.

Less Air Circulation

Closed conditions in the home throughout the winter may keep radon levels from diluting with fresh air. During the summer, a certain level of dilution may happen when the windows are opened to bring in fresh air. Throughout the winter, windows tend to be kept closed in order to prevent cold air from coming in and warmer air from escaping. This effect can trap radon in and allow its concentrations to build.

It’s important to have your home tested on a regular basis in order to identify if levels of radon are high. And if so, steps need to be taken to ensure radon mitigation takes place to keep you and your family safe and healthy. Remember that taking preventative measures to help your family, home, and/or business is key to preventing the negative effects of radon taking over. 

Radon Levels in Winter: A Potentially Harmful Scenario PT. 1

Winter is approaching, which can bring radon gas right along with it. Homes that are located in colder climates may experience heightened levels of radon gas, which can put residents at risk.

Here are some reasons why radon gas tends to be found in higher concentration in homes during the winter.

Stack Effect

Greater stack effect may draw higher levels of radon gas into the home. In the winter, what’s known as the “stack effect” may be higher as the warmer air indoors rises and escapes to the cooler air outdoors. When this air escapes, the home must replace the air to equalize pressure.

A lot of homes get new air through drafty windows and doors. Homes may also get new air from the soil that they are constructed on. Air from the soil can be drawn in through cracks in the concrete, sump pump pits, plumbing pipe penetrations, floor drains, crawlspaces, and other areas that are in contact with the soil. This new air may contain radon gas.

Higher Concentrations

Higher concentrations of radon gas may enter the house during the winter season. Even though radon enters homes from the soil beneath, more radon gas escapes through the soil surrounding the home and dilutes into the air outdoors.

In the winter, the ground in yards may freeze and be covered in snow, creating a blanket effect that can trap radon gas in the soil surrounding the structure. With less amount of radon in the soil being able to escape normally, your home may be drawing in greater concentrations of the gas.

Radon Mitigation Techniques to Rid Your Home of This Dangerous Gas!

Regardless of the type of home or building, radon mitigation typically produces excellent results. The ideal solution is to stop radon in its tracks before dangerous levels are allowed to build in your home, endangering you and your family’s long-term health.

Here are the various methods of commercial radon mitigation if high levels of the gas are found in a building or home.

Suction

Sub-Slab Depressurization which basically reroutes the air under the foundation to outside the home before getting in through the cracks, crevices and porous foundation material.

Ventilation

This method can sometimes reduce indoor radon levels in crawl spaces by lowering the home's suction on the soil, as well as diluting the gas under the house. While passive ventilation is done by opening vents, active ventilation makes use of a fan to blow air throughout the area. This method is often used with sub-membrane depressurization to make it more effective.

Sealing

Any openings or cracks in the foundation are sealed as a basic step in radon mitigation. By sealing these areas, radon flow will be inhibited. This is used as a temporary method to reduce radon flow while other mitigation techniques are utilized.

Pressurization

This method makes use of a fan to blow air into the home’s lower level, which creates enough pressure to inhibit radon from entering the home. To maintain enough pressure doors and windows which are located at the lowest level of the home cannot not be left open.

Heat Recovery Ventilator

This method is used to boost ventilation in a home by introducing outdoor air utilizing heated or cooled exhausted air to warm or cool the air coming in.

The type of method chosen will depend on a number of factors, and after the contractor has had a chance to conduct a thorough walkthrough of the home.

What to Know About Radon in the Home

Many home owners like to have their home tested for radon, as radon can cause harm to humans if present in large amounts. The good news is that testing for radon in homes is not difficult. Just follow these steps:

Select a Good Radon Test Kit

There are many radon testing kits out there, but you need to ensure that the one you buy is going to provide accurate results. The best way to choose is to read consumer reviews of the product that you may buy. This ensures that you will get good, accurate test results.

Do Radon Testing at Right Time

Many people do not know that there are good and bad times to do radon testing. The best time to do the test is between October and April. This is when, in most parts of the U.S., when windows and doors are closed the most and will provide accurate results.

Do Longer Tests

There are both short-term and long-term radon tests. A longer test takes 90 days, and a shorter one takes two to seven days. Most choose the short-term test, but it is better to do the long term test to get the most accurate results. There are firms that can help you do radon removal, once you have your results.

Test at the Right Level of the Home

You need to do the test at the lowest level that the house is lived in. Radon can seep into a house through floor board cracks, so this is probably where the most radon will be. If you test upstairs, you may not get an accurate reading.

Know What to Do With Results

Testing is key, but you need to know what to do with the data. No level of radon in the house is safe, but a lower reading, which is under 100 Bq/m3, is something usually to monitor. If it is over 200, you do need to take action fast. 

What is the Danger of Radon Gas in the Home?

Most people know that the sun’s rays have radiation and it can damage both the skin and eyes. However, many do not realize that the earth itself also gives off radiation. This radiation can seep into the house and become an air hazard in your home. This type of radiation is known as radon gas.

Radon gas comes from the breakdown over time of uranium in the rocks and soil around the house. Radon is found all through the environment. Yet, when it is concentrated in high levels in the air inside a house or building, it can cause cancer. Specifically, radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer for smokers. It also is the top cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. Overall, radon gas kills about 21,000 people per year via lung cancer. This is even more than drunken driving deaths.

A big problem with radon is that it is invisible and cannot be smelled. It can show up in any type of house — old or new — and it can appear in houses with a basement or a slab foundation.

The EPA estimates that one out of 15 homes in the U.S. have high radon levels, or about 8 million houses.

Radon gas is usually one of the leading environmental concerns that the federal government deals with, and is the top environmental reason for cancer. This is the reason that the U.S. Surgeon General recommends radon testing for all homes. Radon gas is indeed dangerous, and you should follow the advice of the surgeon general.

The EPA has established an action level, at which you should deal with the radon level in your house. The action level is 4 picoCuries per liter of air. However, know that amounts lower than this may not be safe, either. The WHO states that levels higher than 2.7 picoCuries is dangerous. 

The Summer Could Be the Season With the Highest Levels of Radon in the Home

Many homeowners may not be aware that radon levels in their homes can be as much as 10 times higher in the summer as compared to the winter, when the majority of testing for the gas tends to be done. Experts in radon gas say the high variations among seasons is cause for concern about when exactly radon testing should be done in homes and buildings.

Many believe that radon gas levels are often seen as higher during the winter months is because that’s when doors and windows tend to be kept shut all season long, lowering overall ventilation that would otherwise be able to inhibit the accumulation of the gas.

However, in the summer, many homes — especially those with air conditioning — are sealed up just as much as in the winter to keep the hot air out. If that’s the case, radon levels could be even higher compared to the winter.

It is estimated that radon is responsible for the deaths of 5,000 to 20,000 people per year from lung cancer in the U.S.

It is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that homeowners test their properties for radon both in the winter and summer, just in case.

Indoor radon levels more than four picocuries is considered dangerous, according to the EPA. The correlation between soil and indoor levels isn’t precise. It’s possible that seasonal variations might be caused by the dryness of the soil throughout the summer, thereby allowing the gas to travel more easily.

One thing is for certain: Regular testing should be done to ensure radon levels aren’t dangerously high. And if radon is indeed discovered, it needs to be effectively and thoroughly mitigated by experts in the field.

Reduce Radon Exposure in Your Businesses

As a business owner the last thing you want to worry about is an invisible gas creeping into your store or business where customers and employees visit every day. No one wants to be part of the reason that someone gets lung cancer but, regardless of where you live or where your business is, you need to have radon gas testing completed to determine if you and other people are being exposed to this dangerous and toxic gas.

The allowable amount by the EPA is 4.0 pCi/L; any amount higher than that should have a mitigation system installed. If the radon gas exposure levels are at 4.0 pCi/L or lower, it’s advised to have an air purification system installed for safety’s sake. We offer radon mitigation, a process that reduces radon concentrations, in order to keep your home or business safe from this dangerous gas.

Radon is a toxic gas and is the number-one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. Radon gas is also radioactive, not visible to the human eye, and it cannot be smelled or tasted.

Each year more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer. Breathing radon gas is more of a health risk than drinking water that contains radon however, both scenarios should be addressed properly. Radon gas has a higher health risk for children than adults, so radon testing is especially important if your business works with children.

For more information and pricing, visit S.W.A.T. Environmental to get your home or business tested for radon gas and reduce your exposure.

Radon Gas FAQ PT 2

As you can guess, there are a lot of questions that arise when you are dealing with radon gas. Since this odorless gas is still not getting the press it deserves there is still room for questions to arise. This blog post will be a continuation of FAQ for radon gas, so you can feel fully informed!

How Do Home Test Kits Work?

The home test kit contains an activated charcoal device in a bag. The bag is hung in the home and left there for an amount of time. Afterwards, the bag is sealed and sent into a lab for testing. They are very reliable as long as the user makes sure to properly seal it before sending it into the lab. While they are cheaper, you will have to wait longer for results than if you hire a professional.

Can Radon Exposure Only Happen in Homes?

Radon gas exposure can happen in just about any structure, it is not limited to just residential areas. That means that exposure can happen in commercial, residential or any location that is exposed to uranium in the soil.  

These are the answers to some common questions. Make sure that to keep you, your family, and employees informed about the danger of radon gas. If your home has radon, call us to get a radon mitigation system installed in your home. 

Radon Gas FAQ PT 1

You can’t see it; you can’t hear it; and you can’t smell it. And it could be in your home or office, causing damage to those inside. It’s radon gas. Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. Breathing it in can cause lung problems and potentially cancer. It is estimated that radon gas causes thousands of deaths each year. This article will cover three of the most commonly asked questions about radon gas.

Where Does Radon Gas Come From?

Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. As it is produced, it moves up through the ground and into the air. It gets into homes through cracks in the foundation.

Can I Test for It Myself?

Home test kits can be purchased online or at your nearest hardware store. They are simple and easy to use. Or if you’d rather you can call a professional home inspector who offers radon testing. This is more reliable but also more costly as it can be up to $300 depending on where you live.

Since radon gas can peak many questions, we will continue this blog post in a part two form! And, if you ever have any questions about radon gas, mitigation and exposure stop over to our website to learn more! 

As a business owner the last thing you want to worry about is an invisible gas creeping into your store or business where customers and employees visit every day. No one wants to be part of the reason that someone gets lung cancer but, regardless of where you live or where your business is, you need to have radon gas testing completed to determine if you and other people are being exposed to this dangerous and toxic gas.

The allowable amount by the EPA is 4.0 pCi/L; any amount higher than that should have a mitigation system installed. If the radon gas exposure levels are at 4.0 pCi/L or lower, it’s advised to have an air purification system installed for safety’s sake. We offer radon mitigation, a process that reduces radon concentrations, in order to keep your home or business safe from this dangerous gas.

Radon is a toxic gas and is the number-one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. Radon gas is also radioactive, not visible to the human eye, and it cannot be smelled or tasted.

Each year more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer. Breathing radon gas is more of a health risk than drinking water that contains radon however, both scenarios should be addressed properly. Radon gas has a higher health risk for children than adults, so radon testing is especially important if your business works with children.

For more information and pricing, visit S.W.A.T. Environmental to get your home or business tested for radon gas and reduce your exposure.

The Home’s Silent Killers PT. 2

In our previous post, we talked about the common silent killers that can be lurking around our homes. However, what about the one that does not get that much exposure? Like the silent killer of radon gas.

Radon

Radon is a gas that comes from the soil underneath your home. It moves through cracks in the foundation and seeps into the home. It has no odor and no color and there for is un-detectable without proper testing. Exposure can lead to many dangerous side effects such as lung cancer. Call a professional regularly or use a home test kit to check your home for radon. If your home tests positive for radon, call a radon removal service.

It is always advisable to know about your home. What’s in it, how it works, and most importantly, what can go wrong. Unfortunately, many of these are not easy to spot. Make sure to test regularly for these dangers in order to keep your home safe. Because as we have mentioned before, this is an odorless, clear gas that can only be detected with radon testing kits and experts. If you think your home or business may have be exposed to radon gas, give us a call today to make sure you are protecting your loved ones!  

The Home’s Silent Killers PT. 1

Home is where the heart is, and nobody wants an unhealthy heart. Your home could contain airborne dangers that you can’t notice with any of your senses. This article will cover a few dangers that are hard to notice if you are not looking.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide is a poisonous gas that kills around 4 thousand people in their homes each year. It is colorless and odorless. It is produced when fuels in furnaces, fireplaces, and gas stoves aren’t properly able to filter outside. It can quickly fill a home, and the lungs of everyone in it. A carbon monoxide tester is the only way to find this gas, so it is highly recommended that you have one installed in your home if you do not already.

Gas Leaks

Gas leaking from stoves, ovens, and heaters can lead to dangerous explosions and the inability to breathe. Gas does have an odor, so get out of your home if you smell a gas-like smell. If you have time, it is advisable to open windows and shut off gas lines before getting help.

In our next post, we will be talking about the most uncommonly known silent killer, radon gas. 

Homeowners at Risk of Lung Cancer Due to Radon Exposure

As a prospective homeowner, it’s easy to be excited to move into that house you’ve been negotiating for, but there’s something to be careful of. Some homes have been infiltrated with radon gas. Before closing on your house ask for it to be tested for radon gas so you know your home is safe to live in before moving in. If you’ve already bought your home and have settled in, it’s a good idea to still have your home tested for radon. This is a very toxic gas that is the number-one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and second leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. This gas is radioactive, it is not visible to the human eye, and cannot be smelled or tasted.

If you smoke and are exposed to radon gas, the risk of lung cancer is approximately 6  to 11 times greater than that of just smoking only. Over 20,000 people are killed each year from lung cancer caused by radon gas exposure.

Radon is the only gas that under normal conditions has radioactive isotopes. Some homes have reached radon gas exposure levels equal to smoking over 130 packs of cigarettes per day. Radon can seep into the home’s foundation, or leak into the water supply. No matter how it gets in though, radon testing can figure out if you are at risk.No one knows how much exposure is too much but it has been established by the EPA that 4pCi/L is a dangerous level.

We provide a process called radon mitigation, which reduces radon gas concentrations and can make your home safe for your family. Call us today to get your home tested for radon and keep your family safe from this dangerous gas. 

Don’t Panic With Radon, Call SWAT-Radon To Help With Radon Reduction.

When you find out that your home has been detected of radon, do not panic, that is key. While radon is an odorless and colorless substance, it is something that cannot be messed with. If you think you’re home has been exposed of radon, the first thing to do is to get your home checked. At SWAT-Radon, we will be happy to conduct testing for you and to help with radon reduction.

Radon, which enters the homes through various reasons, is something that can have life threating consequences when it is not properly diagnosed. In more recent news, a nonsmoker woman believes that over exposed to radon has caused her lung cancer. Radon is making the news more frequently, this substance has similar effects to carbon monoxide, and due to those similarities it is a reason that it can go undetected.

Do not live in panic; take the preventive steps to ensure your family’s safety. There are easy steps to take to check your home for radon; it can be as easy as 1-2-3. Call us today for a quote on radon reduction in your home! 

Radon Mitigation in Commercial Settings

While our previous posts mostly focused on radon in homes, it should be clear that radon can bear an issue in any setting. The detection of radon in a commercial setting can be just as common. Since radon is a colorless and odorless substance, it can be hard to properly diagnose if you are not equipped with the right tools. At SWAT we offer commercial radon mitigation, ideal for any large space you need properly rid of radon.

While the similarities are the same with radon mitigation from a home, the processes is rather simple. However, since there is a clear distinction from your home to your business, there are obstacles that have to be tackled in order for radon to be properly omitted. Some of these obstacles include things like the seriousness of the exposure, local and state laws with employees being present, and also the temporary closing of your business. We work hard so that can get your business free of radon as well as not disturbing your business or employees. Call us today at 1-800-667-2366 to get a quote!   

Radon: Your Home, Your Business, Your Health

When it comes to proper maintenance of our homes and the chemicals that may exist within them, we often think of carbon monoxide. But did you know that radon can be just as harmful to your health, and, like carbon monoxide, is colorless and odorless? Radon often goes undetected and after years of exposure, radon can be very harmful to your health.

Radon: What is it?   

           
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless cancer-causing radioactive gas, making it truly frightening when it comes to the safety of your home or business. Some studies have shown that children are at a great risk when it comes to radon exposure, though anybody’s health can be affected. 

Scientifically, radon is a highly radioactive element that was discovered by Ernest Rutherford in 1899. Radon is formed naturally, during the radioactive decay of uranium in the soil. Because of its atomic properties, radon has the ability to seep through many porous surfaces, it can seep through cracks and crevices of building foundations, and it can exist within water.

Radon: In Your Environment 

Because of these specific chemical abilities, radon has been detected throughout millions of homes and businesses all across the country. Most commonly, radon is inhaled or ingested, though exposure through inhalation is most detrimental to one’s health. Though you likely will not see immediate effects of radon, years of exposure can lead to great vulnerability, especially to lung cancer. Because of it is unseen to the naked eye and has no scent, radon often goes undetected, which is why proper testing and radon removal is imperative.

To learn more about radon and proper removal services, visit us online at SWAT-Radon.com or give us a call at 1-800-667-2366!

SWAT Environmental for a Safer Environment

Welcome to the SWAT Environmental blog, your resource to proper environmental care as it pertains to radon mitigation and radon gas removal. Our goal is to create a safer environment for the residential, commercial, and real-estate properties across the country, through certified technicians, proper radon testing, and the installation of radon mitigation systems.

Why Radon?

It may come to a surprise that high levels of radon have been found in every state across the United States and unfortunately, the level of radon within residential, commercial, and real-estate environments is ever-increasing. This simple fact is the driving force behind our business.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, and virtually unseen radioactive gas that is caused by the decay of uranium in the soil. Able to penetrate most common building materials, exposure to radon is common through ingestion and inhalation, both posing a threat to the health of your and your family. 

What Do We Offer?

SWAT Environmental offers a number of different services and products, all with the purpose of creating a radon-free environment. From residential, commercial, and real-estate to waterborne radon reduction, SWAT Environment has more certified technicians than any other company, ready to perform proper radon testing and install radon mitigation systems nationwide. In addition to services, we offer a number of radon mitigation products for both commercial and residential spaces.

Be sure to visit us online and check back daily for the latest in residential and commercial care!