What should you do when you find high radon levels in your home? Elevated radon levels have been recorded in homes in all 50 states, and it’s the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Don’t let this information send you into a panic, though. When you find high radon levels in your home, there are plenty of steps you can take to mitigate the problem effectively and keep your home safe and habitable for years.
Test Your Home Again
Most radon experts recommend testing your home’s radon levels at least twice before moving forward with mitigation. Follow the instructions in the test kit and place the test in the lowest lived-in level of your home. If your second test indicates radon levels in excess of 4.0 pCi/L, move on to the next step.
Hire a Radon Mitigation Expert
Have a radon expert come to your home to make professional recommendations. They will likely take a look at your basement and crawlspace in search of cracks in the foundation; those cracks let radon seep slowly into your home.
If you have particularly high radon levels, the professional will likely recommend installing an active radon mitigation system, comprised of a fan and a vent pipe. Should your home have cracks or gaps in the concrete slab, a radon expert will recommend applying non-porous sealants that can close up those cracks.
Maintain Your Mitigation System
An active radon mitigation system is designed to run continuously for years with minimal need for invasive maintenance. However, you should still inspect the system every few months to ensure that all components are working properly. It’s easy to maintain your mitigation system yourself with periodic visual inspections; if you do notice any problems, call your trusted radon professional to perform repairs or replacements.
Retest Every Two Years
Even if you experience no apparent problems with your radon mitigation system, experts advise that you retest your home for radon every two to four years. Those test results can indicate whether there are any problems with the mitigation system that are not immediately noticeable.
If you receive radon test results that give you pause, don’t panic. There’s a whole industry dedicated to radon mitigation, and plenty of experts and equipment that can help you keep your home habitable. Take these steps if you have elevated radon levels in your home, and notify a mitigation expert if your system fails to vent radon effectively.