Radon Gases in the Basement
Radon is an odorless and invisible radioactive gas and is continuously created by a natural breakdown of metals in soils. Any home can have or develop a radon problem. The average person receives more radiation from radon than from all other source. Almost all the risks come from breathing in air with radon and its decayed products.
How Radon Gets into your home and your Basement
Stack Effect is an air pressure inside homes that is slightly lower than in the ground creating a vacuum that sucks radon in through openings and pores in your concrete. While inside the warm air moves upward and this stack effect reduces air pressure in the basement. When the ground is soaked with rain, the bottled up radon gas in the ground moves to a warm opening such as those found in a basement or crawlspace. This stack effect will cause a radon gas inflow that will easily migrate in to your home.
It’s very important to know that the radon gases found in the basement are no different than the radon gases found in your home’s crawlspaces. These two area can have completely different radon levels.
Almost half of the water used to pour concrete mix is a surplus and has to evaporate. Concrete cures and passes moisture to the surfaces creating pores. The pores allow a for radon gases, water vapor, and liquid water to enter the basement.
Effect of Radon Gases
Radon decaying products cause cancer. Many years can pass before the effects of radon are detected by you or a health professional.
How to Prevent Radon Gases
Reduce the entry of radon gas into your home by sealing cracks in the foundation and along the basement walls, floors, or molding. Cover all crawl spaces with a heavy polyethylene barrier and seal it to the foundation wall. Close sump pumps and floor drains.
Learn about the aspects of four different factors that can ensure that you have a healthy basement:
Contact us today and find out what you can do to get your basement dry, beautiful and healthy.
