Radon in Basement

[mad1]

Has anyone had "Radon" in there house?What are the ways of removing radon?

[krusty the klown]

I've not had it, but it is a problem with houses made from granite here, as radon gas is naturally evolved from this stone.

AFAIK, it tends to collect in basements/cellars and the solution is simply ventilation - natural ventilation may suffice (i.e. using ventilated bricks) or small fans may be required.

[Richard_Cranium72]

Besides coming from some types of stone, it also may be emitted from some types of brick as in the Atlanta area a few years ago.

If it is ground related, and you have a basement, simply use DamTite or some other concrete water-sealing mixture to block it.

If you have a crawl space, use 6mil Polyethylene on the ground and vent it out the ends and sides to disperse.

There are several sites dedicated to Radon Gas and it's effects/removal tactics.

Home Deopt & K-Mart used to sell Radon Gas Test Kits, get one and see if you're in danger.

DrVette

[jad1097]

http://www.radon.org
http://www.radon.com

[mad1]

My wife and I were looking at a house last night that previously had a buyer.When I questioned the owerer he said that the reason the sale did not go through is that the radon level was higher than the EPA allows.The owner has since offered to install a "Mitigation" system in the house.
I was curious has to how the radon is removed to meet the EPA standards.
Thanks for the information.

[This message has been edited by mad1 (edited 06-20-2001).]

[zskillz]

we had a radon removal system installed in our basement. I don't really believe that it's gonna be that significant of a problem for you. The thing is that radon really is a dangerous element if you're exposed to it a dangerous levels, but the epa levels are extremely low. which I suppose is just as well.

anyway... the reason it sits in ur basement is cause it's such a heavy element that is stays low.... I guess you should not sleep on the floor http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

-Z

[Richard_Cranium72]

zskills, you're correct that it's a Heavy element but it does float ->>

"Radon's primary hazard is caused from inhalation of the gas and its highly radioactive heavy metallic decay products (Polonium, Lead, and Bismuth) which tend to collect on dust in the air."

" the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today "

"EPA says that nearly 1 in 3 homes checked in seven states and on three Indian lands had screening levels over 4 pCi/L, the EPA's recommended action level for radon exposure."

WHICH IMO IS WAY TOO LOW-> read->>


"A family whose home has radon levels of 4 pCi/l is exposed to approximately 35 times as much radiation as the NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION allows"

This stuff is so Radioactive that it Glows->>

"When cooled below the freezing point radon exhibits a brilliant phosphorescence which becomes yellow as the temperature is lowered and orange-red at the temperature of liquid air. "
http://radon.com/radon/radon_facts.html

[daverme]

If it were me, I would have the seller pay for the installation of a mitigation system, but I would choose the installer. Ventilation is an important element ... BUT ... it's not the only thing. My last house had a radon problem. The owners before us evidently knew of the problem and THEIR solution was to wire the HVAC fan to run 24x7. With that solution, the house was barely in compliance. Not knowing of their trick, and believing the fan should cycle on and off with the heating/cooling, we had it rewired correctly. Subsequently, when WE sold the house, voila, a Radon problem. It cost us a couple hundred to get it fixed, properly. I forget now what all that entailed but it was more than just fans.