Radon, the second leading cause of cancer, is a significant indoor air contaminant responsible for an estimated 20,000 deaths each year. The colorless, odorless, tasteless gas seeps up from the ground and can pool in a home.
The onset of colder weather can increase the radon levels in your home. When it’s colder outside and warmer inside, the gas is pushed into your home resulting in greater pooling. Radon is the result of naturally-occurring uranium breakdown in rocks and soil. Migration and concentration of radon is extremely variable, and depends on the amount of radioactive material in the bedrock, soil moisture content, groundwater circulation, and atmospheric pressure gradients
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has assigned every U.S. state to one of three radon potential zones and Virginia falls into high to moderate potential zones, with the greatest risks in the eastern Piedmont along the Fall Line, the western Piedmont, and the Valley. The EPA finds acceptable levels of radon to be anything below 4 pCi/l, the equivalent of smoking eight cigarettes per day.
Determining the Right Solution
Radon experts encourage testing, and that’s where we can help. Indoor air quality in your home is extremely important to us, and radon is a health hazard with a simple solution. Weatherseal is certified by the National Radon Safety Board which encourages the highest standards of practice in radon testing and mitigation. Once we’ve tested your home and determined the level of gas we can determine a custom solution for you. Radon mitigation can be accomplished in a variety of ways as there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We can resolve the issue by air sealing the gaps in your foundation, or by installing a ventilation system. Whatever the solution, we make it as cost effective as possible for you.
Contact us today for more information about how we can help make your home safer and healthier.
