Radon: What is it? How to Get Rid of It
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- Опубликовано: 6 июн 2024
- See how radon, an odorless, colorless gas, enters your home and what to do about it. Learn more: bit.ly/1VaNMCp
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Transcript:
My home office is down here in the basement, the other day I was reading an article about radon and wondering if I might be at risk.
So just what is radon?
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that's created by the decomposition of radium. Radium is a naturally occurring element found in all rock and soil to one degree or another. So whether or not a home has a radon problem depends upon how much radium is present in the soil that the structure is built upon. Testing is the only way you're going to know whether or not you have a problem.
Where is the highest concentration of radon likely to be?
Homes with finished basements are more susceptible to elevated exposures. So by all means, whenever testing you test the lowest lived in level of the home. So a family room in the basement constitutes that.
There are do it yourself radon testing kits available that are easy to use. Set the unit in place, leave it undisturbed for the prescribed amount of time, then send the device to a testing lab for results.
I've decided to have the tests professionally done. Another online search leads me to Home Spec, a local home inspection company specializing in radon. The next day, Ross Prevett comes by the house and sets up an electronic radon detection and measurement monitor in the finished portion of the basement. Two days later, he returns and downloads the test data. The results show that the amount of radon in my basement is 50 percent higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter. Based on this EPA standard, I'm substantially above the level at which action should be taken to reduce radon concentrations, but just what kind of a health risk does this pose
Based upon extensive exposure there's an increased risk of lung cancer. Radon is thought to be the number one leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the general population, after smoking.
I know I've got elevated radon levels and I also know that that can be a serious health hazard. So I'm going to have to do something about it. I'm going to go online here and look under radon mitigation.
A search revealed several local companies and I decided to contact this one, Connecticut Basement Systems Radon. After an initial consultation, I elected to have them do the work. A few days later, Rafael and Javier arrived to install the system. A Radon mitigation system draws air from beneath the basement slab through a hole bored into the floor. A pipe or duct is inserted into the hole and run outside where an inline fan expels the air and radon gas above the roofline, but how does radon get into the home in the first place?
Radon enters the home via many different entry points, through the ferocity of the concrete itself, through openings in the floor, whether it be through floor cracks, openings in the perimeter, floor drains and sump holes or dirt crawl spaces. Anywhere, where there's any kind of permeability and there's a source underneath the home, radon will find a way in.
Before the actual installation begins, the technicians bore two test holes on opposite sides of the basement floor. They apply suction to one of the holes and use a vacuum meter on the other. This test will verify that air beneath the slab can in fact be evacuated.
With the test complete, a three inch hole is bored through the basement floor. A section of PVC pipe is inserted into the hole and the gap around the pipe is sealed. Three inch PVC is now run across the basement, the joints are cemented and the pipe itself is hung from the joists with J hook pipe hangers. The pipe run is then connected to the vertical section coming up from the floor. Once it's determined where the pipe will exit the basement, a smaller locator hole is poured through the room joist. Then a three inch hole saw bores a hole large enough for the pipe. A section of PVC is inserted through the hole and connected to the pipe run inside. 
Хобби
I would liked to have seen an after installation test performed to see the new Radon levels.
absolutely????
I think the systems depend on the area, vent, and fan size. I have recently installed one and have tested before and after. I had 2 vents installed and it cut the radon levels by 70%.
Much like some scam
@@poka9771 I agree - radon scam!
@@PeterPete lol what do you mean scam?
Great viedo!!! Just bought a home that has a radon mitigation system and I had no idea what it did. Your viedo was very informative I now understand what it's actually for and how it works!! Thank you!
Excellent video extremely informative just one little suggestion -- do a follow-up test to see if the mitigation actually works and to what extent.
Thanks for this excellent video. I am a UK person moving to US and had never heard of Radon testing before, but the house I’m buying in WI just tested at 4.5 Pikachu’s per Godzilla square foot. It’s all jumbo jumbo to me and the inspector recommended I have a mitigation system installed. Thanks to this video, I now can grasp what it all means! 👍
RIP Ron, just found out about this. You had some very informative and well put together videos.
Came here after Michael Scott throws away Radon test kit and had no clue what was this about. This video answered all my queries. Good job 👍
Thanks a lot for sharing your video and experience with us. Very helpful and informative!
this video was created 7 years ago and I have used RUclips for over 12 years and TIKTOK just made me aware of Radon today 🥺
Clutch information here. Explanation and demonstration on point!
The real problem is that the mitigating company usually does the testing which is a conflict of interest.
Amen, amen and AMEN! I would imagine that in over 75% of the installations of Radon protection; there is shoddy work and/or downright scams. Oh indeed yes.
Sadder is that is happening in EVERY single thing; when it comes to home repairs. If you haven't had this to happen, you are either ignorant to this malady; or you have not "lived" yet.
its not a real problem. radon tests are hard to fake.
Usually the buyer does a Radon test, if the levels are high, the seller uses a different company to perform a second test. If the averages of the two tests are above 4.0 piCO, the seller has a mitigation system installed.
Your worry of conflict of interest isn't present in this type of transaction.
@@MrPatdeeee what are your qualifications to say those things?
@@elainelivingstonky Just do another Radon test lol. It's 100 bucks. It causes cancer over YEARS, not a cough btw.
Great video. Thank you for sharing. Very well done.
Hey Ron! Fantastic video, very informative and well put together -- thank you very much for sharing it! I have to agree with many others, though: a test to show the radon levels after the installation is a must, and I would be curious to hear what you have to say about the concerns of rain water entering the system from that seemingly exposed final section of pipe.
yes they need to add a rain cap on top similar to what chimneys have so that water cannot get in but radon can get out
Thank you for this information
Awesome video 👏
Thanks Ron 👍🏽Excellent video
Great video. I would have liked to see a radon retest with results...
Nice video, thank you!
That’s a clean installation
This is an excellent instructional video-well done!
Thanks so much!
Buying a house in the UK & just had our 1st report that the house is in a possible risk radon area (where "Some parts of this 1km grid square are in bands of elevated radon potential. Maximum radon potential is 3-5 %", but it's non-descriptive as heck).
I've had 2 houses so far & we've never heard about radon until now, buyers should be informed about radon even if they're not in a high risk area so they can prepare more for it before putting an offer on a house.
Thank you for this video 👍🏽👌🏽
With the exposed vent in that position, how do you deal with rain and what's the impact on the system?
"well above the roof line...." of the ground floor extension, right next to bedroom windows. Hmm...
a followup test would be nice
Hi, Ron, I saw your video and found it to be very educational and helpful. My question to you, is it a problem to have the top of the PVC pipe located at the highest point of the roof installed, facing outward the side instead of upward? In other words use an elbow shape instead of a straight shape? won't the rain falling straight into the pipe be an issue?
I would have thought it would need a roof vent over it, also what if you have those windows open in the attic? Shouldn't the pipe go higher than highest point of house?
Thanks for the informative video. We had a radon test done by a home inspector and the radon level was 4.3 pCi. The house had been all closed up for a long time as it was a foreclosure and basically abandoned. The test kit was left inside for 52 hrs.
I'm now looking into a radon meter so we can monitor radon levels over the next few months before we fully move in. Does anyone have a recommendation for a radon meter? They have a few on the internet including one by Airthings being sold on Amazon. Are these devices accurate?
Also, if we put in a fan, will this cause heat loss in the winter? Our house is in a cold climate in Upstate NY.
Excellent video! What's a ball park cost to have a system like yours installed?
I just purchased a home tester, made in the USA - the model was the SafetySiren Pro4 (4th generation) unit. I also purchased a 2 pack of the Accustar Alpha Track carbon radon testers to run alongside the SafetySiren electronic tester to compare the two for long term readings.
My last reading was done 3 years ago with the a pair of the Accustar Alpha Track carbon testers only..... and they yielded a reading of 2.6 pCl.
I have had the Safety Siren running for 2 1/2 days and the initial 2 day (48 hr) reading was 4.0 pCl..... I noticed last night the number has dropped to 3.9 and this morning it is at 3.8. I am wondering if the average level reading will continue to go down over time as I test it for long term radon levels.... due to radon fluctuations??? The owners manual said to not be alarmed at initial high ratings over the course of the calibration period of 2 days and that the longer term average is what should be focused on after it has been in place for several days to months. Would you find that to be accurate??
Nice thermal bridge you made with that pipe...
when non architectural people mess with houses and destroy the R values.
good info
Great !!! What happens when it rain and fills up that pipe ?
I see so many ways a person could get screwed and scammed by these people. Starting with the fan failing with rain water running through it and shorting out. I think self testing and DIY install and after testing would be the best answer.
You can get a mushroom cap for the top of the pipe to save rainwater getting in
Was this home retested to see if this system works? If so it should have been put into this video.
5:13 It might be "well above" THAT particular roof line, but there's another one right behind it that goes up another story. How far horizontally does the pipe opening have to be from those windows??
Does this system need its own circuit from electrical panel. Does the company usually do the electrical work
It seems that the pipe outside cannot handle the snow in winter right?
We have a nice pipe open at the top leading straight down to an electric fan. Maybe it never rains where you are.
the rain that falls into that exhaust pipe will go back to the soil under the slab. Some states require the top of the exhaust pipe to look exactly like the one in this video, and in many states mitigators turn the top down to exclude rain
So then what about the exhausted radon outside.. does one then compromise your outside air while your mowing lawn, etc.
The whole exercise is undermined by the failure to perform and demonstrate an 'after' test to determine whether the installation has made any difference to the radon level in that basement. Shame.
F-
there should be something like a barometer attached to the exhaust pipe in your bsmt. if it is at "< or == 1.0" it's working the way it should. you can get decent electronic radon detectors that will give you almost real time readings. there are seasonal variations.
Almis Peter Salcius - Can you recommend a brand and model of electronic radon detector?
@@pasqualz hi, any luck finding an accurate electronic radon detector? thanks!
I learned.
The Safety Siren Corporation Is A Radon Gas Monitor Called Pro Series That At Home Or At School Can Find Nuclear Radiations For The Details Of Nuclear Energy
would be better extracting the radon that is in the room besides of below floor as in the video? how does the monitor work?
Is that all you do for your rain cap? This is why I do things for myself.
And how much time its going to be like that the vacum??
What were the new readings? After the installation?.
My house is built after 2018, I have the radon discharge pipe in the basement, if I want want to install that fan and system, how much it is？and how many years need to change？
Without proper treatment the holes in the siding basement and walls are going to overflow with buildup like mold and dirt and will eventually raise heir to more problems down the road. They live in ct tho so hopefully its not too humid assuming by the foliage they have less rainfall than average
My thoughts exactly. Seems like another item to leak and just cause further problems down the road
Why didn’t you do the test again to see if it actually worked. These days you have to make sure that any installment of any device is really working.
the gauge inside tells you the level
@@timebasile The gauge tells you if there is a vacuum, not if the radon has been reduced.
@@datguy729 Why do you use obscenity name and calling to make your point? Huh? You NEED to look in the mirror when you do that.
How much did that cost for the filter outside
Any reason not to draw air from the centre of the basement?
Post installation radon results?
How much did this set ya back Ron!?
i subscribed
is it weird i want to extract the radium from the soil?
@5:54: That appears to be unprotected Romex outside. Also, it's unclear how that system manages (1) condensation in the exhaust pipe and (2) rain into the pipe.
What about high ground water and coastal flooding? There would be water pulled UP from under the foundation, into the fan and out the top of the pipe... there must be a reason I've never seen one of these, despite years in property and commercial building maintenence.
thats cool how do i find out how i have radon in my house
Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin hahahahahahahahahahhahahahaa
My radon fan is upside down. Its literally pumping the radon into my home!
Get this: My new system looks very professional. But as I said, I discovered that my fan is upside down!! I was suspicious because a crack in the floor next to the radon pipe is blowing air into the house! It should be sucking down into the dirt. (actually should have been sealed) Next, my manometer says 4.8. (seemed high) Next, I climbed on the roof. My vent pipe is sucking down!! Finally, my radon level went from 4.6 to 6.8! And that's away from the room with the cracked floor. I'm currently testing over that crack. In about 40 more hours I'll get a reading. I bet its sky high over that crack. The installer needs to fix this. Hasn't called me back yet.
What a nightmare you have on your hands!! I hope they fix it for you!
@@Xoletta They did come back and fix it. Radon went from 6.8 to 0.5, tested again in another area and got 0.3 within 4 days after repair.
@@JM-nh8yp that's good! Glad it was worth it in the end!
@@Xoletta Yeah, thanks I didn't pay a penny for my new radon system. It was part of the deal before I agreed to buy my house a month ago. But I'm glad it works now .
it would have been pumping fresh air into your home as long as the pipe leads to the outside. This will actually DILUTE the radon which in some cases could help
I'm curious why it has to vent out so high? Also, what keeps the rain from getting in? Oh, also, does this system increase your AC and heating costs any?
code--above roofline
You want above roofline so its past living space, no sense blowing it out basement to breath it on second floor. It is moving air from under slab not in the space so shouldn’t affect HVAC. If it does suck in some conditioned air what is your preference getting cancer or saving a few $ a month?
The outside pipe is open for rain, how does it work?
About to tackle this project myself but having a difficult time deciding on 3" vs 4" ducting. I have an 1100sq ft basement slab with corrugated tile underneath and on the edges all leading to sump pit that I will be sealing and extracting from. sub slab is a mix of limestone and just earth. Using a RadonAway RP145c and entire run will be only 15' mostly vertical. Seems like in Canada 4" is typical but I see many US installations with 3". My main concerns are 1)airflow and 2)noise. What are your thoughts?
Yes comparison readings , would tell the tale. It would interesting , kind funny that data was omitted.
Live in Michigan believed I have been exposed to rador in my bathroom...Do they services in the winter...could you provide phone number?...Thank you
I have never heard of this, I only learned about it from my lease.
Wonder if there’s one that works automatically when reaching certain level... there must be one like that.
HOWdy R-H, ...
THANKS
COOP
the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA
...
what if you live on the higher floor?
I feel like this is really easy to do on your own. Drill some holes, install some pipes, get a fan
That was a ridiculously thin slab. I just installed a mitigation system in mine and it's 5" thick. But I contracted and supervised the construction so it was supposed to be 5" thick.
if the water goes up through the pipe? how do you solve it?
Question. Our radon levels were high (3.0-5.9) in our house (half basement). We had it fixed the level went to 0.6-1.0. We recently now have a water pipe leaking under the house. It’s been going on about a week. Now the Radon is
i hope that fan also works as a water pump, i don't quite understand why the vent is straight up and unshrouded, the leaf/pest screen won't keep out water.
Schedule 20 PVC pipe? Where did you find these guys?
3” too, rather than 4”
hi, is there any worry of getting water in that pipe outside? since it's standing straight up?
Yes , some. I saw another video on RUclips, called "bad ass radon system install " or something like that. That dude has a drain tube and other stuff on his system.
THE MUSIC!! XD
Condensation?
That’s fantastic that the cities with high radon levels neglect to let new residents know of the potential dangers... I developed multiple Myeloma as a result (bone marrow cancer) I’m only 20 years old... thanks
I was curious about whether it's supposed to include some kind of mesh to keep out wildlife, leaves, etc., then saw one at around the 05:10 timestamp
You cant interview a guy about radon who's bread and butter is radon mitigation. That's like asking a salesman for the Kemps dairy company if he thinks people should drink more milk.
they didn't install a rain shield on the top of the pipe, its just going to fill with water.
I plan on using this to help some Boy Scouts learn about radon for the nuclear science badge.
Thayne Lybbert , Let them build a nuclear reactor like that other Boy Scout!!!
Wtf
Hrv systems are better in my opinion. Hrv units are required by code in my area on new builds. Vancouver, BC. Canada
I am buying a house and is winter. And let me tell you readings came out more than 5.5. So do it people is only about 150 to 250 depending on what state. Your health is more important over a house, especially when you have young ones living with you.
Connecticut half the workers driving around dont even have a license or green card but they do a good job
We experience elevated radon levels in the basement. My doctor assured me i will likely be dead within a hundred years.
The real question is would you rather do the mitigation or have the seller. Personally I would rather do the mitigation and just take some coin off the top. That way I make all the decisions on the system
Yes!
My wife and me have lost 6 or possibly 7 family members to radon exposure. At this time Im living on bottled oxygen and doing pretty well. This situation is so insidious. I should have called Javier when I was made aware of radon levels in my immediate neighborhood.
I’m so sorry to hear that… I hope that your health improves!!! Where about do you live?
I appreciate your concern. Honestly I was playing with everybody. I remember years back when the hysteria was centered around radon and the lobby pushed through an inspection on houses being sold in many states. It certainly smells like a scam.
I have a similar story. My wife was attacked by radon simply because she made eye contact with it. It was a brutal assault and radon is nothing to be truffled with.
Doesn't that pipe fill up with rain?
Just got diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and I've never smoked. I wish I had known this before.
I'm so sorry. My aunt (a lifetime smoker) had the same. The pain killers they gave her made her feel so sick, she couldn't eat. If you're able, I would try the more natural route, and opt for medical marijuana, which is so much more gentle on the system, and doesn't make you lose your appetite. Take care.
Sorry to hear about the diagnosis it sounds like you believe that radon might be the issue you still might want to mitigate your problem for your family
Asbestos can give you lung cancer as well.
@@truthseekerKJV Long, long occupational exposure to asbestos generally leads to a very specific cancer: mesothelioma.
Is that Schedule 40 Pipe being used for your Radon Mitigation System?? It is required by Code that Schedule 40 Pipe be used. Some contractors also use gutter material. I am Certified with the NRSB (National Radon Safety Board) and always use Schedule 40 pipe. Contractors use the other types of pipe because it is much cheaper than Schedule 40 which means more money in their pockets! However, it will not pass if the right person sees it and knows what to look for. I believe in doing things right and giving my customers what they pay for! Nothing less!!! Someone mentioned the fan being outside and water being in contact with it..... certain fans ARE designed to be on the exterior and also the Radon Mitigation System SHOULD be slightly sloped so that water/condensation that does enter the pipe will drain back underneath the slab.
Yes sir, they used thin wall drain pipe 🤣🤣🤣
Hi Mike Bolling, have you ever heard of Perma Seal? They install something like a 'French Drain' INSIDE the house, all along the outside perimeter, which guides any incoming water to the sump pump. I have this in my home, but didn't understand enough about radon to feel concerned at the time of installation. After knowing more, I AM concerned, now. I have a hundred year old home in Chicago with a painted concrete slab foundation, and now no apparent way to seal off anything. Do you have any thoughts on this? Thanks.
Hi Mike, your code might say schedule 40 is required, but that would just be for your specific location. Too many people think that because their code requires something that the code is universal. While I am on it, lots of people commenting negatively on the internet about fan being placed in the basement, but lets set some things straight. Actually Canada says the basement is the best location to prevent damage to the fan. I live in Fishers Indiana, and the city allows installation of the fan in the basement. If you think about it, if you don't allow the Fan to be located in the basement, then you should not allow gas furnaces or gas water heaters to be located in the basement. As Canada says regarding radon fan installation, "properly installed fans and pipes will not leak radon into the building and are usually installed in the basement". I will soon be installing my Radon Fan in the basement, no doubt about it (regardless of EPA recommendation). The NRSB is a money maker, and has nothing to do with being a government regulator agency.
As uranium or thorium decay in the ground, radon is produced.
what is that metal tube to the right from the fan?
Looks like the dryer exhaust vent.
5:54 it's exhaust for a tankless water heater.
His looks newer than mine, but mine will burn your hand if you touch it while it is operating. Mine is 9 years old, and I was required to vent mine through the cement foundation. It looks like his vents out through wood between the floor joist.
+ Eric M - It took me a while, but at 5:55 the switch isn't hooked up yet. At 5:27, the switch is wired and you do not see the yellow wire. I also noticed the he stated they drilled through the rim joist so his tankless water heater is more sophisticated than mine. Mine would catch my house on fire.
how much did this system cost to install?
I did some research and the cost for the system with installation will cost anywhere between $800-$2500, with the average cost being between $1200-$1500.
I am Australian can you please tell me what is randon
Radon is a Radioacyive gas caused from decay of Uranium, and other minerals. You likely have those in the ground somewhere in mining
This is scary I got a test kit for my grandma's house as her area is known for this I hope nothing bad is here
Im trying to buy a two family home
But the inspector told me the results of the radon are above 5.4 pCi/l
Should i still purchase the house
I don't have the money to do the installations what so ever
Justificable....... Seller usually pays for the install, if they wanna sell the home. Also “air flow” has NOTHING to do with radon.
I had no idea ab this and I'm well informed until this morning on cbs news I saw a woman who got lung cancer and she wasn't a a smoker and ran several marathons so she wz shocked with the diagnosis basements r not safe she had an office in her basement
Very beneficial video but the radon is still present somewhat in the air.
why install the fan outside, when you could put it in the furnace roomÉ