How To Exit Radon Gas From The Basement

When naturally occurring uranium in the earth undergoes radioactive decay, a colorless, odorless gas called radon is created. How can you vent this gas out of your basement because it might be dangerous to your health?

A high-density plastic sheet placed over the dirt floor of a crawlspace or basement effectively reduces the amount of radon gas present in the house to a safe level. Using a vent pipe and fan, extract the radon from beneath the sheet and then vent it outside the structure.

When doing this technique, vigilance must be exercised. Continue reading to learn where to install Radon vents and how to rid your house of the gas.

Radon Gas: Definition

Scientific evidence indicates that the radioactive gas radon causes cancer. Although not a widespread issue, some regions’ bedrock produces enough radon for it to concentrate in basements, where it raises the risk of lung cancer.

Every home has radon, a gas created when uranium decays, and it can be found in the soil and rock beneath the basement (or foundation). Because of its ongoing interaction with the ground, radon gas is most likely to enter a home through the basement.

How Can A Basement Ventilate Radon Gas?

Two tiny test holes will be drilled in the basement, one on each side, by a contractor. After that, they will put a vacuum in one hole and measure the airflow in the other.

It is possible to build a radon evacuation stack with a fan that vents to the outside if there is sufficient air flow beneath the slab. This is only possible if the air beneath the slab is moving sufficiently.

Where Should Vents For Radon Be Located?

It is best to use a measurement to establish this. Any venting exhaust must be at least 10 feet away from any openings in the house, such as doors and windows.

Additionally, it has to be at least 10 feet above the surface. Additionally, it is crucial that the venting is located above the roof’s surface.

How Can I Make My Home Radon-Safe?

There are ways to make your home safer even though it can’t be completely free of radon.

Stop smoking and declare your home a smoke-free environment. Lung cancer can be brought on by radon exposure, and smoking greatly increases the risk of getting the illness.
By opening the windows, utilizing fans, and opening any closed vents, you may improve the airflow in your house. Natural ventilation is only a short-term option for radon reduction in any type of home.
Cracks in floors and walls can be filled and sealed with plaster, caulk, or other substances made expressly for this purpose. For a list of certified contractors working in your area and details on how to fix radon problems on your own, get in touch with the radon office in your state.
After finishing the job, always retest your home to be sure the radon problem has been fixed.
Make important to inquire about radon-resistant construction techniques when purchasing a new house. Building these features into freshly constructed homes is typically less expensive and more convenient than adding them later.

How Long Until Radon Is Eliminated?

Most of the time, you can get rid of radon in your house in just one to three days, following which you’ll need to reassess the air quality.

If levels are higher than the advised amount of 0.4 pCi/L, install a radon mitigation system in your house. This will stop any more radon from getting into your house.

Will Opening Windows Reduce Radon?

By simply opening windows in your home, you can temporarily reduce radon levels. This method is straightforward. It enhances ventilation and air flow to have windows open.

By mixing radon-free air from the outdoors with the air within the house, this aids in transferring radon out of the building.

Ensure that the basement’s windows are all open.

How Can A Radon Fan Be Installed In A Basement?

A radon fan not only eliminates radon from the air but also other dangerous earth gases, exchanging them for fresh air.

An area spanning 20 feet by 40 feet by three feet can be sufficiently ventilated by one radon ventilation fan during the course of an hour and a half. You won’t need to be concerned about a huge increase in your monthly electric bill because it can accomplish all of this while using relatively minimal electricity.

With the hardware provided in the box, just mount it up against a vent opening before plugging it in. The installation of this radon fan is as simple as that. If you want to maximize the advantages, you can utilize more than one fan. Radon fans should either be set to run continuously or on a timer to run at predetermined intervals.

The dehumidification properties of this fan are helpful in addition to reducing the impacts of radon in your crawl area and basement. Install the radon fan inside the crawl space and tuck it behind any ventilation openings in the foundation that are already there. A ventilation opening must be present every three feet, by law.

Things To Remember When Mounting A Radon Fan

When mounting the radon fan, make sure that the motor and electrical control box are facing the interior of the crawl space.

Make sure the ventilation is not blocked by any doors or covers.
To provide ventilation, position the radon fan such that it is directly above the opening.
Give the point a mark on the metal face plate in each of the four corners if you are installing foundation block or brick, and then use a masonry bit to drill holes that are 5/16 inches in diameter.
Use four screws to secure it to the wall using the wall anchors you previously fitted.

Use screws to hold the four corners when mounting the radon fan on a rim joist, wood header, or mesh on a crawl space vent.

Could A Wall Be Used To Vent Radon?

One technique for lowering radon levels in homes is sidewall venting, which is also reasonably priced. Radon stacks are often hoisted up through the walls and vented out through the roof, just like plumbing stacks in houses.

The plan aims to keep you far enough away from any open windows to stop radon gas from entering the home again, although this is unneeded and could work against you.

In The Winter, Is The Radon Level Higher?

Although they are normally higher in the winter when people are heating their homes, radon levels can vary from year to year.

Since most homeowners do not open their windows during the colder months, the gas has nowhere to go but back inside, causing radon levels to build inside of homes. As a result, winter is the best time to test for radon. As a result, it is more severe throughout the winter.

Trapped Stagnant Air
Opening your windows can assist to diffuse the radon gas in your home, while it is not a replacement for expert radon mitigation.

While it’s possible to leave your windows open in the spring and summer, it’s highly unlikely that you’d do so in the chilly months of winter. This means that because your home is airtight, the radon gas will become more concentrated.

Frozen Soil
Unfortunately, radon gas will typically pass straight through your home if it is there since it rises through the earth and into the atmosphere.

The radon gas is frequently deflected towards the path that immediately passes through your property because the ground around your home freezes during the winter. Due to this, the issue worsens throughout the winter.

Effects Of Stacking
Warm air will rise to the top of your house during chilly weather and escape through any vents, drafty windows, or other openings there. This airflow produces a vacuum effect that could draw in air from lower levels, air that is more likely to contain radon gas.

When testing your home for radon gas, the winter is likely to yield the most accurate findings. Since radon levels are most likely to be higher in the winter, you can anticipate that they won’t significantly increase over the rest of the year.

Conclusion

Radon contamination in homes should be taken seriously because it has an impact on health. Simple and low-cost techniques can be used to lower the radon levels and increase the energy efficiency of your new home.