Myths about radon gas and testing
Radon gas occurs naturally, is odorless, and colorless. It is also known to cause lung cancer by the EPA. Due to this inability to see it with the naked eye, there are still some people who do not believe it exists. There is a lot of science and research behind this. If someone says it doesn’t exist, they’re immediately discrediting themselves on this topic.
Radon comes from the breakdown of uranium in the ground, and the gas rises through the ground and enters homes from below levels through cracks in the concrete, gaps around sewer pipes, sump pumps or through the floor in the crawl space. . The issue of radon testing usually comes up as part of a home inspection when buying a home.
States that authorize radon testers describe locations that are accepted as suitable locations for radon testing. In Ohio, the test location is the lowest living space in a home for a minimum of 48 hours. The lowest available space is normally a basement. The basement does not have to be finished to be considered a living space. Ohio radon test kit should be located in the lowest available space at least 20 inches from the floor, at least 2 feet from an exterior wall, etc.
One myth regarding testing is that if the home does not have a basement, then there is no need for testing. This is not correct. Higher-than-desired radon levels are found in homes built on a slab.
Another myth is that if the house is built on a crawl space, then there is no need to test for radon. This is also not correct. If the crawl space is well ventilated to the outside, this can reduce the chances of radon entering the house; definitely, however, it is not a certainty.
A third myth that we often hear is that if the house has a walk-through basement, then there is no need to test. This is based on the belief that since there is a door to the outside, the air coming into the house will be outside air and not gas from the ground going into that lower area of the house. This is also not true. Strike bases can and do test higher than what the EPA recommends.
Some sellers have told me that their friends told them what to do in their house to reduce possible radon levels. These methods involved opening windows normally and airing out the place. This may or may not help. Radon enters the home primarily due to a stack effect where air temperature and pressure allow gas from the soil to flow down into the lower part of the home and then flow up through the home as smoke and air. heat flow through a chimney. Opening a window can increase airflow and draw more soil gas and radon into the house.
The best radon monitors will detect movement, temperature, humidity, and air pressure. If the monitor were to move outside, the monitor will record this and the test will be invalid and another test will need to be performed again, this time at the expense of whoever interfered with the test.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is a known cause of lung cancer. There are myths regarding gas testing. The gas makes its way into the houses through the ground under the houses and eventually enters the houses. The only way to know for sure what the radon levels are in a home is to test regardless of the layout of the home.
