Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is formed from the decay of uranium and radium in rocks and soil. It moves from the ground into buildings through openings such as cracks on walls or floors and accumulates in the indoor environment.
Radon is a highly radioactive gas that’s impossible to detect because it’s colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It has far-reaching negative effects on health as it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country.
To keep your family safe, it’s important to know the rooms that are more susceptible to radon in your home. This information will help you identify key areas for accurate radon testing and the right interventions you need to improve your indoor air quality.
Basement
Since radon is found in the soil, it’s only natural that the room closest to the ground would be more prone to high radon levels. Some parts of the basement will inevitably come into contact with the soil transferring the gas into the air.
With the low pressure drawing in more air from the rocks and soil into the room and the lack of natural ventilation, the concentration levels can accumulate fast posing a big risk to your health.
Here are some of the ways radon gets into the basement:
- Floor-to-wall joints
- Cracks in the floor
- Gaps in the pipes around the foundation
- Concrete foundation
- Sump pump pit
Crawl Space
A crawl space that has a dirt floor and is poorly ventilated exposes your home to high levels of radon gas. Since it’s largely unattended, it’s easy to forget about its potential effects on your family’s health. Keep in mind that your crawl space has utility openings that can move radon to your living space.
Cellars
Like basements and crawl spaces, cellars that are built below the ground have cooler temperatures and low natural ventilation making them one of the areas prone to radon.
Modern cellars may have mechanized systems to control temperature, humidity, and ventilation for better functionality, but their location below the ground level would inevitably make them a potential spot for dangerous radon gas accumulation.
Ground floor
The ground floor is close to the spaces below the ground making it one of the rooms most prone to radon in your home. Although the levels may not be as high as the basement or crawl space beneath it, other factors such as the amount of time you spend in the room, weather, temperature, and the level of ventilation increase your risk of exposure.
This is not to say that radon is limited to lower levels only. A recent study has demonstrated the importance of extending radon testing to other floors in a building above the basement and ground floor for better accuracy and mitigation interventions.
Contact TRS for Radon Testing Services You Can Trust
For all your radon concerns in Idaho Falls, contact Teton Radon Services. With our extensive knowledge and cutting-edge technology, we offer superior radon testing services that you can trust to keep your family safe. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.