Why are concrete experts like Blue Ridge Coatings share a blog about radon mitigation?
There’s a lot to love about living in Southwest Virginia, especially in relation to what nature offers us here. We have all four seasons, hiking trails, and gorgeous mountains, to name a few things. However, not everything nature provides is good for us. SWVA is also one of the country’s most dangerous areas for radon exposure. Luckily, proper floor sealing is one solution for radon mitigation.
What Is Radon and Why Is It Dangerous?
Let’s start with the basics. Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that naturally occurs in certain soils. It’s relatively heavy, so you’re most likely to find radon in the lower areas of a house as it sinks below the air.
Though it’s natural, it’s also dangerous. The American Lung Association warns that radon is behind only smoking as a leading cause of lung cancer. And in SWVA, 1 in 4 homes have high radon levels, putting it in radon zone 1 – the highest level in the country.
How Do You Know If You Have Radon?
Since radon is, as we’ve established, colorless and odorless, it’s impossible for people to detect without proper equipment. And even if you have the appropriate equipment, you also need to understand how to use it.
While there are direct-to-consumer radon tests available, we recommend speaking to a certified home inspector with experience in radon testing. These professionals will take good care of your home and help keep your family safe.
Inspectors with experience in radon testing nowhere in the home to put your radon test, how long to leave it there, the best time of year to perform tests, and any instructions to give you, the homeowner.
Radon Mitigation – What to Do If You Have Radon
According to the American Lung Association, there is no safe level of radon within the home, so if you have radon detection, you need to take action. Luckily, you have several radon mitigation options available.
Sealing Your Floor
One of the best things to do when you detect radon in your home is to seal your floor. Unfinished basements are some of the most common places with high radon concentrations, so finishing your basement helps, and getting the professionals at BRCS to seal your floor is even better.
Radon Pumps
No one wants to leave their home due to an environmental contaminant, so in areas like SWVA with high radon concentrations, you can find professionals who specialize in radon mitigation.
Typically, they will hook a radon pump up in your basement or wherever you have radon levels.
Proper Ventilation
If you are financially unable to take recommended radon mitigation measures, there are a few things you can do to make yourself safer in the meantime. Note – we are not recommending you delay radon mitigation and you should take radon seriously and take immediate action when you’re able.
Proper ventilation can help to prevent high radon levels. Radon occurs naturally, but when it’s outside, its concentration is generally low enough to be undetectable because it doesn’t get stuck in a particular space.
That’s why ventilating your home is crucial for keeping it safe. Radon levels are generally higher in winter because we tend to leave our homes closed.
Ready for Radon?
It may be scary to learn that something as deadly as radon lurks in so many SWVA homes, but with knowledge comes the power to do something about it. Experts recommend testing for radon at least once a year. If you have a problem, we recommend radon mitigation using a radon pump and proper floor sealing.
Blue Ridge Coatings and Supply is here to help you with all of your concrete and sealant needs, for radon mitigation and more.